Abstract: A cordless, hand-held dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus may include: a self-contained housing configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure; a light source comprising one or more diode laser bars within the housing; a direct drive electrical circuit within the housing comprising one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses, wherein the electrical circuit does not include any storage capacitors that energize the light source by capacitor discharge; and a light path within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition.

Abstract: A dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus is disclosed which is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path within the housing includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition. A diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level.

Abstract: A dermatological treatment and analysis system includes a handheld treatment device having a handheld body, a treatment radiation source that delivers a dermatological treatment to the skin, and skin sensor(s) configured to generate signals indicative of one or more skin properties. A wireless transmitter is integrated in the handheld treatment device or in a docking/charging station that receives the handheld treatment device. The wireless transmitter is configured to receive skin-related data comprising the signals from the at least one skin sensor and/or information derived from such signals, and to wirelessly transmit the received skin-related data for analysis of the skin-related data by a remote data analysis system, which may analyze the received skin-related data to generate skin analysis data, and communicate the skin analysis data as feedback to the user of the handheld treatment device, e.g., via a website or application hosted on an internet-connected device of the user.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to control a device, such as a light emitting dermatologic or cosmetic treatment device, and ensure that the device is in contact with skin while also determining the pigmentation level of skin. One or more light sources contact the skin and one or more detectors measure spectral remission from the skin. The obtained remission measurements are compared with known skin spectral remission values, and calibration allows measurements of absolute remission to be converted to fractional remission values. Skin pigmentation levels are compared to known base-line levels to determine and control appropriate treatment parameters. A temperature sensor allows correction for temperature variations. The apparatus may or may not be incorporated into the treatment device.

Abstract: A self-contained, hand-held device for providing a dermatological treatment may include a device body configured to be handheld by a user, a radiation source including a beam source configured to generate an energy beam, an application end configured to be manually moved across the surface of the skin, a sensor configured to generate signals based on an interaction with the skin, and electronics configured to automatically identify a series of intrinsic skin features based on the sensor signals, and control at least one operational parameter of the radiation source based at least on the identification of such skin features.

Abstract: A phototherapy device includes an outlet end to be placed in contact with a person's skin, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure. The heat exchanger may include a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source, and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure. The first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger may be substantially thermally isolated from each other, e.g., partially or completely physically separated from each other.

Abstract: A dermatological treatment device includes a device body; a laser diode bar configured to generate laser radiation for delivery to a target area of tissue, the laser diode bar having a fill factor of at least 50%; a power source; and control electronics configured to provide power from the power source to the laser diode bar such that the laser diode bar generates a laser beam; wherein the device is configured for delivering the generated laser beam to the target area of tissue to provide a dermatological treatment.

Abstract: A dermatological treatment and analysis system includes a handheld treatment device having a handheld body, a treatment radiation source that delivers a dermatological treatment to the skin, and skin sensor(s) configured to generate signals indicative of one or more skin properties. A wireless transmitter is integrated in the handheld treatment device or in a docking/charging station that receives the handheld treatment device. The wireless transmitter is configured to receive skin-related data comprising the signals from the at least one skin sensor and/or information derived from such signals, and to wirelessly transmit the received skin-related data for analysis of the skin-related data by a remote data analysis system, which may analyze the received skin-related data to generate skin analysis data, and communicate the skin analysis data as feedback to the user of the handheld treatment device, e.g., via a website or application hosted on an internet-connected device of the user.

Abstract: A device for providing radiation-based dermatological treatments includes a device body configured to be handheld by a user; a VCSEL laser supported in the device body, the VCSEL laser including multiple spaced-apart VCSEL beam sources configured to generate multiple discrete laser beams for generating multiple discrete treatment spots on the skin; an application end configured to be manually moved across the surface of the skin during a treatment session; and electronics configured to control the multiple VCSEL beam sources to emit the multiple discrete laser beams toward the skin to provide a dermatological treatment.

