Patents Assigned to Cutera, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10729496
    Abstract: Dermatological systems and methods for providing a picosecond laser treatment a plurality of treatment wavelengths, at least one of which is provide by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas E. Hunziker, Michael A. Karavitis, Hsiao-Hua Liu
  • Publication number: 20200237424
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying energy to treat body areas having fat deposits are disclosed in which treatment energy is applied to a patient with a plurality of energy applicators each in contact with a target body subarea of the patient's skin, thereby heating the skin and underlying tissue, including fat. The temperature of fat tissue of each target body subarea may be sensed, and the application of energy to the corresponding energy applicator may be terminated if the temperature exceeds a maximum temperature for the subarea, which may be individually defined by a system user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas E. HUNZIKER, Amogh KOTHARE, Jerzy ORKISZEWSKI, Cindy HSIEH, Brian ATHOS
  • Publication number: 20190151019
    Abstract: Dermatological systems and methods for providing a picosecond laser treatment a plurality of treatment wavelengths, at least one of which is provide by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas E. HUNZIKER, Michael A. KARAVITIS, Hsiao-Hua LIU
  • Publication number: 20190000529
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying energy to treat body areas having fat deposits, cellulite, or loose skin are disclosed. The treatment energy is applied to a patient with multiple applicators in contact with the patient's skin, which heats the skin and underlying tissue, such as fat. As the temperature of the fat is raised and maintained for a period of time, the heat damages the fat cells. When multiple applicators apply energy to multiple treatment subareas within a general area of a patient's body at interleaving intervals, treatment efficiency is improved. In particular, compared to applying energy continuously to treat each subarea one at a time, applying energy in interleaving intervals sequentially to the various subareas reduces the total treatment time by having multiple subareas treated simultaneously while maintaining the temperature of the target tissue (e.g. fat) within the therapeutic temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Amogh KOTHARE, Lukas HUNZIKER, Cindy HSIEH, Brian ATHOS
  • Patent number: 9913688
    Abstract: A method of removing tattoos or pigmented lesions by generating at least two laser pulses having a pulse width in the picosecond range, where the peak power of each pulse is less than 15 GW/cm2 and where the spacing between the pulses is less than ten nanoseconds, and directing the pulses to the tattoo or pigmented lesion to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Karavitis
  • Patent number: 8920409
    Abstract: A device for treatment of dermatological lesions includes a gas discharge lamp for generating a plurality of different electromagnetic radiation treatments. A power supply for driving the gas discharge lamp is selectively controlled to drive the gas discharge lamp to output a first electromagnetic treatment when an area of skin being treated has a pigmented lesion, and to drive the gas discharge lamp to output a second electromagnetic treatment when the area of skin being treated has a vascular lesion, where the second electromagnetic treatment has a spectral distribution that is blue-shifted relative to the spectral distribution of the first electromagnetic treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A. Gollnick
  • Patent number: 8915906
    Abstract: A system and method for providing treatments of electromagnetic radiation to areas of post-partum abdominal skin. The treatments provide for raising the temperature in a portion of post-partum abdominal skin to a treatment temperature, which is sufficient to reduce the laxity or redundancy of the post-partum skin. In one embodiment the treatment can provide treatment exposures to sub-areas, of an area of post-partum abdominal skin which has been identified for treatment, and bring a temperature of the tissue being treated to at 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A. Gollnick, Michael Levernier, Gregory J. R. Spooner
  • Patent number: 8870856
    Abstract: A system and method for using a light source to treat tissue with NIR light. The operation provides for generating higher temperatures in deeper layers of tissue relative to higher layers of tissue. The increased temperature in dermal layers can operate to induce collagen shrinkage, or remodeling. One of the light sources for providing a broad spectrum of NIR light is a filament light. The light from the filament lamp can be selectively filtered, and after filtering this light is applied to the skin, where the selective filtering can enhance the ability to elevate the temperature of deeper layers of tissue, relative to layers of tissue which are closer to the surface of the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Connors, David A. Gollnick, Dean A. MacFarland, Greg Spooner
  • Patent number: 8656931
    Abstract: A dermatological treatment method includes directing laser energy having a wavelength of 2.79 ?m onto skin. According to disclosed methods, the energy can function to ablate a first portion of epidermal tissue, coagulate an underlying second portion of epidermal tissue, and promote collagen formation in tissue of the underlying dermis. In an exemplary treatment apparatus, a laser using a YSGG gain medium is mounted in a handpiece. The handpiece may include a two-axis scanner to allow for uniform scanning of the energy over the tissue surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A. Gollnick, Steven Christensen, Dean A. MacFarland, Robert Bernhard Estrada
  • Publication number: 20140046224
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system for treating a portion of tissue. The ultrasonic transducer system includes a frequency generator, an ultrasonic transducer, and a transmitter element. The transducer receives an AC voltage from the frequency generator and produces an ultrasonic energy pulse at an ultrasonic frequency for a pulse width. The transmitter element is coupled to the transducer and is for irradiating a portion of skin tissue. The transmitter element has a chilled surface in contact with the skin tissue and an acoustic aperture for producing a substantially collimated energy beam. The beam has a width greater than 4 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas HUNZIKER, Justin MAY, Tonee SMITH
  • Patent number: 8585618
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system for treating a portion of tissue. The ultrasonic transducer system includes a frequency generator, an ultrasonic transducer, and a transmitter element. The transducer receives an AC voltage from the frequency generator and produces an ultrasonic energy pulse at an ultrasonic frequency for a pulse width. The transmitter element is coupled to the transducer and is for irradiating a portion of skin tissue. The transmitter element has a chilled surface in contact with the skin tissue and an acoustic aperture for producing a substantially collimated energy beam. The beam has a width greater than 4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas Hunziker, Justin May, Tonee Smith
  • Patent number: 8562599
    Abstract: An electro-surgical system actively maintains an optimal heating profile at the electrode-patient contact surface under varying load resistivity, thereby reducing the risk of burns and maximizing patient comfort. A set of temperature sensors is integrated within the electrode assembly of the electrosurgical system. The sensors are located both at the center and the edges of the electrode. The sensors are thermally coupled to the electrode-patient contact surface. As RF power is applied, a control loop monitors the temperature at the center and edges of the electrode. If the edge temperature of the electrode is high compared to its center temperature, then the control loop increases the operating frequency, effectively driving heat towards the center of the electrode. Conversely, if the edge temperature of the electrode is low compared to its center temperature, then the control loop decreases the operating frequency, effectively driving heat towards the edges of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Leyh
  • Publication number: 20130245727
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for preferentially heating subcutaneous tissue. Systems for heating subcutaneous tissue may comprise one or more radio-frequency (RF) electrodes having contoured tissue contacting surfaces, such as electrodes with concave or convex surface contours. Methods may comprise applying RF voltage or current from one or both of the handpieces to attain a target tissue and/or electrode temperature and to maintain the tissue and/or electrode at that temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CUTERA, INC.
