US20080172111A1 - Method and apparatus for selective photothermolysis of veins - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for selective photothermolysis of veins Download PDF

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US20080172111A1
US20080172111A1 US11/623,383 US62338307A US2008172111A1 US 20080172111 A1 US20080172111 A1 US 20080172111A1 US 62338307 A US62338307 A US 62338307A US 2008172111 A1 US2008172111 A1 US 2008172111A1
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radiation
wavelength
vein
absorption
veins
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Richard Rox Anderson
Iris Rubin
William A. Farinelli
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General Hospital Corp
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General Hospital Corp
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Assigned to GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION, THE reassignment GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION, THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RUBIN, IRIS, ANDERSON, RICHARD ROX, FARINELLI, WILLIAM A.
Publication of US20080172111A1 publication Critical patent/US20080172111A1/en
Priority to US13/423,985 priority patent/US20120215207A1/en
Priority to US13/948,971 priority patent/US9138294B2/en
Priority to US14/828,327 priority patent/US9393073B2/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/18—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
    • A61B18/20—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B18/18—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves
    • A61B18/20—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser
    • A61B18/203—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves using laser applying laser energy to the outside of the body
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B2018/00315—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
    • A61B2018/00452—Skin
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
    • A61B2018/00315—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
    • A61B2018/00452—Skin
    • A61B2018/00458—Deeper parts of the skin, e.g. treatment of vascular disorders or port wine stains
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
    • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
    • A61N2005/0658—Radiation therapy using light characterised by the wavelength of light used
    • A61N2005/0659—Radiation therapy using light characterised by the wavelength of light used infrared

