US20110288537A1 - Skin cooling apparatus and method - Google Patents
Skin cooling apparatus and method Download PDFInfo
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- US20110288537A1 US20110288537A1 US13/135,945 US201113135945A US2011288537A1 US 20110288537 A1 US20110288537 A1 US 20110288537A1 US 201113135945 A US201113135945 A US 201113135945A US 2011288537 A1 US2011288537 A1 US 2011288537A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/18—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
- A61B18/20—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
- A61B18/203—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser applying laser energy to the outside of the body
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/178—Syringes
- A61M5/31—Details
- A61M5/32—Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body; Devices for protection of needles
- A61M5/3287—Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/42—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests having means for desensitising skin, for protruding skin to facilitate piercing, or for locating point where body is to be pierced
- A61M5/422—Desensitising skin
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/18—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
- A61B18/20—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00005—Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00315—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
- A61B2018/00452—Skin
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00636—Sensing and controlling the application of energy
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/15—Devices for taking samples of blood
- A61B5/150007—Details
- A61B5/150015—Source of blood
- A61B5/150022—Source of blood for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/15—Devices for taking samples of blood
- A61B5/150007—Details
- A61B5/150053—Details for enhanced collection of blood or interstitial fluid at the sample site, e.g. by applying compression, heat, vibration, ultrasound, suction or vacuum to tissue; for reduction of pain or discomfort; Skin piercing elements, e.g. blades, needles, lancets or canulas, with adjustable piercing speed
- A61B5/150106—Means for reducing pain or discomfort applied before puncturing; desensitising the skin at the location where body is to be pierced
- A61B5/150129—Means for reducing pain or discomfort applied before puncturing; desensitising the skin at the location where body is to be pierced by cooling
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/15—Devices for taking samples of blood
- A61B5/151—Devices specially adapted for taking samples of capillary blood, e.g. by lancets, needles or blades
- A61B5/15134—Bladeless capillary blood sampling devices, i.e. devices for perforating the skin in order to obtain a blood sample but not using a blade, needle, canula, or lancet, e.g. by laser perforation, suction or pressurized fluids
- A61B5/15136—Bladeless capillary blood sampling devices, i.e. devices for perforating the skin in order to obtain a blood sample but not using a blade, needle, canula, or lancet, e.g. by laser perforation, suction or pressurized fluids by use of radiation, e.g. laser
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
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- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Dermatology (AREA)
- Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
- Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
- Laser Surgery Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Skin cooling apparatus is provided for use with a medical treatment device such as a hypodermic syringe or a skin ablation laser or other electromagnetic source. The skin cooling apparatus provides selective, localized cooling of the target area that is acted upon by the medical treatment device. Included is a support body engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device, for supporting and orienting the medical treatment device to the target area. A solid state cooling device such as a thermoelectric or Peltier device is carried by the support body and includes a cooling surface facing the target area of a patient's skin surface. The support body may be flexible so as to allow the medical treatment device to be inclined relative to the skin surface. The support body may also include aiming structure for directing the medical treatment device to a particular point within the target area.
Description
- This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/319,437 filed on Jan. 7, 2009.
- The present invention pertains to the cooling of skin surface portions, to alleviate pain associated with medical treatment applied to the skin. The present invention also relates to apparatus and method to perform cooling of skin surface portions to which a medical treatment device is applied.
- Nerve endings in the skin layers are particularly sensitive to medical treatments that interact with the patient's skin. These types of medical treatments include, for example, hypodermic injections and skin ablation, especially using powerful laser ablation devices. No matter how necessary the medical treatment, the associated levels of pain can be great enough to not only cause patient discomfort, but to mandate that pain relief in some form be provided. It is of course preferable to avoid using pain relieving drugs such as Novocaine, whenever possible. Accordingly, different types of pain relieving devices have been explored. Cooling of the skin has been observed to lessen pain associated with hypodermic injections. As reported in a Journal of American Medical Association research letter entitled “Pain Associated with Injection Using Frozen Versus Room-Temperature Needles,” K. Denkler, Oct. 3, 2001, the use of ice-cold needles have been found to minimize injection pain in procedures that require several needle sticks for each area to be treated.