    Inventors: Amogh KOTHARE, Leonard C. DEBENEDICTIS, Dragan NEBRIGIC
  • Patent number: 8474463
    Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for non-ablative laser treatment of dermatologic conditions. A laser energy is transmitted to an underlying target element in the skin. The target element is heated to a temperature of at least forty degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, a pulsed, near infrared, high peak power laser energy is used. The systems and methods of the present invention may be used to treat acne, smooth wrinkles, remove hair, treat leg veins, treat facial veins, improve skin texture, decrease pore sizes, reduce rosacea, reduce “blush/diffuse redness, reduce striae, reduce scarring, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Levernier, Greg Spooner, David A. Gollnick, Dean A. MacFarland
  • Patent number: 8460280
    Abstract: A flashlamp device having a small diameter waveguide is disclosed for use in localized dermatological applications. A preferred waveguide has a curvilinear wall surface. The waveguide is supported by a plurality of spaced apart thermally-conductive elements in contact with the curvilinear wall surface allowing sufficient cooling of the waveguide while minimizing the amount of high angle light stripped from the waveguide at points of contact with the contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, Gregory J. R. Spooner, David A. Gollnick, Steven Christensen
  • Patent number: 8454591
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dynamically controlling electric field distribution within tissue disposed at various depths beneath the skin at a target region of a patient's body by independently controlling the electric potential of each of a plurality of electrodes in relation to the electric potential of a ground pad. By controlling electric field distribution during a procedure, a target tissue at particular depths beneath the skin can be selectively heated relative to adjacent non-target tissue. At least one of the electrodes and the ground pad may comprise a spiral inductor comprising a substantially planar spiral of electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Leyh, Jerzy Orkiszewski
  • Patent number: 8439901
    Abstract: A dermatological treatment device is disclosed for generating a matrix of two dimensional treatment spots on the tissue. A handpiece carries a laser which generates a beam of laser pulses. The pulses are focused onto the tissue with a lens system. A diffractive element is positioned between the laser and the lens system for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of sub-beams. A scanner translates the beam over the diffractive element to generate the two dimensional spot pattern. The laser has a semi-monolithic resonator design with one integral end minor defining the output coupler and a second, independent mirror for adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A. Gollnick
  • Publication number: 20130060307
    Abstract: A dermatological treatment device is disclosed for generating a matrix of two dimensional treatment spots on the tissue. A handpiece carries a laser which generates a beam of laser pulses. The pulses are focused onto the tissue with a lens system. A diffractive element is positioned between the laser and the lens system for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of sub-beams. A scanner translates the beam over the diffractive element to generate the two dimensional spot pattern. The laser has a semi-monolithic resonator design with one integral end mirror defining the output coupler and a second, independent mirror for adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventor: Cutera, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8366703
    Abstract: A dermatological treatment device is disclosed for generating a matrix of two dimensional treatment spots on the tissue. A handpiece carrier a laser which generates a beam of laser pulses. The pulses are focused onto the tissue with a lens system. A diffractive element is positioned between the laser and the lens system for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of sub-beams. A scanner translates the beam over the diffractive element to generate the two dimensional spot pattern. The laser has a semi-monolithic resonator design with one integral end mirror defining the output coupler and a second, independent mirror for adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A Gollnick
  • Publication number: 20120330289
    Abstract: A dermatological treatment method includes directing laser energy having a wavelength of 2.79 ?m onto skin. According to disclosed methods, the energy can function to ablate a first portion of epidermal tissue, coagulate an underlying second portion of epidermal tissue, and promote collagen formation in tissue of the underlying dermis. In an exemplary treatment apparatus, a laser using a YSGG gain medium is mounted in a handpiece. The handpiece may include a two-axis scanner to allow for uniform scanning of the energy over the tissue surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. DAVENPORT, David A. Gollnick, Steven Christensen, Dean A. MacFarland, Robert Bernhard Estrada