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for a selective photocoagulation of veins, for example, a treatment of port wine stains or varicose veins, while avoiding significant thermal damage to arteries.
  • a blood vessel can be any vascular structure, e.g., an artery, a vein, or a capillary.
  • a dilated or malformed vein can be associated with one or more of a variety of disease conditions such as, e.g., port wine stains and varicose veins.
  • Port wine stains can include post-capillary venules. Port wine stains can begin in infancy, and may both thicken and darken in color with time. In addition to being disfiguring, port wine stains can have adverse psychosocial effects.
  • a conventional treatment for port wine stains may use a pulsed dye laser at a wavelength of 595 nm.
  • a success rate for complete clearance of port wine stains may be low when using conventional treatment modalities such as the 595 nm pulsed dye laser, which can result from inadequate depth of penetration.
  • Deep vessels can be targeted using, e.g., a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser treatment for port wine stains.
  • a wavelength of 1064 nm can be more strongly absorbed by arterial blood (which may contain primarily oxygenated hemoglobin (“HbO2”)), than by venous blood (which may contain a mix of deoxygenated hemoglobin (“Hb”) and HbO2)).
  • Nd:YAG laser to treat port wine stains may create undesirable arterial damage, causing tissue necrosis and scarring, and can be dangerous to a patient.
  • radiation from a 595 nm pulsed dye laser may be somewhat more absorbed by deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb) than by oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), treatment fluence with the pulsed dye laser can still be limited by potential thermal damage to arteries.
  • Hb deoxygenated hemoglobin
  • HbO2 oxygenated hemoglobin
  • Varicose veins can be dilated, tortuous veins which may result from defective structure or function of the valves of the veins, from intrinsic weakness of a vein wall, or from arteriovenous fistulas.
  • Varicose veins can be categorized as superficial or deep.
  • Superficial varicose veins may be primary, originating in the superficial system, or secondary, resulting from deep venous insufficiency and incompetent perforating veins, or from deep venous occlusions causing enlargement of superficial veins that can serve as collateral veins.
  • Superficial varicose veins may provide an undesirable cosmetic appearance.
  • Conventional treatments for superficial varicose veins can include sclerotherapy or surgical therapy.
  • sclerotherapy can include injection of a sclerosing solution such as hypertonic saline or surfactants into blood vessels of interest, which may result in deformation of the vascular structure.
  • Surgical therapy can involve extensive ligation and stripping of greater and lesser saphenous veins.
  • an administration of such therapies can use a high degree of technical skill.
  • a fear of needles and/or surgical procedures may prevent many patients from seeking these treatments.
  • Lasers and other light sources can be used in photothermolysis therapy to treat dilated blood vessels, such as superficial varicose veins.
  • Photothermolysis treatment techniques are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,667.
  • Absorbed light which can be provided in a form of pulses, may be used to damage the vessels while sparing surrounding tissues.
  • an irradiation of a blood vessel with an electromagnetic radiation can lead to an absorption of energy by blood components contained therein and subsequent heating of the vessel.
  • the heated vessel may thrombose and collapse, which can produce desired therapeutic effects for treatment of venous malformations.
  • nearby arteries may also be damaged by such photothermolysis techniques, which can lead to partial or complete closure of the arteries, necrosis of adjacent tissue, and unwanted scarring.
  • a reperfusion of treated blood vessels may reduce the effectiveness of photothermolysis treatment. Multiple treatments can be preferred because of the reperfusion of a treated vessel, which can become more likely if the amount of applied energy is limited to avoid unwanted damage to nearby arteries. High costs, number of treatments, and risk of post-treatment pigmentation are other negative factors which may be associated with photothermolysis therapy.
  • Superficial varicose veins may be treated using sclerotherapy, which can be effective but is often painful, and can have side effects including, e.g., hyperpigmentation, matting, and/or ulceration.
  • Various lasers may be used for treating ectatic leg veins such as, e.g., a pulsed dye laser operating at a wavelength of 595 nm, an alexandrite laser at 755 nm, a diode laser at 800/810 nm, or a NdYag laser at 1064 nm, although the use of such lasers may not be very effective and/or may produce undesirable side effects.
  • a phototreatment of veins using lasers or other sources of electromagnetic radiation such as, e.g., Intense Pulsed Light (“IPL”) sources, may also induce unwanted thermal damage to nearby arteries.
  • IPL Intense Pulsed Light
  • a laser or IPL source that can selectively photocoagulate veins for treatment of various venous malformations, with relative sparing of arteries.
  • Exemplary method and apparatus of the present invention can provide, e.g., selective photothermolysis of venous lesions using a laser, IPL source or other source of electromagnetic radiation which can facilitate a relative sparing of arteries.
  • a method for treating a vein, which includes directing an electromagnetic radiation to biological tissue, such as skin, containing the vein.
  • Characteristics of the radiation can be chosen so the radiation may be selectively absorbed by veins as compared with arteries.
  • the radiation has a wavelength between about 632 nm and 680 nm, between about 638 nm and 668 nm, between about 644 nm and 662 nm, or about 654 nm.
  • the radiation can be provided by a pulsed dye laser, another type of laser, or an intense pulsed light source.
  • Veins and vascular lesions which can be treated using exemplary embodiments of the present invention can include but are not limited to varicose veins and port wine stains. Venous malformations in organs other than the skin may also be treated using exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
  • a system can be provided which is configured to treat a vein using photothermolysis techniques.
  • characteristics of the radiation can be chosen so the radiation is selectively absorbed by veins as compared with arteries to avoid unwanted arterial damage.
  • the exemplary system can include, e.g., a radiation source, a power source, control electronics, and an optional optical arrangement which can be used to further direct the radiation toward the tissue being treated.
  • the exemplary system can also include an arrangement configured to cool the surface of the tissue being treated.
  • FIG. 1 is an exemplary graph of an absorption of electromagnetic energy by Hb and HbO2 as a function of wavelength of the energy, together with an absorption ratio of Hb and HbO2;
  • FIG. 2 is an exemplary graph of an absorption ratio of Hb and HbO2, and an absorption ratio of venous and arterial blood, as a function of wavelength of electromagnetic radiation;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system which may be used in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
  • Perfusion blood flow
  • a blood vessel such as, e.g., a vein or an artery
  • Perfusion of blood can be an important function of blood vessels.
  • the vessel may eventually thrombose, die, and degrade. It may be desirable to reduce or eliminate perfusion in certain blood vessels, e.g., in venous malformations, for therapeutic and/or cosmetic purposes.
  • Non-invasive methods using photothermolysis can be provided to make selective use of this natural process.
  • a vascular structure may be irradiated with electromagnetic radiation using a photothermolysis procedure.
  • Blood vessels contain red blood cells which are rich in hemoglobin.
  • Hemoglobin can provide a chromophore that may be absent in the surrounding tissues, e.g., the dermis, and which may preferentially absorb radiation. Therefore, hemoglobin can be a suitable target for selective absorption of heat energy within blood vessels.
  • deoxygenated hemoglobin deoxyhemoglobin, or Hb
  • oxygenated hemoglobin oxygenated hemoglobin
  • HbO2 oxygenated hemoglobin