- The cooling of a patient's skin to lessen the pain of hypodermic injections is also described in several U.S. patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,265—Sairenji places a cooling gas injection nozzle adjacent a syringe-mounted hypodermic needle. In addition to the cooling gas injection nozzle, a source of cooling gas in the form of a cooling gas cylinder may be mounted to the barrel of the hypodermic syringe. Accordingly, two external assemblies are required to be secured to the outside of the syringe barrel, thus rendering the syringe assembly cumbersome and difficult to operate.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,419—Seney discloses a hypodermic syringe assembly in which a syringe barrel is disposed within an outside support which extends beyond a needle attached to the syringe. Extending from the support is a canister that is filled with a thermal energy storage solution. The support surrounds the hypodermic needle and extends beyond the needle, toward the patient's skin. A hole in the support allows the hypodermic needle to contact the patient's skin when the hypodermic needle and syringe barrel are slidably advanced along the support. Prior to use, the syringe and canister assembly are put in a freezer at a temperature as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately an hour. After removal from the freezer, the syringe assembly is effective for use for a minimum of three minutes during which time the canister is pressed against the skin where injection is to occur and is held against the skin for a time period ranging between ten to thirty seconds. In addition to requiring external freezer apparatus, the syringe arrangement is effective only for a relatively short time, requiring that the injection be given in close proximity to the freezing apparatus.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,742—Tibbs provides a relatively massive mechanism for operating a hypodermic syringe. Included is a plunger operating mechanism including a spring-loaded piston. A container of pressurized, highly volatile cooling liquid such as a fluorinated or chlorinated hydrocarbon, is mounted along side the mechanism which holds and operates the syringe. The pressurized coolant is released adjacent the hypodermic needle so as to surround the needle tip while contacting the patient's skin. The mechanism increases the size and weight of the syringe at least several times over, and renders the combination unsuitable for many applications where pressurized gas is not available and/or a bulky hypodermic injecting device is unsuitable.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,014—Erez et al. also discloses a relatively massive, bulky hypodermic injecting arrangement. Included is a holder for a hypodermic syringe joined to an adjacent forced air cooling system in which a fan cools a heat sink attached to a cooling plate. The cooling plate is located between the hypodermic needle and the patient's skin and includes a central passageway allowing the hypodermic needle to contact the patient's skin. The syringe is mounted for movement along a guide rod which orients the hypodermic needle with the central passageway of the cooling plate. The cooling plate first contacts the patient's skin and after a sufficient time has elapsed, the hypodermic syringe is advanced through a hole in the cooling plate, bringing the hypodermic needle in contact with the patient's skin. The entire mechanism increases the size and mass of the hypodermic syringe several times, rendering the device unsuitable where a portable, light weight hypodermic injection system is required.
- U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0182364 A1 discloses a cooling device utilizing ice as the cooling source. The device is provided for relieving pain associated with hypodermic injections, with the device being separate from the hypodermic syringe. A quantity of water is disposed within a hollow body that includes a retaining rod disposed within the water, and a removable cover for containing the water in contact with the retaining rod. Upon freezing, the water is converted to ice that adheres to the retaining rod, allowing the cover to be removed, thereby exposing the ice for contact to the patient's skin. After use, the device is discarded. Thus, external freezing apparatus is required to convert the water to a solid piece of ice, rendering the device unsuitable for applications where freezing apparatus is not available.
- The present invention provides a novel and improved self-contained skin cooling apparatus and method that minimizes disadvantages associated with the prior art devices and provides advantages in construction, mode of operation and use.
- In one embodiment, skin cooling apparatus is provided for use with a medical treatment device that interacts with a target area of a patient's skin surface. The skin cooling apparatus provides selective, localized cooling of the target area and includes a support body engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device and to orient the medical treatment device with respect to the target area. The support body includes a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area. A solid state cooling device is carried adjacent the distal end of the support body and includes an exposed cooling surface facing the target area. Examples of medical treatment devices include a hypodermic syringe having a barrel engaged with the support body and a conductor or waveguide such as an optic fiber cable for conducting output of an electromagnetic radiation source such as an ablation laser, to the target area.
