DYNAMIC COOLING OF HUMAN SKIN USING A NONTOXIC CRYOGEN WITH NO OZONE DEPLETION AND MINIMAL GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL

摘要

A method and apparatus for performing a laser treatment of a patient includes applying a positive pressure impulse on a predetermined target site on the patient with sufficient positive pressure arising from the momentum flux of sprayed material incident on the target site to momentarily lessen pain sensation during irradiation during or proximate in time to irradiation of the target site. The predetermined target site is cooled by applying a predetermined amount of coolant or cryogen onto the target site. The target site is radiated with energy to produce heat in tissue at the target site while leaving a superficial part of the target site substantially undamaged due to dynamic cooling of the superficial part of the target site by the coolant. Mediation of the pain sensation arising from the radiation is at least partially masked or lessened by the positive pressure impulse and/or by the temperature of the coolant.