  • veins such as, e.g., varicose veins, or post-capillary venules which may be present in port wine stains.
  • conventional photothermolysis techniques may also produce unwanted thermal damage to nearby arteries, which can lead to undesirable effects such as, e.g., local necrosis and scarring.
  • a system and method can be provided for photothermolysis of venous structures which can avoid inducing a significant thermal damage in arteries.
  • Arterial blood can contain predominantly oxygenated hemoglobin, whereas venous blood can include a mix of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
  • Photothermolysis using an electromagnetic radiation that is more strongly absorbed by Hb than by HbO2 can be used to induce significant thermal damage in particular veins while avoiding or inducing lesser thermal damage in nearby arteries.
  • FIG. 1 is an exemplary graph 100 of absorption of deoxyhemoglobin 110 and of oxyhemoglobin 120 as a function of electromagnetic energy wavelength. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a graph of a ratio 130 of the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by deoxyhemoglobin 110 to the absorption by oxyhemoglobin 120 . This graph indicates that the Hb/HbO2 absorption ratio is larger for electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between about 600 nm and 700 nm.
  • Table 1 provides numerical values of absorption by Hb (“UHb”) and by HbO2 (UhbO2”) of electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between 620 nm and 680 mm.
  • Table 1 shows a maximum UHb/UHbO2 absorption ratio of about 10.23 at a wavelength of 654 nm. This absorption ratio can be greater than 10 for wavelengths between about 644 nm and 662 nm. Further, the UHb/UHbO2 absorption ratio may be greater than about 9 for wavelengths between about 634 nm and 676 nm.
  • Veins can typically contain approximately 30% deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) and 70% oxyhemoglobin (HbO2); precise composition values may depend on a particular organ associated with the vein and metabolic need for oxygen extraction.
  • Arteries can contain primarily oxyhemoglobin (HbO2).
  • a relative absorption of the electromagnetic radiation by a vein (“Uvein”) to an absorption by an artery (“Uartery”) can be estimated mathematically based on these compositions of venous and arterial blood. This ratio can be used as a measure of venous selectivity of energy absorption for a particular wavelength of radiation.
  • the absorption ratio of Uvein/Uartery (absorption by veins/absorption by arteries) can be expressed using the absorption by Hb and HbO2 (UHb and UHbO2, respectively).
  • the absorption of the radiation by a vein, Uvein can be approximated by the following exemplary equation:
  • Sa(a) can represent the fractional saturation of oxygen in arterial blood.
  • Sa(v) can be approximately 0.7 (e.g., a vein may contain approximately 70% oxygenated blood), and Sa(a) can be approximately 1.0 (e.g., blood in an artery can be fully oxygenated).
  • the expressions for Uvein and Uartery in Eqs. (1) and (2) can be provided as:
  • the ratio of absorption of radiation by a vein to absorption by an artery, Uvein/Uartery can then be expressed as:
  • Uvein/Uartery (0.7 UHbO 2+0.3 UHb )/ UHbO 2. (5)
  • the absorption ratio Uvein/Uartery can account for the relative composition of deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) in veins and arteries, and may represent a measure of venous selectivity.
  • Hb deoxyhemoglobin
  • HbO2 oxyhemoglobin
  • FIG. 2 is an exemplary graph 200 showing a ratio 210 of deoxyhemoglobin absorption, UHb, to oxyhemoglobin absorption UHbO2, over a range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a selectivity ratio 220 , Uvein/Uartery, as a function of radiation wavelength. The absorption selectivity of veins as compared to arteries can reach a maximum value at a wavelength near 650 nm, and may decrease with an increasing or decreasing of the wavelength.
  • Values of Uvein and Uartery, together with a selectivity ratio Uvein/Uartery, are provided in Table 2 for the radiation wavelengths between 620 nm and 680 nM.
  • This data can indicate that the selectivity ratio Uvein/Uartery may have a maximum value of about 3.77 at a wavelength of about 654 nm. This ratio may remain above 3.7 for wavelengths between about 644 nm and 662 nm, and may be greater than 3.6 for wavelengths between about 638 nm and 668 nm.
  • the selectivity ratio can be greater than 3.3 for wavelengths between about 632 nm and 680 nm.
  • the exemplary method and system can be provided in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention for non-invasively inducing selective necrosis of unwanted veins, while inducing relatively little or no damage to nearby arteries.
  • a conventional photothermolysis treatment for port wine stains or other vascular lesions can use a pulsed dye laser having a wavelength of about 595 nm.
  • Use of a longer wavelength of about 654 nm, as described herein, can provide increased selectivity of absorption by veins as compared with arteries, and may also allow for a deeper penetration into the treated tissue, which can improve treatment efficacy.
  • FIG. 3 An exemplary system 300 which may be used in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 .
  • This exemplary system 300 can include a source of electromagnetic radiation 310 , a power source 320 , a control electronics arrangement 330 and, optionally, a delivery optics arrangement 340 .
  • One or more of these components 310 - 340 may be provided in a single enclosure or a handpiece. Alternatively, one or more of these components 310 - 340 may be provided in a separate housing from other components.
  • the power source 320 may be used to provide power to the radiation source 310 .
  • the control electronics arrangement 330 can be in electrical or wireless communication with both the power source 320 and the radiation source 310 , and can be used to control or affect certain properties of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the radiation source 310 .
  • the radiation source 310 can be configured, optionally together with the delivery optics arrangement 340 , to direct radiation towards a region of a biological tissue 350 to be treated.
  • the tissue 350 can contain both arteries and veins.
  • the radiation source 310 can be configured to provide the radiation having a wavelength that is preferentially absorbed by the veins as compared to the arteries.
  • the radiation can have a wavelength between about 632 nm and 680 nm, or preferably between about 638 nm and 668 nm, or more preferably between about 644 nm and 662 nm, or even more preferably about 654 nm.
  • the radiation source 310 can include a pulsed dye laser configured to provide the radiation having an exemplary wavelength or plurality of wavelengths as described herein. Other types of laser capable of emitting the radiation at one or more preferred wavelengths may also be used. Alternatively, an intense pulsed light (IPL) source can be used. The IPL source may be filtered to provide radiation having wavelengths close to 654 nm, as described herein.
  • a pulsed dye laser configured to provide the radiation having an exemplary wavelength or plurality of wavelengths as described herein.
  • Other types of laser capable of emitting the radiation at one or more preferred wavelengths may also be used.
  • an intense pulsed light (IPL) source can be used.
  • the IPL source may be filtered to provide radiation having wavelengths close to 654 nm, as described herein.
  • Other radiation source parameters can include pulse duration, fluence, and spot size. These parameters may be selected to be similar to parameters used in conventional photothermolysis techniques, and may be controlled using the control electronics arrangement 330 . Fluence of the applied electromagnetic radiation (which can have units of J/cm 2 ) may be selected based on, e.g., the depth and size of a target vein. For example, pulses of the radiation may be used in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and can have a duration of, e.g., about 1 to 300 milliseconds, about 10 to 300, or about 20 to 100 milliseconds. Fluence values can be, e.g., between about 20 and 80 J/cm 2 .
  • the delivery optics arrangement 340 can be used to focus the radiation to particular regions within the tissue 350 containing the target vein, in accordance with conventional techniques. Other options may also be used together with the exemplary system 300 including, e.g., an arrangement capable of providing superficial cooling to a surface of the tissue being treated.