- In one example, the skin cooling apparatus includes an aiming structure formed with the support body for aiming the medical treatment device with respect to the target area. The aiming structure can include a wall of the support body that defines an aperture through which the medical treatment device interacts with a patient's skin surface. In another example, the support body is flexible so as to allow the medical treatment device to be positioned at an angle to the skin surface.
- The present invention also provides a method of selective, localized cooling of the target area of a patient's skin. The method is employed in conjunction with a medical treatment device that interacts with the target area. The method includes engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device so as to orient the medical treatment device to the target area. A solid state cooling device such as a thermoelectric heat pump chills a cooling surface of the solid state cooling device when the device is electrically energized. The solid state cooling device is carried by the distal end of the support body, with the cooling surface facing the target area. At least a portion of the target area is contacted with the cooling surface, and the solid state cooling device is energized so as to provide cooling to the target area.
- In one example, the method further includes providing the support body with a flexible portion and flexing the support body so as to dispose the medical treatment device at an angle to the skin surface of the target area.
- In the drawings:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic representation of skin cooling apparatus associated with a hypodermic syringe; -
FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view taken along the plane 2-2 ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 shows a portion ofFIG. 2 taken on an enlarged scale; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the solid state cooling device used with the skin cooling apparatus; -
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view thereof; -
FIG. 6 is side elevational view thereof; -
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of skin cooling apparatus associated with an optic fiber cable for delivering laser ablation energy to the target area of a patient's skin surface; and -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to that ofFIG. 3 but showing an alternative, flexible skin cooling apparatus. - The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention. It is understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments. For ease of description, skin cooling apparatus embodying the present invention is described herein below in a usual assembled position as shown in the accompanying drawings, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, longitudinal, proximal, distal, etc., may be used herein with reference to this usual position. However, the skin cooling apparatus may be manufactured, transported, sold or used in orientations other than that described and shown herein.
- Referring now to
FIGS. 1-3 , skin cooling apparatus generally indicated at 10 is shown associated with a hypodermic syringe generally indicated at 12.Hypodermic syringe 12 may take different forms, but preferably is of conventional construction; including asyringe barrel 14 having operating lugs 16 and a plunger 18 having an operatingend 20. As can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3 ,hypodermic syringe 12 further includes ahypodermic injection needle 24 having askin piercing tip 26. - Referring again to
FIGS. 1-3 ,syringe barrel 14 is mounted withinsupport body 30. Preferably,support body 30 is in the form of a hollow tube having anend wall 58.Support body 30 can be made of virtually any metal, plastic or composite material, but is preferably made from conventional light weight plastic material. As indicated in the Figures, it is generally preferred thatbarrel 14 form a close fit with the interior ofsupport body 30 but can be slidably received therewithin. In a preferred embodiment,barrel 14 is mounted for translation withinsupport body 30 in the downward direction illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 . It is generally preferred that the interior bore ofsupport body 30 is provided with an abutment such asstop member 34 to limit travel of thesyringe barrel 14 within thesupport body 30 and thus limit the extension ofhypodermic needle 24 beyond coolingapparatus 10, thereby limiting the depth of penetration of the hypodermic needle in the patient's skin to a predetermined depth.Stop member 34 preferably has arigid portion 35 and aflexible portion 36 that definescenter hole 37 to accommodate thehypodermic syringe needle 24. Thesyringe barrel 14 is positioned to rest on the inner edge of theflexible portion 36 and prevent thehypodermic syringe needle 24 from projecting beyond coolingapparatus 10. When the hypodermic syringe is to be used,syringe barrel 14 is translated downwardly until it rests against therigid portion 35 of thestop member 34. Therigid portion 35 can be of any relatively stiff plastic, metal, or ceramic, and preferably is made from plastic such as polycarbonate, polystyrene, acrylic, and the like. Theflexible member 36 can be of any flexible polymeric material, and preferably from an elastic, elastomeric or thermoelastic material with a Shore Durometer value of about 15 to about 100, preferably about 25 to about 45 on Durometer Scale A, as described in ASTM d2240-00. - By selecting appropriate position of
