WO2006091981A2

WO2006091981A2 - Novel laser methods

Info

Publication number: WO2006091981A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/007339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Todd A. Cox
Original assignee: Xy, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-02-25
Filing date: 2006-02-27
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: AU2006216397B2; AR055867A1; NZ561688A; BRPI0608248A2; WO2006091981A3; AU2006216397A1; BRPI0608248B1; NZ590972A

Abstract

Methods relating to the use of a laser (e.g. a hair removal laser) as an alternative to the conventional, surgical mulesing procedure, a as an alternative to conventional branding methods. In some embodiments, the laser may have one or more of the following features laser beam pulsing; heat buildup mitigation techniques involving laser beam redirection to non-adjacent skin areas (1, 2) during a sin apparatus orientation (3); reduction of beam hit spot overlap; capability of enabling treatment during a single apparatus orientation o customized area.

Description

NOVEL LASER METHODS

This is an international patent application claiming priority to and the benefit of United States provisional application 60/656,837, filed 25 February, 2005, said provisional application incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Generally, the inventive technology disclosed herein relates to novel applications of a laser apparatus. More specifically, aspects of the inventive technology include the novel application of a hair removal laser as an alternative to the traditional, surgical Mulesing procedure performed on sheep, and, additionally, the novel application of a hair removal laser for branding animals such as horses and bovines (cattle).

Background Art

The desire to protect sheep - particularly Merino sheep - against breech fly strike and resultant disease has been known in the wool production industry for years. Although enhanced skin wrinkling in the breech area (perhaps attributable to selective breeding for enhanced skin folding and its wool production benefits) may play a role in an increased susceptibility to blowfly strike in the breech area (and resultant maggot infestation and related conditions), the accumulation of fecal material on hairs in the breech area by itself certainly attracts blow flies and increases the odds of blowfly strike and the maggot infestation and death that often ensue.

Conventional methods of protecting against such diseases stemming from flystrike have been to protect against flystrike in the breech area of sheep by performing a surgical procedure known as mulesing. This procedure typically involves the surgical removal, via cutting, of strips of skin, perhaps two in the shape of crescents, one from each side of the anus of lambs (or more generally, sheep) with the intended result of lifetime protection against flystrike in the breech area. Such procedure may create a tightened and smoother hairless skin (perhaps as a healed wound) and, particularly for those sheep that have enhanced skin folding due to selective breeding, decrease the odds of blowfly strike in the breech area and the unwanted medical conditions that often result. However, because anesthesia is infrequently used for, perhaps, material and labor expense reasons, and sheep suffer painfully as a result, both during and after the procedure, animal welfare groups have bitterly complained about surgical mulesing, demanding an alternative.

Another animal-related procedure to which the inventive technology relates is branding (e.g., permanently marking cattle or other animals), for perhaps identification, proof of ownership, and/or tracking purposes. The desire to brand animals has been know for some time, particularly in the cattle industry, and has traditionally been met with the use of branding irons, wherein a sufficiently heated and shaped metal bar is pressed against the animal to cause a third-degree burn. Conventional branding techniques have also included the use of lasers to mimic the intense heat generated by the iron, thereby burning the skin and effectively burning a brand into the skin of the animal, in addition to freeze branding. Hot and freeze branding techniques require a rather involved preparation, including a rather time consuming and labor intensive alteration of the temperature (heating or cooling) of the branding part (e.g., a branding iron). Further, known laser branding techniques not only involve a painful burning of the skin, but also involve the time consuming, repeated re-orientation of the laser apparatus (or a part thereof) to create the intended brand shape. Of course, as with most businesses, time, expense and labor relative to a goal (e.g., preventing blowfly strike and branding with known techniques) are to be minimized without unacceptably compromising the quality of the result if such is possible. Aspects of the inventive technology make this possible, as indeed, the use of a hair removal laser for each a mulesing alternative and branding can reduce costs relative to these animal management and control procedures, while still producing similar, if not superior, results.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventive technology relates to the use of a laser as an alternative to the conventional, surgical mulesing procedure, and as an alternative to conventional branding methods. A preferred type of laser that may be used - a hair removal laser - may, in some embodiments, have one or more of the following operational features: laser beam pulsing; heat buildup mitigation techniques involving laser beam redirection to non-adjacent skin areas during a single laser orientation; reduction of beam hit spot overlap; capability of enabling treatment, during a single apparatus orientation, of an area having a desired shape; and limited wavelength range; specific, limited energy density range; and power range limitations. Certain embodiments of the inventive technology may be viewed as animal husbandry methods.

Brief Description of Drawings

The drawings, including photographs, relate to only specific embodiments or examples of the inventive technology and should not in any manner be used to limit the scope thereof .

Fig. 1 shows a time-elapsed schematic of individual beam pulses on circular skin areas (beam hit spots) from a human hair removal laser as may be observed during part of a procedure involving application of a laser apparatus (e.g., a hair removal laser) as an alternative to surgical mulesing or as a novel brander. The figure reflects each a non- adjacent and a non-linear protocol as may be found in at least one embodiment of the inventive technology.

Fig. 2 shows establishment of a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at breech area skin of a sheep during electrical operation of the apparatus, in one embodiment of the inventive technology as a mulesing alternative.

Fig. 3 shows establishment of a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at bovine skin (e.g., cattle skin) during electrical operation of the apparatus, in one embodiment of the inventive technology as a hot branding alternative.

Fig. 4 shows two opposing crescent shaped areas in a sheep breech area to be treated (7) by a laser apparatus in at least one embodiment of the inventive technology as a mulesing alternative.

Fig. 5 shows establishment of a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at breech area skin of a sheep during electrical operation of the apparatus, in one embodiment of the inventive technology as a mulesing alternative. It also shows a case where the entire area to be treated cannot be treated in a single orientation. Fig. 6 shows a treated breech area.

Fig. 7 shows an apparatus housing (of a laser apparatus) that is substantially immobile during a single apparatus orientation, in addition to showing an outline of partial, single crescent shape that defines one-quarter of the area to be treated during use of the apparatus to reduce blowfly strike in the breech area of sheep, in one embodiment of the inventive technology.

Fig. 8 shows an apparatus housing (of a laser apparatus) that is substantially immobile during a single apparatus orientation, in addition to showing an outline of partial, double crescent shape that defines one-half of the area to be treated during use of the apparatus to reduce blowfly strike in the breech area of sheep, in one embodiment of the inventive technology.

Fig. 9 shows an apparatus housing (of a laser apparatus) that is substantially immobile during a single apparatus orientation, in addition to showing an outline of double crescent shape that defines an entire area to be treated during use of the apparatus to reduce blowfly strike in the breech area of sheep, in one embodiment of the inventive technology.

Fig. 10 shows an apparatus housing (of a laser apparatus) that is substantially immobile during a single apparatus orientation, in addition to showing an outline of single crescent shape that defines one-half of the area to be treated during use of the apparatus to reduce blowfly strike in the breech area of sheep, in one embodiment of the inventive technology.

