Medical Systems, Methods, and Devices for Hypopigmentation Cooling Treatments

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods, devices, and systems for reducing a pigmentation of a skin of a patient. In some embodiments, freezing of the skin may be desirable to effect the hypopigmentation of the skin of the patient. Generally, embodiments may limit supercooling (or promote freezing) of the skin of the patient during a cooling treatment. In some embodiments, coupling fluids are provided to reduce a thermal contact resistance between a cooling treatment probe and the skin of the patient to improve cooling treatment. Optionally, a fluid carrier may be provided to help retain the coupling fluid at the treatment site. In some embodiments, the coupling fluid may include ice nucleating agents to promote ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid during cooling treatment. The ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid may progress into the skin to limit supercooling of the skin during treatment.

主权项

1. A method of altering pigmentation in a skin of a patient, the method comprising:
applying a coupling fluid to a treatment area on the skin of the patient, the coupling fluid including an ice nucleating agent configured to promote ice formation in the coupling fluid; applying a cooling treatment to the treatment area with the applied coupling fluid present, wherein the cooling treatment promotes ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid and wherein the ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid propagates into the skin of the patient during the cooling treatment.