stop member 34 within the bore ofsyringe barrel 14 the travel ofhypodermic needle 24 can be adjusted to deliver medication within a particular skin layer or below, e.g., to the dermis as well as into subcutaneous tissues. If desired, the plunger and/or syringe barrel may be suspended or otherwise controlled by springs or other bias members. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3 ,support body 30 includes abottom end wall 38 defining acentral aperture 40 for receiving and aiminghypodermic needle 24 at the desired portion of the target area of the patient's skin surface. If desired, theend wall 38 can be omitted, with aiming of the hypodermic needle being provided by other structure as will be described herein. - In a preferred embodiment,
support body 30 includes a first, generallycylindrical portion 32 having a bore sized to slidably receivesyringe barrel 14, and anenlarged band 44 located at the bottom end of the support body. As can be seen, for example, inFIG. 3 , the inner bore ofband 44 is larger than the inner bore ofcylindrical portion 32, thereby allowingband 44 to accommodate components of enlarged size.End wall 58 inband 44 receives a solid state cooling device generally indicated at 50. With additional reference toFIGS. 4-6 , solidstate cooling device 50 has a generally circular or round disk shape with a thickness that is relatively small compared to the device diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the solidstate cooling device 50 preferably comprises a thermoelectric device. Solidstate cooling device 50 preferably comprises a class of thermoelectric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect, in which a device operates as a thermoelectric heat pump, transferring heat from one side of the device to the other, with the direction of heat transfer being controlled by the polarity of the voltage applied to the device. Although a round disc is shown in the illustrated embodiments, solidstate cooling device 50 may take virtually any shape as may be desired, such as a square disc. - In the preferred embodiment, the solid
state cooling device 50 includes acooling plate 52 at its bottom side and awarming plate 54 at its top side. Disposed betweenplates layer 56 of semiconductor material arranged with spaced apart portions of “P” type semiconductor and “N” type semiconductor material. By applying an external voltage from a direct current power source, charge carriers are made to flow through the “P” type and “N” type semiconductors, giving rise to the Peltier effect, with the polarity of the power source being selected such that cooling is provided atplate 52 while heating is provided atplate 54. Preferably,end wall 58 ofsupport body 30 is made of a heat conductive material with thermal mass sufficient to absorb heat accumulated at warmingplate 54. Additionally, forced air provided by a fan or the like forced air source may be used to remove accumulated heat. - With reference to
FIGS. 4-6 , solidstate cooling device 50 is shown withelectrical leads 70 for connection to a power source (not shown) to be applied to thelayer 56 of solid state material in a known manner. Electrical connection can be made to an external source with anelectrical plug 58 being provided inband 44. - Alternatively, power can be provided by small sized storage batteries contained in a
housing 46 that is formed as a protrusion ofband 44. Output from the batteries is electrically coupled to thesemiconductor layer 56 in a known manner. - The bottom exposed
surface 62 ofplate 52 is the cold surface presented to the patient's skin to provide cooling for the designated target area. Preferably, the solid state cooling device has a diameter (or alternatively a width if non-circular) ranging between 0.1 and 10 centimeters and most preferably ranging between 1 and 3 centimeters. The height of the solid state cooling device ranges between 0.1 and 10 centimeters, and preferably ranges between 0.2 and 1 centimeter. Preferably, cooling power for the solid state cooling device ranges between 1 and 100 watts and most preferably between 5 and 20 watts. - In one example, the solid state cooling device preferably comprises a round module with center hole commercially available from TE Technology Inc. of Traverse City, Mich., and commercially available as either Product No. CH-19-1.0-1.3 or Product No. CH-38-1.0-0.8. The smaller of these two products has an outside diameter of 15 millimeters, an internal or central diameter of 3 millimeters and a height of 3.6 millimeters. With the application of 3.6 amps direct current, the cooling device produces 5.2 watts of cooling power.