Fig. 11 shows an apparatus housing (of a laser apparatus) that is substantially immobile during a single apparatus orientation, in addition to showing an outline of partial, single crescent shape that defines substantially one-quarter of the area to be treated during use of the apparatus to reduce blowfly strike in the breech area of sheep, in one embodiment of the inventive technology. Model's) for Carrying Out the Invention

As mentioned earlier, the present invention includes a variety of aspects, which may be combined in different ways. The following descriptions are provided to list elements and describe some of the embodiments of the present invention. These elements are listed with initial embodiments, however it should be understood that they may be combined in any manner and in any number to create additional embodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the present invention to only the explicitly described systems, techniques, and applications. Further, this description should be understood to support and encompass descriptions and claims of all the various embodiments, systems, techniques, methods, devices, and applications with any number of the disclosed elements, with each element alone, and also with any and all various permutations and combinations of all elements in this or any subsequent application.

The inventive technology may involve the use of a laser apparatus (e.g., a hair removal laser such as a human hair removal laser) as each a mulesing alternative and for branding, where the laser apparatus may have one or more features of the following non- exhaustive list, pulsing of the laser beam; heat buildup mitigation techniques involving laser beam redirection to non-adjacent skin areas during a single laser orientation; reducing beam hit spot overlap; certain wavelength range, energy density range, and/or power range limitations; treatment of a larger (relative to convention hair removal lasers) skin area during a single laser orientation; and treatment, during a single orientation of the laser apparatus, of an area of skin having a desired shape (a customized area). Again, it should be understood that the inventive technology may involve the use of a laser having any one, two or more of these features for either a mulesing alternative or branding application; the inventive technology relative to each is not limited merely to the use of a laser having all, some, or even one of the above indicated features, as other inventive aspects may be disclosed herein.

Some of the laser apparatus that may be used as mulesing and hot-branding alternatives, although conventionally referred to in the art as hair removal lasers, effectively permanently prevent the growth of new hair in a treatment area (although certainly it may be able to remove hair also). In some applications, best results may be achieved where hair in an area to be treated is first shaven, or at least thinned out or shortened, by, e.g., a shaver, and then that hair-reduced area (e.g., shaven area) is treated (e.g., lased with the apparatus) so that new hair does not grow in that area.

It should be understood that the term "single laser orientation" refers to the orientation (e.g., including placement) of the laser apparatus (or merely a portion thereof, such as a housing and componentry immobile relative thereto) such that a skin area may be treated. The individual laser beam may be moved (e.g., as perhaps controlled by a computerized robot) during that single apparatus orientation to treat an intended area that is larger than the cross-section of a beam directed from the apparatus, or perhaps the beam cross-section is large enough to treat the area without needing to move the beam. In certain embodiments, while an apparatus housing (perhaps there is more than one) might not be moving during this orientation, the laser beam itself may be repeatedly redirected (e.g., automatically repeatedly redirected, as by a computer) while the apparatus is in that specific orientation. Typically, the housing (a broad term including but not limited to a cage (e.g., (4) as shown in Fig. 2), a tube, a cone (e.g., as in Fig. 11), a pen) that is substantially immobile during a single apparatus orientation is that housing that is closest to the skin area to be treated (perhaps it or a part thereof is placed against the skin). Thus, where a laser apparatus has more than one housing, as long as the housing closest to the skin is substantially immobile, a different housing of the apparatus may be moved, and the apparatus still will exhibit a single apparatus orientation. As such, it may be that immobilization of even a small housing (a pen from which a laser beam is directed) constitutes a single apparatus orientation for the period of time of immobilization of that housing, even though there may be a larger housing(s) (e.g., including a control panel housing and/or computer housing) of the apparatus that may be moved during that period of time.

It should be emphasized that certain inventive aspects relative to this "single apparatus orientation" feature, as with many aspects of the inventive technology, are not required in all of the inventive technology. Indeed, certain aspects of the inventive technology include the use of laser apparatus that require the operator manually move a targeting part of the laser (a housing that may appear as a laser pen, cage, box, cone, tube or indeed any other structure) in order to treat an area that is larger than a cross-section of the laser beam itself. Certainly, aspects of the inventive technology may involve the use of laser apparatus which, during a single orientation, can indeed treat an area that is larger than a laser beam cross-section, but still, because of the size of the area to be treated in relation to the largest area that can be treated (e.g., the largest skin area treatable) during one orientation, require that the apparatus be re-oriented to treat the entire area intended. These and other apparatus may or may not offer an operator the ability to customize the shape to be treated during a single apparatus orientation. However, it should be noted that customization of the shape treated during a single apparatus orientation enables efficient branding and helps to reduce preventing the growth of wool - a valuable commodity - from those naturally wool-growing areas outside of the area that should be treated (the required treatment area) to adequately reduce the incidence of blowfly strike.

An orientation of the apparatus may result from the step of establishing it so as to direct a laser beam from it and at the skin of a non-human animal (sheep (6), cattle (5), horses, dogs, as but a few examples) during its electrical operation (e.g., after it is electrically powered). Establishing the apparatus can involve movement of the animal relative to a housing of the apparatus, movement of the housing relative to the animal, or both occur. As should be understood, it involves an orientation (e.g., a placement, as shown in Fig. 3) of the apparatus so it can be used as intended (e.g., so as to direct a laser beam from it and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation). It is noted that Fig. 3 shows a brand also, as if the laser branding procedure has just been completed and the apparatus is still in its single orientation. Further, an apparatus is established so as to direct a laser beam from it and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation when it is properly pointed at, and thereby targets, a treatment area (an area to be treated), such that when the apparatus begins to actually direct a beam, it hits an intended skin target (e.g., that breech area skin where a single crescent hairless area is to be, or that area of skin where a portion of an intended brand shape is to be). In some embodiments, the actual laser operation may occur after, if necessary, the shape to be treated with a laser during a single apparatus orientation is input into the laser apparatus. In some embodiments, the entire area of skin treated (whether in the breech area or as a brand in other skin areas) during a single apparatus orientation may be a custom area, and indeed may be neither circular, square, nor rectangular in shape. The apparatus directs a beam at skin when at least some energy of the beam reaches the skin surface. Thus, even where there is some hair obstructing some of the beam, the beam can still be said to be directed at skin (often such hair may be removed by the laser). A single orientation may include establishment (e.g., via manual movement) of a housing of the laser apparatus relative to an area of skin to be treated and maintaining the housing in that orientation for a certain period of time (e.g., while the skin is lased). Orientation may also include perhaps a securing of the apparatus (or a housing part thereof) in that orientation relative to the skin as necessary to treat the desired area. As should be understood, during a single apparatus orientation, preferred embodiments of the inventive technology involve redirection of a laser beam (e.g., via reconfiguration of the component of the apparatus that directs the beam) such that multiple, different areas of the skin (e.g., each having a size equal to the cross-sectional area of the beam) can be successively treated during that orientation. In at least one embodiment of the inventive technology, e.g., the largest area that can be treated (i.e., the largest treatable area as shown as boxed area 3 of Fig. 1) by the laser during one orientation is 40mmx40mm. Other embodiments may have "largest treatment area" shapes other than square (e.g., circular) and with other dimensions. Indeed, although shown in fig. 1 as a rectangle 3, the area treated during a single laser treatment can be of a multitude of sizes and shapes (e.g., circular, square, rectangular, rhomboidal, parallelogram, oval, elliptical, etc.). Of course, in a preferred embodiment, the laser beam cross-sectional area (and the area subjected to a single pulse) is less than such "largest treatment area". For example, it may be only 7mm in diameter (of course beams having different cross-sectional area sizes - e.g., 10mm in diameter, as but one additional example - are within the ambit of the inventive technology).