Abstract: A phototherapy device includes an outlet end to be placed in contact with a person's skin, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure. The heat exchanger may include a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source, and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure. The first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger may be substantially thermally isolated from each other, e.g., partially or completely physically separated from each other.

Abstract: A device for providing laser-based dermatological treatments may include a device body having an application end, a VCSEL laser supported in the device body and including multiple emitter zones, each emitter zone comprising one or more micro-emitters, each micro-emitter configured to emit a micro-beam, wherein at least two of the multiple emitter zones are configured such that the micro-beam emitted by the micro-emitters of the at least two emitter zones form a combined beam through the application end of the device to provide a treatment spot on the skin, and electronics coupled to the at least two emitter zones and configured to control the at least two emitter zones independently.

Abstract: An automated test system for testing devices being manufactured comprises an infrared communications link for free space communications between a host and a device under test. The communications link is asymmetric and instructions from the host are acknowledged by the device. The instructions cause the device to operate, and the output of the device is monitored, logged, and compared to acceptance criteria. The host can then generate calibration messages to the device, to change the device operating characteristics as appropriate. The communications link uses an unmodulated data stream together with asynchronous handshaking and a robust checksum algorithm to ensure accurate communication.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the presence of skin is disclosed, one configuration of which uses multiple light emitting diodes, each of a unique wavelength band, and a broad-band photodetector to measure the remission of light at multiple wavelengths from a material being analyzed. Characteristics of the spectral remission of the material are used to discriminate human skin from materials that are not human skin. Further, an aesthetic medical device utilizing such a sensor in which the device is inhibited from operation if skin has not been detected. The incorporation of a skin sensor improves the safety of devices that emit radiation that otherwise would pose a hazard if not directed onto skin.

Abstract: A cordless, hand-held dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus may include: a self-contained housing configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure; a light source comprising one or more diode laser bars within the housing; a direct drive electrical circuit within the housing comprising one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses, wherein the electrical circuit does not include any storage capacitors that energize the light source by capacitor discharge; and a light path within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition.

Abstract: A safety and interlock circuit for use with devices which could cause injury if an error condition causes improper operation. A control program executing on a processor monitors a variety of device conditions, including pulse over-duration threshold, diode over-current threshold, pulse lock-out duration, temperature threshold, and pulse repetition frequency limit, and prevents the laser from firing if an error condition is detected. In addition, the error conditions are logged in a persistent memory to facilitate subsequent diagnosis and correction.

Abstract: A dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus is disclosed which is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path within the housing includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition. A diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level.

Abstract: A skin proximity sensor and method are disclosed in a dermatologic treatment device that includes a bezel or similar surface, and a treatment source capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the bezel or surface, such as a window or similar port. A plurality of contacts leading to remotely located capacitors, in some embodiments, or a plurality of capacitive sensors in other embodiments, is positioned in or under the bezel and around the window, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of capacitors senses the change in capacitance due to skin and inhibits activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless the proximity of skin is sensed. The presence of skin is detected, for example, by measuring changes in charge and discharge times, indicating a variation in capacitance.

Abstract: A dermatologic treatment apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more housings with at least one housing configured for manipulation in a dermatologic treatment procedure, a light source, and an electrical circuit. The circuit energizes the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated having properties sufficient for providing efficacious treatment. An optical diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level. The apparatus produces an output fluence not less than 4 J/cm2.

Abstract: A self-contained, hand-held device for providing a dermatological treatment may include a device body configured to be handheld by a user, a radiation source including a beam source configured to generate an energy beam, an application end configured to be manually moved across the surface of the skin, a sensor configured to generate signals based on an interaction with the skin, and electronics configured to automatically identify a series of intrinsic skin features based on the sensor signals, and control at least one operational parameter of the radiation source based at least on the identification of such skin features.

Abstract: A dermatologic treatment apparatus is disclosed that is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a dermatologic treatment procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries and an electronic control circuit for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path is within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for providing efficacious treatment.