- Referring to
FIG. 3 , as mentioned,end wall 38 ofsupport body 30 has aninternal aperture 40 allowing passage ofhypodermic needle 24 therethrough. In order to contact the skin surface of the patient, the solidstate cooling device 50 is also provided with acentral bore 66, aligned withcentral bore 40 ofend wall 38. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3 , thecentral bores FIG. 1 and other Figures, thetip 26 ofhypodermic needle 24 is free to clear the skin cooling apparatus so as to interact with the patient's skin surface. - In use, the
skin cooling apparatus 10 andhypodermic syringe 12 cooperate to provide improved treatment, lessening discomfort to the patient. Initially, thesurface 62 of coolingplate 52 is placed in contact with the target area of the patient's skin surface to be treated. After a sufficient amount of time to allow heat energy to be absorbed from the patient's skin to solidstate cooling device 50, numbing of the patient's skin occurs. The hypodermic syringe is then urged downwardly by downward pressure on operating lugs 16 ofsyringe barrel 14, causing the syringe barrel to slide within thecylindrical portion 32 ofsupport body 30. During this initial activation period, thehypodermic needle 24 is guided toward the target area bycylindrical portion 32. With continued pressure on operating lugs 16, thesyringe barrel 14 is brought to the position indicated inFIG. 3 , where thehypodermic needle 24 enters throughapertures surface 62 of solidstate cooling device 50. Theapertures hypodermic needle 24 to ensure accurate positioning of thehypodermic needle tip 26 within the target area, already prepared by the solidstate cooling device 50. - Preferably, one or
more stop members 34 are positioned within the internal bore wall ofcylindrical portion 32, so as to interfere withsyringe barrel 14. It is generally preferred that thestop members 34 be positioned so as to define a desired amount of penetration of thehypodermic needle tip 26 within the patient's body. Thestop member 34 may be provided as one or more protrusions disposed about the interior ofcylindrical portion 32. Alternatively, the stop member can comprise one or more arcuate segments or alternatively an annulus or ring protruding from the interior bore wall ofcylindrical portion 32 ofsupport body 30. If desired, thestop member 34 can be made resilient so as to interfere with normal pressure applied to operating lugs 16, but which can be overcome with additional applied force to achieve a deeper penetration ofhypodermic needle tip 26 within the patient's body, as may be desired. - The solid
state cooling device 50 is energized by applying electrical voltage to the solidstate cooling device 50 such that heat energy is transferred from coolingplate 52 to warmingplate 54. The solidstate cooling device 50 cools the surface of the patient's skin over a localized targeted area. Cooling such as that carried out according to the Peltier effect is initiated by energizing the solid state cooling device with one or more appropriate electrical signals. Electrical energization of the solid state cooling device continues until the desired numbing effect is observed. - Energization of the solid state cooling device may be uncontrolled or, alternatively, a control system (not shown) may be employed to achieve a desired temperature or heat flow at the
cooling face 62. For example, the energization to the solid state cooling device may be interrupted for a controlled amount of time to prevent further lowering of the temperature of the coolingsurface 62. The current may, for example, be interrupted using a resistance temperature detector (RTD) device, as is known. Alternatively, the polarity of the energization applied to the solid state cooling device may be reversed so as to momentarily reverse the direction of heat flow across the solid state device. As a further alternative, parameters of the electrical signal applied to the solid state cooling device may be modified by the miniaturized electronic components and circuitry as are known in the art, to control the temperature and/or heat flow associated with the solid state cooling device. - Referring now to
FIG. 8 , an alternative embodiment of skin cooling apparatus is generally indicated at 80. Theskin cooling apparatus 80 is similar to the aforedescribedskin cooling apparatus 10, except that thesupport body 82 is flexible or bendable, allowing the longitudinal axis of thehypodermic syringe 12 to be pivoted as indicated byarrow 84. Thesupport body 82 may be rendered flexible or bendable by employing flexible or bendable material such as plastic or rubber. As an alternative to using relatively pliant, resiliently deformable material, a stiffer material can be used with a pleated section or boot, such aspleated section 86 shown inFIG. 8 . While a resiliently pliable material for the support body will render thehypodermic syringe 12 stable and will guide the direction of the hypodermic syringe relative to the target area, the introduction of a pleated section such aspleated section 86 will provide an enhanced guidance ofhypodermic syringe 12 and an enhanced aiming ofhypodermic needle 24. In the preferred embodiment,pleated portion 86 is integrally formed with the remainder ofsupport body 82, and is preferably comprised of a flexible material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and the like. Alternatively, the pleated portion can be formed separately and later joined to the remaining portions ofsupport body 82. - If desired, the