It should be noted that, depending on the laser, there may be any of several capabilities that facilitate targeting of a treatment area, including, but not limited to, provision of light(s) that illuminate the skin area that will be treated for that specific orientation of the apparatus, and provision of a structural outline (e.g., that indicates where the laser will hit). Use of such capability, in addition to how to input a shape to be treated by the apparatus during a single orientation, may be clearly illustrated in materials supplied with the apparatus, if indeed a specific laser apparatus of the many available that provide at least one of such functionality(ies) is used.

The entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation may be customized (e.g., a customized area) by, e.g., programming such that the entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation may be different from and smaller than the largest area treatable during that single apparatus orientation; or by taking action (e.g., by design and manufacturing or product alteration) so that the largest treatable area during a single orientation of the apparatus is indeed the desired shape. For example, when used as a mulesing alternative, the largest treatable area may be a single crescent or double crescent, or a portion thereof or any other shape producing sufficient results. When used as a brander, the largest treatable area may be the brand or portion thereof. Taking such action (which would be well within the ken of the ordinary artisan) would possible reduce time otherwise spent entering the desired treatment area shape into a computer.

Again, customization may involve an entire area of skin treated (e.g., hit with a laser beam(s)) during a single apparatus orientation that is different from and smaller than the largest area treatable during that single apparatus orientation (e.g., see Figs. 7-11). All skin areas that are not identical in size, shape and location are considered different from one another; two areas of skin can share common skin (even where one is a "subset" of another) and still be "different". Further, the shape of the skin actually treated might be non-square, non-circular and non-rectangular (whether the apparatus is used as a mulesing alternative or a hot branding alternative), particularly where the area treated is a customized area.

Indeed, advantages relative to certain aspects of the inventive technology include the ability to treat, during a single orientation of the laser apparatus, an area that is larger than the size of the beam's cross-section and/or that matches a desired hairless area (a form of treatment area customization). Such skin treatment area may match a desired hairless area that is different from the largest area that can be treated during a single apparatus orientation, and when using the apparatus as a mulesing alternative, such area may be a single crescent shape (e.g., on either side of the anus of the sheep), a double crescent shape (on both sides of the anus of the sheep so that they "oppose" one another - (7) as shown in Fig. 4), or a partial single or partial double crescent shape (where an entire single crescent or the entire double crescent is larger than the largest area that can be treated during one orientation of the apparatus). Any crescent shape, whether single or double, or portion thereof, is considered non-circular for the purposes of this description. Of course, other shapes may be used to sufficiently abate blowfly strike or otherwise abate the problems associated therewith. Indeed, it is certainly possible to use a laser apparatus without customizing the shape it treats during a single orientation, but, as mentioned, treating wool growing areas that do not need to be treated in order to reduce blowfly strike (i.e., that are outside the required treatment area) merely reduces wool production. Nonetheless, it may be that some laser apparatus can be used without shape customization for a single orientation and still not treat areas outside of the required treatment area to an inappropriate degree. Further, it should be noted that it has not been observed, nor is it anticipated, that any problems relative to animal pain or bodily functioning result from treating the anal sphincter, an area that is typically considered outside the required treatment area.

When the apparatus is used as a hot-brand alternative, of course, the skin treatment area would be the intended brand shape or, where such shape is larger than the largest area that can be treated during one orientation of the apparatus, the skin treatment area would be part of that intended brand shape (a partial brand). The term, at least a partial brand (a term usually referring to a laser branding operation completed during one apparatus orientation) includes a partial brand and a complete brand. Thus, the treatment area generally may be any of perhaps an infinite number of shapes (because there is perhaps an infinite number of brands). Of course, this shape can be generated using, e.g., electronic functionalities (e.g., via computer) provided with the apparatus.

There are various situations where it would be appropriate to treat only a portion of the area within that area that is treatable during a single laser orientation. For example, perhaps a brand is to include a line that is ¹A" thick, or, consider the case where a crescent of skin to be treated during mulesing cannot be fit entirely within the single apparatus orientation largest treatment area (e.g., 2" circular area, or 40mm x 40mm square, as but two examples)). In such instances, the laser may be programmed to treat only the desired area during that single laser orientation.

In "pulsing" embodiments, the pulsed feature of the laser apparatus refers to its ability to emit repeated pulses of the beam, where the beam is on for a period of time and then off for a period of time. Of course, on-time may be different from or the same as off- time, and each may remain unchanged during a single orientation (although these are not mandatory features of the inventive technology). Further, the pulse rate and on-off times may change during a single treatment (e.g., a complete treatment of an animal, which may involve more than one orientation). In at least one embodiment, each the beam's on-time and off-time is adjustable (as but two examples, on-time may be adjustable from 2 to 40 milliseconds, while off-time may be adjustable from 600-1996 milliseconds). In at least one embodiment, the pulse rate may be adjusted from ¹A pulse per second to 5 pulses per second. Such ranges are only examples of specific ranges and are for illustrative purposes only.

Of course, pulsing can be controlled via computer (computerized pulsing); typically, as with any function, computer control may results in automatic pulsing in that during operation of the apparatus, at least some of the pulsing may occur without prompting from or data entry by the human operator. Of course, computerized pulsing, as with any computerized function, can occur after an initial data entry or prompting in which a human operator exerts some control over the computerized procedure (perhaps merely by prompting its start). Thus, for example, one might enter a pulse rate and trigger the start of automatic, computerized pulsing at a rate that has already been set (or perhaps is optimally selected by the computer). It should be noted that a laser apparatus having any computerized functionality is considered a computerized laser apparatus. Further, it should also be noted that all adjustments may be manual or may occur automatically (perhaps as the result of computer programming), as indicated below.

It should be noted that in at least one embodiment of the inventive technology, during a single apparatus orientation (and ignoring beam hit spot overlap), each skin area is subjected to only one pulse, but that in other embodiments, the same area may be subjected to more than one pulse (perhaps after an intermittent cooling time).