Abstract

A system and method are provided that are capable of selectively treating a vein using photothermolysis techniques, where an electromagnetic radiation is applied to tissue containing the vein. The radiation can be selected so that it may be more effectively absorbed by veins as compared to arteries. Thus, unwanted thermal damage to arteries in the vicinity of the vein being treated can be reduced or avoided. The radiation can have a frequency of approximately 654 nm, which can provide a ratio of absorption by veins to absorption by arteries of about 3.7. Other wavelengths near 654 nm may be provided, for example, which can have an absorption ratio greater than, e.g., about 3.3 to 3.6.

Description

    FIELD OF INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for a selective photocoagulation of veins, for example, a treatment of port wine stains or varicose veins, while avoiding significant thermal damage to arteries.
    • BACKGROUND
  • A blood vessel can be any vascular structure, e.g., an artery, a vein, or a capillary. A dilated or malformed vein can be associated with one or more of a variety of disease conditions such as, e.g., port wine stains and varicose veins.
  • Port wine stains can include post-capillary venules. Port wine stains can begin in infancy, and may both thicken and darken in color with time. In addition to being disfiguring, port wine stains can have adverse psychosocial effects.
  • A conventional treatment for port wine stains may use a pulsed dye laser at a wavelength of 595 nm. A success rate for complete clearance of port wine stains may be low when using conventional treatment modalities such as the 595 nm pulsed dye laser, which can result from inadequate depth of penetration. Deep vessels can be targeted using, e.g., a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser treatment for port wine stains. However, a wavelength of 1064 nm can be more strongly absorbed by arterial blood (which may contain primarily oxygenated hemoglobin (“HbO2”)), than by venous blood (which may contain a mix of deoxygenated hemoglobin (“Hb”) and HbO2)). Thus use of the Nd:YAG laser to treat port wine stains may create undesirable arterial damage, causing tissue necrosis and scarring, and can be dangerous to a patient. Although radiation from a 595 nm pulsed dye laser may be somewhat more absorbed by deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb) than by oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), treatment fluence with the pulsed dye laser can still be limited by potential thermal damage to arteries. It may be desirable to have a laser that is designed specifically to target deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb), and can be significantly more selective for veins.
  • Varicose veins can be dilated, tortuous veins which may result from defective structure or function of the valves of the veins, from intrinsic weakness of a vein wall, or from arteriovenous fistulas. Varicose veins can be categorized as superficial or deep. Superficial varicose veins may be primary, originating in the superficial system, or secondary, resulting from deep venous insufficiency and incompetent perforating veins, or from deep venous occlusions causing enlargement of superficial veins that can serve as collateral veins.
  • Superficial varicose veins may provide an undesirable cosmetic appearance. Conventional treatments for superficial varicose veins can include sclerotherapy or surgical therapy. For example, sclerotherapy can include injection of a sclerosing solution such as hypertonic saline or surfactants into blood vessels of interest, which may result in deformation of the vascular structure. Surgical therapy can involve extensive ligation and stripping of greater and lesser saphenous veins. However, an administration of such therapies can use a high degree of technical skill. Also, a fear of needles and/or surgical procedures may prevent many patients from seeking these treatments.
  • Lasers and other light sources can be used in photothermolysis therapy to treat dilated blood vessels, such as superficial varicose veins. Photothermolysis treatment techniques are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,667. Absorbed light, which can be provided in a form of pulses, may be used to damage the vessels while sparing surrounding tissues. For example, an irradiation of a blood vessel with an electromagnetic radiation can lead to an absorption of energy by blood components contained therein and subsequent heating of the vessel. The heated vessel may thrombose and collapse, which can produce desired therapeutic effects for treatment of venous malformations. However, nearby arteries may also be damaged by such photothermolysis techniques, which can lead to partial or complete closure of the arteries, necrosis of adjacent tissue, and unwanted scarring.
  • A reperfusion of treated blood vessels may reduce the effectiveness of photothermolysis treatment. Multiple treatments can be preferred because of the reperfusion of a treated vessel, which can become more likely if the amount of applied energy is limited to avoid unwanted damage to nearby arteries. High costs, number of treatments, and risk of post-treatment pigmentation are other negative factors which may be associated with photothermolysis therapy.
  • Superficial varicose veins may be treated using sclerotherapy, which can be effective but is often painful, and can have side effects including, e.g., hyperpigmentation, matting, and/or ulceration. Various lasers may be used for treating ectatic leg veins such as, e.g., a pulsed dye laser operating at a wavelength of 595 nm, an alexandrite laser at 755 nm, a diode laser at 800/810 nm, or a NdYag laser at 1064 nm, although the use of such lasers may not be very effective and/or may produce undesirable side effects. A phototreatment of veins using lasers or other sources of electromagnetic radiation such as, e.g., Intense Pulsed Light (“IPL”) sources, may also induce unwanted thermal damage to nearby arteries.
  • Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a laser or IPL source that can selectively photocoagulate veins for treatment of various venous malformations, with relative sparing of arteries.
    • OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Exemplary method and apparatus of the present invention can provide, e.g., selective photothermolysis of venous lesions using a laser, IPL source or other source of electromagnetic radiation which can facilitate a relative sparing of arteries.