hypodermic syringe 12 can fixedly engagesupport body 82 so as to preclude translation movement of the hypodermic syringe with respect to the support body. In this type of alternative arrangement, the translation motion of the hypodermic syringe needed to advance thehypodermic needle 24 to enter the target area of the skin surface is provided by the relatively easy compression ofpleated portion 86, allowing thehypodermic needle 24 to penetrate beyond the coolingsurface 62 of solidstate cooling device 50. - Referring again to
FIG. 8 ,support body 82 extends to surround solidstate cooling device 50, so as to rigidly secure the position of the solid state cooling device with respect to the bottom end ofsupport body 82. If desired, thestraight bore aperture 66 extending throughcooling device 50, as shown inFIG. 3 , may be employed in the arrangement ofFIG. 8 . However, if greater control of the aiming ofhypodermic needle 24 is desired, solidstate cooling device 50 may be provided with a generallyconical bore 90, as shown inFIG. 8 . The conical bore 90 provides a smaller exit aperture at the coolingsurface 62, while allowing the hypodermic needle a wide range of motion, thus providing a greater degree of aiming control over thehypodermic needle 24, during operation of the hypodermic syringe. - In
FIG. 8 , the electrical leads needed to energize the solid state cooling device are omitted for clarity of illustration. If desired, the electrical leads can extend to an external power supply or alternatively, could extend to one or more electrical batteries carried onsupport body 82. - Referring now to
FIG. 7 , skin cooling apparatus generally indicated at 100 is utilized with a medical treatment device for delivering thermal energy to a patient's skin surface. In the preferred embodiment, aconductor 102, preferably in the form of an optic fiber cable, is connected to the output of an electromagnetic radiation source (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the conductor orwaveguide 102 is disposed within anouter cable sheath 104. Skin cooling apparatus 100 includes asupport body 108 that receivesconductor 102 and provides aiming of the output ofconductor 102 to a desired point in the target area of the patient's skin surface. Aband 44 with anoptional battery compartment 46 is located adjacent the free end ofsupport body 108. The coolingsurface 62, visible inFIG. 7 forms part of a solid state cooling device of the type described above. Acentral aperture 66 formed in the solid state cooling device allows electromagnetic radiation to exit the free end ofconductor 102 disposed adjacent the solid state cooling device. If desired, the radiation beam may be focused using one or more lenses, suitable for the purpose, as is known. The lenses may be contained withinband 44 or withinsupport body 108. In either event, thesupport body 108 provides aiming of theconductor 102 and the electromagnetic radiation output therefrom. - Preferably, electromagnetic radiation is controlled by the operator at a point remote from the skin cooling apparatus. However, if desired, one or more controls for the electromagnetic radiation device may conveniently be provided for attachment to support
body 108. One or more controls for the power source for the solid state cooling device may also be located on ornear support body 108. - In use, the solid state cooling device is electrically energized so as to provide cooling at
surface 62, placed in contact with the patient's skin. After a suitable amount of time has passed to allow the target area of the patient's skin surface to become numb, output from the electromagnetic radiation source is passed throughconductor 102 andaperture 66 so as to apply thermal energy to the patient's skin. Any of a variety of electromagnetic radiation sources may be used. For example, the electromagnetic radiation source may comprise a laser operating in the near infrared frequency range or alternatively may be a collimated non-coherent light source. Medical treatment applied to the patient's skin may comprise skin ablation, for example. - The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are illustrative of the present invention. Still other variations and arrangements of parts are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
Claims (19)
1. Skin cooling apparatus for use with an electromagnetic radiation treatment device that interacts with a target area of a patient's skin surface for selective, localized cooling of the target area, comprising:
a hollow support body for engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device and orienting the electromagnetic radiation treatment device to the target area;
the support body having a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area; and
a solid state cooling device carried by the distal end of the support body, and including an exposed cooling surface facing the target area.
2. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation treatment device comprises a conductor for conducting the output of an electromagnetic radiation source to the target area.
3. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conductor comprises a cable engaged with the support body, for directing laser ablation electromagnetic radiation energy to the target area.
4. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conductor comprises an optic fiber cable.
5. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support body includes an aiming structure for aiming the treatment device with respect to the target area.
6. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solid state cooling device is powered by a battery carried by the support body.
7. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solid state cooling device comprises a thermoelectric heat pump.
8. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 7 wherein the thermoelectric heat pump has a body defining a hole through which the medical treatment device interacts with the patient's skin surface.
9. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 5 wherein the solid state cooling device comprises a thermoelectric heat pump having a body defining a hole comprising the aiming structure.
10. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solid state cooling device includes a heating surface spaced from the cooling surface, with a heat sink in thermal contact with the heating surface.
11. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 10 further comprising forced air source for cooling of the heat sink.
12. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support body is flexible so as to orient the treatment device at different angles to the skin surface at the target area.
13. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 12 wherein the support body includes a bellows portion for orienting the medical treatment device at an angle to the cooling surface.
14. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 12 wherein the solid state cooling device includes a body defining a conical shaped opening comprising an aiming structure for aiming the medical treatment device with respect to the target area.
15. A method of selective, localized cooling of the target area of a patient's skin surface in conjunction with a medical treatment device that interacts with the target area, comprising:
engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device with a flexible support body so as to orient the medical treatment device to the target area;
the support body having a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area and includes a solid state cooling device that provides cooling to a cooling surface when the solid state cooling device is electrically energized;
contacting at least a portion of the target area with the cooling surface; and
energizing the solid state cooling device so as to provide cooling to the target area.
16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
providing the support body with a flexible portion; and
flexing the support body so as to dispose the medical treatment device at an angle to the skin surface of the target area.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the solid state cooling device includes a heating surface spaced from the cooling surface, the method further comprising the steps of:
placing a heat sink in thermal contact with the heating surface; and
cooling the heat sink with forced air cooling.
18. Skin cooling apparatus for use with a laser that interacts with a target area of a patient's skin surface for selective, localized cooling of the target area, the laser having a waveguide, the skin cooling apparatus comprising:
a flexible, support body engaging at least a portion of the waveguide for orienting the laser to the target area;
the support body having a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area; and
a solid state cooling device adjacent the distal end of the support body and surrounded by the support body, including an exposed cooling surface for direct contact with the target area and defining a hole through which the laser is aimed at the target area; wherein the support body is pivotable for laser orientation at different angles to the skin surface of the target area and the hole is a conical hole through which the laser is aimed at the target area, the conical hole having a relatively smaller laser exit aperture at the cooling surface than a laser entrance aperture into the cooling device.
19. The skin cooling apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the support body includes a bellows portion for orienting the laser.
Priority Applications (2)
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US13/135,945 US20110288537A1 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2011-07-19 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
US14/086,291 US8845601B2 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2013-11-21 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US12/319,437 US7981080B2 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2009-01-07 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
US13/135,945 US20110288537A1 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2011-07-19 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
Related Parent Applications (1)
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US12/319,437 Division US7981080B2 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2009-01-07 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
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US14/086,291 Continuation-In-Part US8845601B2 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2013-11-21 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
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US20110288537A1 true US20110288537A1 (en) | 2011-11-24 |
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US13/135,945 Abandoned US20110288537A1 (en) | 2009-01-07 | 2011-07-19 | Skin cooling apparatus and method |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US7981080B2 (en) | 2011-07-19 |
WO2010080693A1 (en) | 2010-07-15 |
EP2379131A4 (en) | 2012-06-27 |
EP2379131A1 (en) | 2011-10-26 |
US20100174237A1 (en) | 2010-07-08 |
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