It is also noted, for purposes of clarification, that even where two beams are directed (e.g., shot) at the same time, it is deemed that a laser beam is directed from the laser apparatus. When a beam is redirected at a different skin area (either after dragged through or to the new area while being kept on, re-aimed and re-shot at the different area, or because the beam is emitted from a different "tube" aimed at the different area), this description and the claims adopt the convenient approach that the same beam is directed at the new area. Two or more beams may exist when more than one beam is shot at a given time. However, even where two or more beams are shot at once, the limit "so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus" is met. Further, if there is indeed a sort of temporal overlap between a beam that is shot at a first area and a beam that is shot at a second, different area (e.g., the first beam shoots from 0.0 - 0.15 sec and the "second" beam shoots from 0.10-0.2 sec), it is considered, for the purposes of this description, that the non-overlapping portion of the "second" beam (i.e., from 0.15 to 0.2 sec) is indeed the same beam as the first beam (of course, as the reader has perhaps intuited, such overlapping capability would likely be possible only with those apparatus having a different tube from which the overlapping beam is directed). Thus, conceptually, an aspect of certain embodiments may be viewed as having one beam (perhaps there are others also) that is redirected (either upon being dragged through or to a new area while still lasing, being reshot with the same tube after re-aiming at the different skin area, or upon being shot from a different tube aimed the different skin area), perhaps repeatedly, at different skin areas, regardless of how that redirection occurs. Pulsing may include any of these types of "redirection" of a laser beam.

In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, setting only two of: pulse rate; on- time; and off-time may be sufficient for operation of the apparatus, although certainly such values may be preset or may be determined by the apparatus (e.g., by computer) upon entry by the operator of specifics relative to the desired application (e.g., branding of dark skinned cattle, or alternative mulesing of a certain type and size sheep), or automatically by the apparatus. Settings may also be manually entered (e.g., by turning knob(s) or entering a desired setting or range with keys). Settings may be indirectly chosen by an operator (perhaps they would be directly selected by an apparatus computer) upon the operator's selection of, e.g., an allowed pain parameter (such parameter would perhaps related to pulse rate of the animal, e.g.).

As mentioned, certain embodiments of the inventive technology involve techniques that mitigate heat buildup. This may occur during a single orientation of the laser apparatus and by relocation of the laser beam to a non-adjacent skin area 2 after treatment of a first area 1 (see Fig. 1). In at least one embodiment of the inventive technology, a specific skin area (e.g., the size of the cross-section of the laser beam) may be treated after only one pulse of the laser beam (although perhaps other embodiments may involve additional pulsing of a single beam cross-section size skin area). The non- adjacent skin area does not overlap that skin area relative to which it is non-adjacent. After this pulse treatment, the laser beam (perhaps as controlled by a computer) may be turned off (after the expiration of the beam's on-time) and the laser component that directs the beam may be reconfigured (e.g., so that the beam is redirected, perhaps with a computer, so that it hits a different skin area) during the ensuing off-time such that this laser component is thereafter established to direct the laser beam at a skin area is not adjacent that skin area that was most recently treated, but still within that area to be treated by the laser during a single orientation of the laser apparatus. Indeed, some embodiments may redirect with a different laser "tube", instead of reconfiguring that "tube" from which the immediately prior beam was shot. It should be understood that by adjacent is meant lying immediately next to; non-adjacent means not lying immediately next to (so, non- adj acent implies space therebetween) .

It is noted that heat buildup may be mitigated also, or instead, by a laser apparatus that follows a non-linear lasing protocol, where at least part of the operation during a single apparatus orientation involves the redirection of the laser beam such that spots that are immediately hit after a previous spot are not in line with the two previous spots, (see Fig. 1). Such an erratic, perhaps zig-zagging pattern may also be effective in mitigating heat buildup, particularly when coupled with the afore-mentioned non-adjacent protocol.

As with some (or indeed, perhaps all) functionalities, any heat buildup mitigation protocols or strategies can be computerized and thus automatic, at least to some extent.

Any of the aforementioned beam redirection may be computerized in that it may be controlled by a computer (perhaps after data is entered relative to the shape of the area to be treated during a single apparatus orientation). Aspects of the inventive technology may thus involve computerized redirection of the laser beam. The term computer or computerized as used herein merely implies the electronic processing of data in any fashion, perhaps with a processor, perhaps with programming capability, and perhaps to render a process or part thereof automatic.

It should be noted that a "non-adjacent redirecting" protocol enhances cooling relative to an "adjacent" redirecting protocol. Even a laser having a non-random, non- adjacent redirecting protocol may, when used as an alternative to the traditional mulesing procedure, or as a novel brander, be within the scope of the inventive technology. As any protocol that redirects a beam while maintaining the laser apparatus in its orientation (e.g., during a single laser apparatus orientation) may be novel in certain animal husbandry applications (e.g., as a mulesing or hot branding alternative), such broad concept may be the sole novel feature in at least one embodiment of the inventive technology, regardless of the precise nature of the protocol.

In order to thoroughly treat that area which is to be treated during a single laser orientation, some overlap of laser hit spots may occur, although such overlap may be minimized (e.g., by using computer programming that selectively chooses precisely where a laser beam hit is to occur, while recording a history of prior hit spots (so as to minimize a overlap "while still "hitting" all desired areas) for procedure speed, efficiency, and perhaps abating heat build-up.

Indeed, as mentioned, a computer (perhaps with programming that perhaps manifests as robotic control of at least some aspect of the laser) may be utilized to reconfigure specific laser components) to redirect the laser beam with the goal, at times, of reducing or eliminating heat build up on the treated surface. One such program may be part of a random scanner (e.g., Sharplan's Computerized Random Scanner) that may be a part of the laser apparatus when it exists, and that, but for a constraint that precludes re- shooting the laser beam at an adjacent site or a site that has already been shot, and perhaps precludes hitting three consecutive spots in a straight line, selects sites (e.g., spots, whether the beam's cross-section is circular or not) within the selected area to be treated during a single orientation in an entirely random fashion. Such protocol may be described as partially random and; when controlled by a computer, the term "automatically at least partially randomly redirecting" includes not only it (among other protocols that are partially random), but also MIy random protocols. After appropriate reconfigurement as described above (which, as understood, may occur between treatments of skin areas typically having a size that is substantially equal to a cross-section of the beam when it is orthogonal to the beam's direction), and immediately after expiration of the off-time, the laser beam may be pulsed again so as to treat the new area.

Another individual inventive aspect of the laser that may be used for branding or an alternative to surgical mulesing relates to certain wavelength range, energy density range, power range, pulse rate, and on-off time limitations of the laser. In at least one embodiment of the inventive technology, the laser used may have any power range up to 50 watts (as but one example, a power range of from 15 milli Watts to 40 milli Watts), an energy density range of 10-65 joules/square cm, and a wavelength range of 590-1200 nanometers. At least one embodiment of the technology may use an Alexandrite type laser, a laser whose wavelength range centers on 755 mm. Of course, these limits describe only certain ranges or precise values that specific embodiments of the inventive technology exhibit. One hair removal laser that may be used for either the mulesing alternative or the branding procedure is the EpiTouch™ Alex long pulse Alexandrite laser (perhaps using Sharplan's Computerized Random Scanner).