  • According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a method can be provided for treating a vein, which includes directing an electromagnetic radiation to biological tissue, such as skin, containing the vein. Characteristics of the radiation can be chosen so the radiation may be selectively absorbed by veins as compared with arteries. For example, the radiation has a wavelength between about 632 nm and 680 nm, between about 638 nm and 668 nm, between about 644 nm and 662 nm, or about 654 nm.
  • In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the radiation can be provided by a pulsed dye laser, another type of laser, or an intense pulsed light source.
  • Veins and vascular lesions which can be treated using exemplary embodiments of the present invention can include but are not limited to varicose veins and port wine stains. Venous malformations in organs other than the skin may also be treated using exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
  • According to further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a system can be provided which is configured to treat a vein using photothermolysis techniques. For example, characteristics of the radiation can be chosen so the radiation is selectively absorbed by veins as compared with arteries to avoid unwanted arterial damage. The exemplary system can include, e.g., a radiation source, a power source, control electronics, and an optional optical arrangement which can be used to further direct the radiation toward the tissue being treated. The exemplary system can also include an arrangement configured to cool the surface of the tissue being treated.
  • These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:
  • FIG. 1 is an exemplary graph of an absorption of electromagnetic energy by Hb and HbO2 as a function of wavelength of the energy, together with an absorption ratio of Hb and HbO2;
  • FIG. 2 is an exemplary graph of an absorption ratio of Hb and HbO2, and an absorption ratio of venous and arterial blood, as a function of wavelength of electromagnetic radiation; and
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system which may be used in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
    •
  • While the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION
  • Perfusion (blood flow) can maintain a blood vessel such as, e.g., a vein or an artery, in a healthy condition. Perfusion of blood can be an important function of blood vessels. Conversely, when a vessel is closed off and perfusion stops, the vessel may eventually thrombose, die, and degrade. It may be desirable to reduce or eliminate perfusion in certain blood vessels, e.g., in venous malformations, for therapeutic and/or cosmetic purposes. Non-invasive methods using photothermolysis can be provided to make selective use of this natural process.
  • For example, a vascular structure may be irradiated with electromagnetic radiation using a photothermolysis procedure. Blood vessels contain red blood cells which are rich in hemoglobin. Hemoglobin can provide a chromophore that may be absent in the surrounding tissues, e.g., the dermis, and which may preferentially absorb radiation. Therefore, hemoglobin can be a suitable target for selective absorption of heat energy within blood vessels. For example, deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyhemoglobin, or Hb) and/or oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin, or HbO2) can preferentially absorb radiation, which can lead to local heating of the structure. Such a heating may thermally damage the blood vessel, and lead to a reduction or elimination of perfusion therein.
  • It may be preferable to use photothermolysis techniques to damage veins such as, e.g., varicose veins, or post-capillary venules which may be present in port wine stains. However, conventional photothermolysis techniques may also produce unwanted thermal damage to nearby arteries, which can lead to undesirable effects such as, e.g., local necrosis and scarring.
  • According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a system and method can be provided for photothermolysis of venous structures which can avoid inducing a significant thermal damage in arteries. Arterial blood can contain predominantly oxygenated hemoglobin, whereas venous blood can include a mix of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. Photothermolysis using an electromagnetic radiation that is more strongly absorbed by Hb than by HbO2 can be used to induce significant thermal damage in particular veins while avoiding or inducing lesser thermal damage in nearby arteries.
  • FIG. 1 is an exemplary graph 100 of absorption of deoxyhemoglobin 110 and of oxyhemoglobin 120 as a function of electromagnetic energy wavelength. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a graph of a ratio 130 of the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by deoxyhemoglobin 110 to the absorption by oxyhemoglobin 120. This graph indicates that the Hb/HbO2 absorption ratio is larger for electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between about 600 nm and 700 nm.
  • Table 1 provides numerical values of absorption by Hb (“UHb”) and by HbO2 (UhbO2”) of electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between 620 nm and 680 mm. Table 1 shows a maximum UHb/UHbO2 absorption ratio of about 10.23 at a wavelength of 654 nm. This absorption ratio can be greater than 10 for wavelengths between about 644 nm and 662 nm. Further, the UHb/UHbO2 absorption ratio may be greater than about 9 for wavelengths between about 634 nm and 676 nm.
  • Veins can typically contain approximately 30% deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) and 70% oxyhemoglobin (HbO2); precise composition values may depend on a particular organ associated with the vein and metabolic need for oxygen extraction. Arteries can contain primarily oxyhemoglobin (HbO2). A relative absorption of the electromagnetic radiation by a vein (“Uvein”) to an absorption by an artery (“Uartery”) can be estimated mathematically based on these compositions of venous and arterial blood. This ratio can be used as a measure of venous selectivity of energy absorption for a particular wavelength of radiation.
  • The absorption ratio of Uvein/Uartery (absorption by veins/absorption by arteries) can be expressed using the absorption by Hb and HbO2 (UHb and UHbO2, respectively). The absorption of the radiation by a vein, Uvein, can be approximated by the following exemplary equation:

  • Uvein=UHbO2*Sa(v)+UHb*(1−Sa(v)),  (1)
  • TABLE 1
    Absorption of electromagnetic radiation by deoxygenated hemoglobin,
    Hb, and oxygenated hemoglobin, HbO2.
    Wavelength UHb UHbO2
    (nm) (cm-1/M) (cm-1/M) UHb/UHbO2
    620 942 6509.6 6.910403397
    622 858 6193.2 7.218181818
    624 774 5906.8 7.631524548
    626 707.6 5620 7.942340305
    628 658.8 5366.8 8.146326655
    630 610 5148.8 8.440655738
    632 561.2 4930.8 8.786172488
    634 512.4 4730.8 9.232630757
    636 478.8 4602.4 9.612364244
    638 460.4 4473.6 9.716768028
    640 442 4345.2 9.830769231
    642 423.6 4216.8 9.954674221
    644 405.2 4088.4 10.08983218
    646 390.4 3965.08 10.15645492
    648 379.2 3857.6 10.17299578
    650 368 3750.12 10.19054348
    652 356.8 3642.64 10.20919283
    654 345.6 3535.16 10.22905093
    656 335.2 3427.68 10.22577566
    658 325.6 3320.2 10.19717445
    660 319.6 3226.56 10.09561952
    662 314 3140.28 10.00089172
    664 308.4 3053.96 9.902594034
    666 302.8 2967.68 9.800792602
    668 298 2881.4 9.669127517
    670 294 2795.12 9.507210884
    672 290 2708.84 9.340827586
    674 285.6 2627.64 9.200420168
    676 282 2554.4 9.058156028
    678 279.2 2481.16 8.886676218
    680 277.6 2407.92 8.674063401