As indicated, aspects of the inventive technology may focus not on the laser (as indeed, preferred embodiments use a known laser), but rather on the novel application of the laser as an alternative to Mulesing (which is an invasive surgical procedure) and, as an independent application, to branding of animals (e.g., cattle). As an alternative to surgical Mulesing (where the general term surgery as used in reference to mulesing infers cutting and an invasive breach of the skin surface), use of a hair removal laser as in at least one embodiment of the inventive technology would, as one might expect, focus on removing hair from the skin surface to be treated (e.g., breech area skin), and might not result in a less wrinkled skin surface. However, such hair removal alone significantly "cleans up" the breech area in that it eliminates an attachment site for fecal matter and urine (i.e., reduces soiling), and reduces moisture buildup, thereby reducing the odds of blowfly strike and resultant maggot infestation. Such hair removal alone (i.e., without wrinkle reduction) may be enough to adequately curb the blowfly problem. Indeed, use of the laser may be viewed as a novel blowfly strike (and the conditions related thereto) prophylactic, or, at the least, a novel method of reducing the incidence of blowfly strike and/or the medical conditions stemming therefrom. It should also be noted that the inventive technology may be used in conjunction with other "non-mulesing" alternatives, although indeed, the inventive technology can stand alone to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike or otherwise prevent problems associated therewith.

It should be understood that aspects of the inventive technology may be as broad as the concept of using a laser - a term of art referring to a laser that is known as able to prevent the growth of human hair from a treated area - to reduce the incidence of breech flystrike and the medical conditions stemming therefrom. It should also be understood that aspects of the inventive technology may be as broad as the concept of using a laser to brand animals. It should be noted that some, if not all, hair removal lasers are able to destroy more than one hair follicle at a time.

First steps in the use of a hair removal laser as an alternative to the surgical mulesing procedure may involve determination of which skin portions in the breech area are to be subjected to the laser (whether one crescent, two crescents, or a portion thereof, or other shapes). The laser may be applied to those areas that the surgical mulesing procedure removed (e.g., one crescent area from each side of the anus), although certainly it may be possible to prevent blowfly strike in the breech area by applying the laser to other-sized and shaped areas of the skin. Regardless of what shape/size the treated skin area is, if the procedure is performed using a laser, it is indeed considered within the ambit of the inventive technology.

Upon determination of the area of skin to be treated by the laser (whether used as a mulesing alternative or a hot branding alternative), in some applications best results may occur when any hair that may exist from the area to be treated is shaved entirely, or at least cut shorter and/or thinned (although this step is often not necessary and indeed, at times, ideal results may be achieved without it). The actual laser application step may involve programming into the laser apparatus the skin area (e.g., shape) to be treated during a specific one or more laser apparatus orientations (although, indeed there may be only one laser orientation if the entire area to be treated is less than or equal to that area that can be treated during a single laser orientation). Depending, perhaps, on the size of an animal (particularly when the laser is used as a mulesing alternative), the procedure may be achieved during one, or perhaps more, laser orientations. When used as a hot branding alternative, typically the number of required laser orientations will depend on the size of the brand. In some embodiments, establishment of the laser apparatus so as to direct a beam from it may involve manual holding of the laser apparatus in the desired orientation, and/or may involve manual positioning and then (perhaps) strapping of the laser to the buttocks of the sheep. Either may require temporarily securing or immobilizing the sheep. In some procedures, the sheep may be moved into position (e.g., backed up) relative to a secured laser (which, although secured, perhaps may also be movable in controlled fashion). Upon establishment of the laser (e.g., placement of a housing of it over the area to be treated during the first (and perhaps only) laser treatment) and perhaps an adjustment of the settings (including but not limited to: power, wavelength, on/off time, laser pulse rate), the laser may be activated to treat the area within that single laser orientation area. Although typical settings that would be well known to one skilled in the art could often be used during use of the apparatus as a mulesing or hot-branding alternative, the use of certain settings may perhaps improve efficiency of the operation or even enhance results where skin treatment area is unshaven or where very dark or light skin or hair is encountered. Such settings would depend upon the particular situation; determining them would also be well within the skill of an ordinary artisan.

Of course, if there are additional areas to be treated after treatment while the apparatus is in a first orientation, then the laser apparatus and/or the sheep will be relatively moved (reestablished perhaps) such that a new apparatus orientation is established, and so that the entire area can be treated as desired. As is understood, each new orientation area may require a re-programming of the laser in order that the laser treat the area to be treated during that new orientation. As mentioned, in some embodiments of the inventive technology, a light may assist in indicating which area will be treated during a single laser orientation (e.g., a crescent shape may be lit up on the skin surface, if indeed such shape is entered (e.g., via programming) into the laser apparatus). It is also worth mention that the skin of a Merino sheep typically needs only one treatment for the intended hair growth prevention to occur.

At some point before activation, the settings may need to be adjusted as desired. As to use of the laser apparatus as a mulesing alternative, the desired intent may be to inflict no greater than an acceptable level of pain on the sheep during and after the laser procedure. This level of pain should certainly be less than that level of pain suffered by the sheep during surgical Mulesing, and perhaps also less that that amount of pain the sheep would suffer if the laser procedure were done as fast as possible. The pain may be indicated by stress indicators (hormones released during the procedure), noises made by the sheep during the procedure, expressions of pain on the "face" of the sheep, sudden movements by the sheep upon activation of the laser procedure, as but a few examples. Reducing one or more of the following (types of "pain related electrical parameters") may reduce pain - laser pulse rate, laser pulse on-time, laser power, energy density. Wavelength, also a pain related electrical parameters, may be adjusted (e.g., increased during some applications, and decreased during others, depending on settings of other parameters) in order to reduce pain. Thus, there are several types of pain related electrical parameters that may be adjusted in order to reduce the pain felt by an animal.

As mentioned, another independent novel application of the laser apparatus (e.g., a hair removal laser) is branding (e.g., of cattle for identification or other purposes). Although the laser procedure as indicated above relative to an alternative to mulesing is generally applicable to use of the laser for branding, distinguishing features may include: branding may more often involve an initial removal of existing hair (e.g., by shaving) from the area to be treated; and branding typically does not focus on a reduction of pain suffered by the branded animal during the procedure (relative to that pain suffered if the laser procedure were carried out as fast as possible), although certainly such a reduction in pain can, and perhaps should, be achieved. After preparation of the area via shaving, hair shortening and/or thinning (if indeed such step(s) is carried out), the laser may be computer programmed to treat a certain shape during a first laser orientation. Such shape could be a complete brand, or a partial brand (e.g., where only a part of the entire brand can be treated during a single laser orientation). Of course, at this time, settings may also be adjusted (as indicated above relative to use of a laser apparatus as a mulesing alternative), perhaps as guided by an acceptable level of pain to be suffered during the procedure. Certainly such level may - and perhaps should - be less than that suffered during a traditional hot branding.

During use of the laser apparatus (to brand or as a mulesing alternative), after an initial orientation of the laser apparatus and treatment of an area during that orientation then, if this treated area is less than the entire area to be treated (e.g., the double crescent perhaps, in the case of mulesing, or a complete brand), the next step may be re-orientation of the laser (see Fig. 5, illustrating this aspect in a mulesing alternative context. As mentioned, a reprogramming of the laser may also be necessary, if the area to be treated during the new orientation is different from that area treated during the previous laser orientation. In some cases, as may be the case where a full single crescent area, a half single crescent, or the upper or lower half of a double crescent is treated during an orientation, merely rotating an appropriate housing of the apparatus may avoid the need to reprogram. Depending perhaps on the species of animal branded, it may be necessary to treat the area successively (e.g., again after a few weeks). Simply, at the least, one needs only observe the integrity of the treated area (e.g., a brand) after a certain amount of time; if hair regrows in the treated area, then, or course, a re-treatment may be in order. It should be noted that in preferred embodiments of each use of the laser apparatus as a mulesing alternative or a hot branding alternative, the skin of the animal is not burned; instead, merely hair follicles are destroyed. Indeed, preferred methods may involve the step of heating the skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature (the temperature of skin at which it receives a second degree burn). As indicated, it should be understood that at least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be as broad as the concept of using a hair removal laser to brand animals.

It is also noted that although there may be some commercially available lasers that have all of the following features: pulsing, shape configuration during a single apparatus orientation, beam redirection to non-adjacent skin area, automatic beam redirection (as but a few), certain of these functionalities can be easily removed or disabled, and indeed, there may be laser apparatus - whether commercially available or modified from their factory condition - that do not include one or more of these functionalities.

Experimental testing was performed on sheep relative to use of a hair removal laser to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike on sheep or otherwise abate the problems associated therewith. Testing was preformed on two lambs, each less than one month old. The tails were banded for docking one day before the laser was used on the lambs. The tails were on both lambs at the time of the laser application (although this is not a requirement at all). Testing involved two separate apparatus orientations for each lamb, although indeed the apparatus used appeared to be sufficient to accomplish the task with one orientation (e.g., centered directly over the anus of the lamb so as to treat surrounding areas).

Both lambs were cleaned of attached fecal matter in the breech area to prevent it from obstructing the laser beam. Hair was not in any way shaven or shortened in the intended treatment area of the breech area of the first lamb. Hair in the intended treatment area of the breach area of the second lamb was crudely precut (shortened but not completely shaven) The first lamb was treated with an EpiTouch™ 5100 laser apparatus (a hair removal laser) at a power level of 25 Joules/ sq cm and a pulse rate of 5 pps. The second lamb was lased at a power level of 25 Joules/ sq cm and a pulse rate of 3pps. The lamb treated at 3 pps showed better results. No orientations in the experiment involved any shape customization, as the largest shape treatable during a single orientation (a square) was treated. For each lamb, one orientation involved a treatment on one side of a vertical line bisecting the anus, and the other orientation involved a treatment on the other side of this line. Neither lamb exhibited any sign of pain or discomfort.

For each lamb, the procedure was performed by laying the animal on its back, with the operator kneeling down with its inverted body between the operator's legs and its head facing opposite of the operator's. The operators then held the leg of the area being treated in one hand and the apparatus (a scanner) in the other. An assistant held the other leg. While the procedure could be carried out by one person and with only one apparatus orientation, the experimental test involved an assistant.

The laser apparatus removed any wool showing above the skin in the treatment area, that the skin shows no burns to the area, although the wool surrounding the treatment area shows slight brown heat damage. Further, it is noted that neither lamb showed tenderness to the area when wiping them off after the procedure. As of one month after the procedure (no subsequent status checks before the date of filing of the international application were possible), there was no evidence of hair regrowth in the treated area.

Aspects of the inventive technology disclosed herein may be described, in various embodiments, as follows:

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of the apparatus, directing the laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin; and pulsing the laser beam. At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a hair removal laser so as to direct a laser beam at skin of a non- human animal during its electrical operation, and directing the laser beam from the hair removal laser and at the skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; directing the laser beam from the laser apparatus and at the skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin; redirecting the laser beam at a different skin area; and automatically mitigating skin heat buildup.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; directing the laser beam from the laser apparatus and at the skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin; automatically redirecting the laser beam at a different skin area.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; adjusting at least one pain related electrical parameter of the laser apparatus to effect at or below an acceptable animal pain level, and directing the laser beam from the laser apparatus and at the skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at breech area skin of a sheep during its electrical operation; directing the laser beam from the apparatus and at the breech area skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the breech area skin; and reducing the incidence of blowfly strike on the breech area skin.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus in an apparatus orientation so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; directing the laser beam from the laser apparatus and at the skin; automatically redirecting the laser beam at a different skin area while maintaining the laser apparatus in the apparatus orientation; and permanently preventing the growth of hair from a skin treatment area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of the laser beam.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus in an apparatus orientation so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; directing the laser beam from the laser apparatus and at the skin; automatically redirecting the laser beam at a different skin area; and permanently preventing the growth of hair from a skin treatment area skin treatment area that matches a desired hairless area.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a computerized laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; repeatedly redirecting with a computer the laser beam to repeatedly hit different skin areas and permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during its electrical operation; automatically at least partially randomly redirecting the laser beam while using the laser apparatus to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of: obtaining a laser apparatus; and pulsing a laser beam directed from the laser apparatus while using the laser apparatus on the sheep breech area to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike in the sheep breech area.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of obtaining a laser apparatus adapted such that an entire area of non-human animal skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is different from and smaller than the largest area treatable during the single apparatus orientation, and using the laser apparatus on non-human animal skin to brand as desired.

At least one aspect of the inventive technology may involve a method comprising the steps of establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from the apparatus and at skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of the apparatus; and directing the laser beam from the apparatus and at the skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from the skin, where the entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is different from and smaller than the largest skin area treatable during the single apparatus orientation.

As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. It involves both laser techniques as well as devices to accomplish the appropriate laser procedure. In this application, the laser techniques are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.

The discussion included in this application is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. Apparatus claims may not only be included for the device described, but also method or process claims may be included to address the functions the invention and each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims that will be included in any subsequent patent application. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this invention. A broad disclosure encompassing both the explicit embodiment(s) shown, the great variety of implicit alternative embodiments, and the broad methods or processes and the like are encompassed by this disclosure and may be relied upon when drafting the claims for any subsequent patent application. It should be understood that such language changes and broader or more detailed claiming may be accomplished at a later date (such as by any required deadline) or in the event the applicant subsequently seeks a patent filing based on this filing. With this understanding, the reader should be aware that this disclosure is to be understood to support any subsequently filed patent application that may seek examination of as broad a base of claims as deemed within the applicant's right and may be designed to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the invention both independently and as an overall system.

Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. Additionally, when used or implied, an element is to be understood as encompassing individual as well as plural structures that may or may not be physically connected. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms -- even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, the disclosure of a "laser beam" should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of "beaming a laser" ~ whether explicitly discussed or not — and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of "beaming a laser", such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a "laser beam" and even a "means for beaming a laser" Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

Any acts of law, statutes, regulations, or rules mentioned in this application for patent; or patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with a broadly supporting interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporated by reference. Finally, all references listed in the list of References To Be Incorporated By Reference In Accordance With The Provisional Patent Application or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference, however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these invention(s) such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).

I. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

II. OTHER DOCUMENTS (Including Author (in CAPITAL LETTERS), Title, Date, Pertinent Pages, Etc.)

Fluorescense Lifetime Systems, www.picoquant.com, 1/28/2005 pp 2

Photon, Inc. Light Measuring Solutions, NanoScan for High-powered beam Applications, 2005 Sorell, G.C., et al. The use of high-energy electrons to depilate the breech of sheep, Australia Veterinary Journal, 1990 Feb; 67 (2):51-5

Spectra Physics, The Solid State Laser Company, "Vangaurd 4 Watts of UV from a Quasi-CW, All Solid State Laser," http.7/www.splasers.com/products/isl_products/vangaurd.html three pages, printed 14 Nov 2002

Spectra-Physics Products, "Fcbar" http://www.splasers.com/products/oem_products/ov_fcbar.htrnl two pages printed 14 Nov 2002 Spectra-Physics, The Solid State Laser Company, "Vanguard 2000-HMD 532, www.specra-physics.com

Spectra-Physics, The Solid State Laser Company, "Vanguard 350-HMD 355, www.specra-phvsics.com

Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim and make a statement of invention to at least: i) each of the laser devices as herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) each system, method, and element shown or described as now applied to any specific field or devices mentioned, x) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, xi) the various combinations and permutations of each of the elements disclosed, and xii) each potentially dependent claim or concept as a dependency on each and every one of the independent claims or concepts presented.

In addition and as to computer aspects and each aspect amenable to programming or other electronic automation, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim and make a statement of invention to at least: xii) processes performed with the aid of or on a computer as described throughout the above discussion, xiv) a programmable apparatus as described throughout the above discussion, xv) a computer readable memory encoded with data to direct a computer comprising means or elements which function as described throughout the above discussion, xvi) a computer configured as herein disclosed and described, xvii) individual or combined subroutines and programs as herein disclosed and described, xviii) the related methods disclosed and described, xix) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these systems and methods, xx) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, xxi) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, xxii) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, xxiii) the various combinations and permutations of each of the above and of any elements of each claim, and xxiv) each dependent claim as a dependency on each and every one of the independent claims presented. In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of additional claims, the applicant has presented the claims with initial dependencies only. Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws ~ including but not limited to European Patent Convention Article 123(2) and United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws-- to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim.

Both all priority filing(s) and the claims set forth later in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon. The claims initially presented are to be understood as also stating in this textual section of the specification, clauses and subject matter that are expressly designated by the applicant to be part of the description of embodiments of the invention. They may be used by the applicant to support any later claim(s) recited, amended, or reinserted in this patent application and may be used to support any claims recited in any subsequent continuation, continuation-in-part, or division patent application. Further, even if subsequently amended, cancelled, or otherwise altered, the claims originally set forth in this and the priority fϊling(s) are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this section, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of any of the content of such as additional description to support any claim or element, any amendment, and any component thereof. The content of this section (both listed and incorporated by reference) shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.

With regard to claims whether now or later presented for examination, it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid great expansion of the examination burden, the applicant may at any time present only initial claims or perhaps only initial claims with only initial dependencies. Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws -- including but not limited to European Patent Convention Article 123(2) and United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws- to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. In drafting any claims at any time whether in this application or in any subsequent application, it should also be understood that the applicant has intended to capture as full and broad a scope of coverage as legally available. To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular embodiment, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative embodiments.

Further, if or when used, the use of the transitional phrase "comprising" is used to maintain the "open-end" claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.

It should be understood that the term "at least one" as used in the description and claims is not intended nor used in this disclosure to mean that other claims or descriptions not incorporating the "at least one" language cannot further include one or more like elements and the language "at least one" is not intended nor used to change "open-ended" claims, inherently including devices or methods having additional elements or steps apart from those claimed, into "closed-ended" claims wherein devices or methods having additional elements would not be covered by such claims. Further, if or when used, the use of the transitional phrase "comprising" (or its equivalent in Australia and the like, "including") is used to maintain the "open-end" claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term "comprise", "include" (if or when inserted), or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible. Further, the it is noted that a claim may include explicitly the following "Methods substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples."

Finally, any claims set forth at any time are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. A method comprising the steps of:

- establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of said apparatus;

- directing said laser beam from said apparatus and at said skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin; and - pulsing said laser beam.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step of pulsing comprises the step of computerized pulsing.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step of establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

7. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of redirecting said laser beam during a single orientation of said laser apparatus.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

10. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of computerized redirecting said laser beam to non-adjacent skin areas.

11. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of redirecting said laser beam during an off-phase of said laser beam.

12. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

13. The non-human animal of claim 1.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

- establishing a hair removal laser so as to direct a laser beam at skin of a non- human animal during electrical operation of said hair removal laser; and

- directing said laser beam from said hair removal laser and at said skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin.

15. A method as described in claim 14 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

16. A method as described in claim 14 -wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

17. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

18. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

19. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

20. A method as described in claim 14 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

21. A method as described in claim 14 further comprising the step of computerized redirecting said laser beam to non-adjacent skin areas.

22. A method as described in claim 14 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

23. The non-human animal of claim 14.

24. A method comprising the steps of:

- directing said laser beam from said laser apparatus and at said skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin;

- redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area; and

- automatically mitigating skin heat buildup.

25. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said step of establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

26. A method as described in claim 24 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

27. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

28. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

29. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

30. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

31. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

32. A method as described in claim 24 wherein said step of automatically mitigating skin heat buildup comprises the step of redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area.

33. A method as described in claim 32 wherein said step of redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area comprises the step of computerized redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area.

34. A method as described in claim 32 wherein said step of automatically mitigating skin heat buildup comprises the step of redirecting said laser beam at a different, non-adjacent skin area.

35. A method as described in claim 24 further comprising the step of reducing laser hit spot overlap.

36. A method as described in claim 24 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

37. The non-human animal of claim 24

38. A method comprising the steps of:

- directing said laser beam from said laser apparatus and at said skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin; and

- automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area.

39. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam comprises the step of computerized redirecting said laser beam.

40. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam comprises the step of automatically redirecting said laser beam to non-adjacent skin areas.

41. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam comprises the step of at least partially randomly automatically redirecting said laser beam.

42. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said step of establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

43. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam occurs during a single orientation of said laser apparatus.

44. A method as described in claim 38 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

45. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

46. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

47. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

48. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

49. A method as described in claim 38 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

50. A method as described in claim 38 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

51. The non-human animal of claim 38.

52. A method comprising the steps of:

- adjusting at least one pain related electrical parameter of said laser apparatus to effect at or below an acceptable animal pain level, and

- directing said laser beam from said laser apparatus and at said skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin.

53. A method as described in claim 52 wherein said step of establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

I 54. A method as described in claim 52 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

55. A method as described in claim 52 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

56. A method as described in claim 52 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

57. A method as described in claim 52 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

58. A method as described in claim 52 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

59. The non-human animal of claim 52.

60. A method as described in claim 52 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

61. A method comprising the steps of:

- establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at breech area skin of a sheep during electrical operation of said apparatus; - directing said laser beam from said apparatus and at said breech area skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said breech area skin; and

- reducing the incidence of blowfly strike on said breech area skin.

62. A method as described in claim 61 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

63. A method as described in claim 61 wherein said laser apparatus is a hair removal laser.

64. A method as described in claim 61 further comprising the step of automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area in the breech area of said sheep.

65. A method as described in claim 64 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area occurs while maintaining said laser apparatus in a single apparatus orientation.