    where Sa(v) can represent the fractional saturation of oxygen in venous blood. In a similar manner, absorption of radiation by n artery, Uartery, can be approximated by the equation:

  • Uartery=UHbO2*Sa(a)+UHb*(1−Sa(a)),  (2)
  • where Sa(a) can represent the fractional saturation of oxygen in arterial blood.
  • As described above, Sa(v) can be approximately 0.7 (e.g., a vein may contain approximately 70% oxygenated blood), and Sa(a) can be approximately 1.0 (e.g., blood in an artery can be fully oxygenated). Using these values, the expressions for Uvein and Uartery in Eqs. (1) and (2) can be provided as:

  • Uvein=0.7UHbO2+0.3UHb,  (3)

  • and

  • Uartery=UHbO2.  (4)
  • The ratio of absorption of radiation by a vein to absorption by an artery, Uvein/Uartery, can then be expressed as:

  • Uvein/Uartery=(0.7UHbO2+0.3UHb)/UHbO2.  (5)
  • The absorption ratio Uvein/Uartery can account for the relative composition of deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) in veins and arteries, and may represent a measure of venous selectivity.
  • FIG. 2 is an exemplary graph 200 showing a ratio 210 of deoxyhemoglobin absorption, UHb, to oxyhemoglobin absorption UHbO2, over a range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a selectivity ratio 220, Uvein/Uartery, as a function of radiation wavelength. The absorption selectivity of veins as compared to arteries can reach a maximum value at a wavelength near 650 nm, and may decrease with an increasing or decreasing of the wavelength.
  • Values of Uvein and Uartery, together with a selectivity ratio Uvein/Uartery, are provided in Table 2 for the radiation wavelengths between 620 nm and 680 nM. This data can indicate that the selectivity ratio Uvein/Uartery may have a maximum value of about 3.77 at a wavelength of about 654 nm. This ratio may remain above 3.7 for wavelengths between about 644 nm and 662 nm, and may be greater than 3.6 for wavelengths between about 638 nm and 668 nm. The selectivity ratio can be greater than 3.3 for wavelengths between about 632 nm and 680 nm.
  • Based on the absorption data provided herein, the exemplary method and system can be provided in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention for non-invasively inducing selective necrosis of unwanted veins, while inducing relatively little or no damage to nearby arteries.
  • TABLE 2
    Absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a vein, Uvein, and an artery,
    Uartery, together with the selectivity ratio Uvein/Uartery.
    Wavelength Uvein Uartery Uvein/
    (nm) (cm-1/M) (cm-1/M) Uartery
    620 2612 942 2.77
    622 2459 858 2.87
    624 2314 774 2.99
    626 2181 708 3.08
    628 2071 659 3.14
    630 1972 610 3.23
    632 1872 561 3.34
    634 1778 512 3.47
    636 1716 479 3.58
    638 1664 460 3.62
    640 1613 442 3.65
    642 1562 424 3.69
    644 1510 405 3.73
    646 1463 390 3.75
    648 1423 379 3.75
    650 1383 368 3.76
    652 1343 357 3.76
    654 1302 346 3.77
    656 1263 335 3.77
    658 1224 326 3.76
    660 1192 320 3.73
    662 1162 314 3.70
    664 1132 308 3.67
    666 1102 303 3.64
    668 1073 298 3.60
    670 1044 294 3.55
    672 1016 290 3.50
    674 988 286 3.46
    676 964 282 3.42
    678 940 279 3.37
    680 917 278 3.30
  • For example, a conventional photothermolysis treatment for port wine stains or other vascular lesions can use a pulsed dye laser having a wavelength of about 595 nm. Use of a longer wavelength of about 654 nm, as described herein, can provide increased selectivity of absorption by veins as compared with arteries, and may also allow for a deeper penetration into the treated tissue, which can improve treatment efficacy.
  • An exemplary system 300 which may be used in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. This exemplary system 300 can include a source of electromagnetic radiation 310, a power source 320, a control electronics arrangement 330 and, optionally, a delivery optics arrangement 340. One or more of these components 310-340 may be provided in a single enclosure or a handpiece. Alternatively, one or more of these components 310-340 may be provided in a separate housing from other components.
  • The power source 320 may be used to provide power to the radiation source 310. The control electronics arrangement 330 can be in electrical or wireless communication with both the power source 320 and the radiation source 310, and can be used to control or affect certain properties of the electromagnetic radiation generated by the radiation source 310. The radiation source 310 can be configured, optionally together with the delivery optics arrangement 340, to direct radiation towards a region of a biological tissue 350 to be treated. The tissue 350 can contain both arteries and veins.
  • The radiation source 310 can be configured to provide the radiation having a wavelength that is preferentially absorbed by the veins as compared to the arteries. For example, the radiation can have a wavelength between about 632 nm and 680 nm, or preferably between about 638 nm and 668 nm, or more preferably between about 644 nm and 662 nm, or even more preferably about 654 nm.
  • The radiation source 310 can include a pulsed dye laser configured to provide the radiation having an exemplary wavelength or plurality of wavelengths as described herein. Other types of laser capable of emitting the radiation at one or more preferred wavelengths may also be used. Alternatively, an intense pulsed light (IPL) source can be used. The IPL source may be filtered to provide radiation having wavelengths close to 654 nm, as described herein.
  • Other radiation source parameters can include pulse duration, fluence, and spot size. These parameters may be selected to be similar to parameters used in conventional photothermolysis techniques, and may be controlled using the control electronics arrangement 330. Fluence of the applied electromagnetic radiation (which can have units of J/cm2) may be selected based on, e.g., the depth and size of a target vein. For example, pulses of the radiation may be used in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and can have a duration of, e.g., about 1 to 300 milliseconds, about 10 to 300, or about 20 to 100 milliseconds. Fluence values can be, e.g., between about 20 and 80 J/cm2. These parameters are exemplary, and other values may be used depending on the characteristics of the tissue being treated and the desired degree of thermal damage desired. For example, further exemplary radiation parameters which may be used for photothermolysis of blood vessels are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,130.
  • The delivery optics arrangement 340 can be used to focus the radiation to particular regions within the tissue 350 containing the target vein, in accordance with conventional techniques. Other options may also be used together with the exemplary system 300 including, e.g., an arrangement capable of providing superficial cooling to a surface of the tissue being treated.
  • The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, all publications, patents and patent applications referenced herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Claims (19)

1. A method for treating at least one vein, comprising:
directing an electromagnetic radiation to a tissue containing the at least one vein, wherein the radiation has at least one characteristic which effectuates an absorption by the at least one vein more effectively than by an artery.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation has a wavelength between about 632 nm and 680 nm.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation has a wavelength between about 638 nm and 668 nm.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation has a wavelength between about 644 nm and 662 nm.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation has a wavelength of about 654 mm.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the radiation by at least one of a pulsed dye laser, a wavelength-shifted Nd:YAG laser, a frequency-doubled infrared laser, a high power diode laser array or a fiber laser.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the radiation using an intense pulsed light source.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vein is a varicose vein.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vein is associated with a port wine stain.
10. A system for treating at least one vein, comprising:
an arrangement configured to provide an electromagnetic radiation to a tissue containing the at least one vein;
wherein the radiation has at least one characteristic which effectuates an absorption by the at least one vein more effectively than by an artery.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the radiation has a wavelength between about 632 nm and 680 nm.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the radiation has a wavelength between about 638 nm and 668 nm.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the radiation has a wavelength between about 644 nm and 662 nm.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the radiation has a wavelength of about 654 nm.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the arrangement is at least one of a pulsed dye laser, a wavelength shifted Nd:YAG laser, a frequency-doubled infrared laser, a high power diode laser array or a fiber laser.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the arrangement is an intense pulsed light source.
17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a power source and control electronics, both coupled to the arrangement.
18. The system of claim 10, further comprising an optical apparatus configured to receive the radiation and direct the radiation toward the tissue.
19. The system of claim 10, further comprising an apparatus configured to cool a surface of the tissue.
US11/623,383 2007-01-16 2007-01-16 Method and apparatus for selective photothermolysis of veins Abandoned US20080172111A1 (en)

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