66. A method as described in claim 61 further comprising the step of treating a non- circular, non-square, and non-rectangular skin area while maintaining said laser apparatus in a single apparatus orientation.

67. A method as described in claim 61 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

68. A method as described in claim 61 wherein the entire area of breech area skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is different from and smaller than the largest area treatable during said single apparatus orientation .

69. A method as described in claim 61 wherein the entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is a customized area.

70. A method comprising the steps of:

- establishing a laser apparatus in an apparatus orientation so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of said apparatus;

- directing said laser beam from said laser apparatus and at said skin;

- automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area while maintaining said laser apparatus in said apparatus orientation; and

- permanently preventing the growth of hair from a skin treatment area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of said laser beam.

71. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said step of establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

72. A method as described in claim 70 further comprising the step of automatically repeatedly redirecting said laser beam at different skin areas while maintaining said laser apparatus in said apparatus orientation.

73. A method as described in claim 72 wherein said step of permanently preventing the growth of hair from a skin treatment area comprises the step of permanently preventing the growth of hair from a skin treatment area that matches a desired hairless area.

74. A method as described in claim 73 wherein said desired hairless area has a single crescent shape.

75. A method as described in claim 73 wherein said desired hairless area has a double crescent shape.

76. A method as described in claim 73 wherein said desired hairless area has an intended brand shape.

77. A method as described in claim 73 wherein said desired hairless area has a partial single crescent shape.

78. A method as described in claim 73 wherein said desired hairless area has a partial double crescent shape.

79. A method as described in claim 73 wherein said desired hairless area has a partial intended brand shape.

80. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

81. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said different skin area is a non- adjacent skin area.

82. A method as described in claim 70 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

83. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said step of establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

84. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

85. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

86. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

87. A method as described in claim 70 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

88. The non-human animal of claim 70.

89. A method as described in claim 70 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

90. A method comprising the steps of:

- directing said laser beam from said laser apparatus and at said skin; - automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area; and

- permanently preventing the growth of hair from a skin treatment area skin treatment area that matches a desired hairless area.

91. A method as described in claim 90 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

92. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area occurs when said laser apparatus is in said apparatus orientation.

93. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

94. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said different skin area is a non- adjacent skin area.

95. A method as described in claim 90 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

96. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said desired hairless area has a single crescent shape.

97. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said desired hairless area has a double crescent shape.

98. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said desired hairless area has an intended brand shape.

99. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said desired hairless area has a partial single crescent shape.

100. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said desired hairless area has a partial double crescent shape.

101. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said desired hairless area has a partial intended brand shape.

102. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

103. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

104. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

105. A method as described in claim 90 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

106. A method as described in claim 90 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

107. The non-human animal of claim 90.

108. A method comprising the steps of: - establishing a computerized laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of said apparatus; and

- repeatedly redirecting with a computer said laser beam to repeatedly hit different skin areas and permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin.

109. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said step of establishing a computerized laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

110. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said step of repeatedly redirecting is performed while said apparatus is maintained in a single apparatus orientation.

111. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said step of repeatedly redirecting comprises the step of repeatedly redirecting said laser beam to non-adjacent skin areas.

112. A method as described in claim 108 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

113. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

114. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

115. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

116. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

117. A method as described in claim 108 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

118. A method as described in claim 108 further comprising the step of automatically reducing laser beam hit spot overlap while using said laser apparatus to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin.

119. The non-human animal of claim 108.

120 A method as described in claim 108 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

121. A method comprising the steps of:

- establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at the skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of said apparatus; and

- automatically at least partially randomly redirecting said laser beam while using said laser apparatus to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin.

122. A method as described in claim 121 wherein said step establishing a laser apparatus comprises the step of establishing a hair removal laser.

123. A method as described in claim 121 wherein said skin is breech area skin.

124. A method as described in claim 121 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

125. A method as described in claim 121 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

126. A method as described in claim 121 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

127. A method as described in claim 121 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

128. The non-human animal of claim 121.

129. A method as described in claim 121 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

130. A method comprising the steps of:

- obtaining a laser apparatus; and

- using said laser apparatus on a sheep breech area to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike in said sheep breech area.

131. A method as described in claim 130 further comprising the step of pulsing a laser beam directed from said laser apparatus and at said sheep breech area.

132. A method as described in claim 130 wherein said apparatus is adapted such that the entire area of skin in a sheep breech area treated during a single apparatus orientation is neither circular, square, nor rectangular in shape.

133. A method as described in claim 130 wherein the entire area of breech are skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is different from and smaller than the largest area treatable during said single apparatus orientation.

134. A method as described in claim 130 wherein said laser apparatus is a hair removal laser.

135. A method as described in claim 130 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

136. A method comprising the steps of: - obtaining a laser apparatus adapted such that an entire area of non-human animal skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is a customized area; and

- using said laser apparatus on said non-human animal skin to brand as desired.

137. A method as described in claim 136 wherein the entire area of non-human animal skin area treated during a single apparatus orientation is different from and smaller than the largest area treatable during said single apparatus orientation.

138. A method as described in claim 136 wherein said customized area is neither circular, square, nor rectangular in shape.

139. A method as described in claim 136 wherein said laser apparatus is a hair removal laser.

140. A method as described in claim 136 further comprising the step of pulsing a laser beam directed from said laser apparatus while using said laser apparatus on said non-human animal skin to brand as desired.

141. A method as described in claim 136 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

142. A method as described in claim 136 wherein said entire area of bovine skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is at least a partial brand.

143. A method as described in claim 136 wherein said non-human animal skin is cattle skin.

144. A method as described in claim 136 wherein said non-human animal skin is horse skin.

145. A method comprising the steps of:

- establishing a laser apparatus so as to direct a laser beam from said apparatus and at skin of a non-human animal during electrical operation of said apparatus; and - directing said laser beam from said apparatus and at said skin to permanently prevent the growth of hair from said skin,

wherein the entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is a customized area.

146. A method as described in claim 145 wherein the entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation is different from and smaller than the largest skin area treatable during said single apparatus orientation.

147. A method as described in claim 145 further comprising the step of pulsing said laser beam.

148. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said laser apparatus is a hair removal laser.

149. A method as described in claim 145 further comprising the step of automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area.

150. A method as described in claim 149 wherein said step of automatically redirecting said laser beam at a different skin area occurs while maintaining said laser apparatus in a single apparatus orientation.

151. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said entire area of skin treated during a single apparatus orientation has a non-circular, non-square, and non-rectangular skin shape.

152. A method as described in claim 145 further comprising the step of heating said skin to a maximum skin temperature that is less than a skin burning temperature.

153. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said entire area of skin treated during said single apparatus orientation is at least a partial brand shape.

154. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said entire area of skin treated during said single apparatus orientation is at least a partial crescent shape.

155. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said skin is breech area skin

156. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said non-human animal comprises a sheep.

157. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said non-human animal comprises a bovine.

158. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said method is a mulesing alternative.

159. A method as described in claim 145 wherein said method is a hot-brand alternative.

160. The non-human animal of claim 145.