Extended theory of selective photothermolysis.
OBJECTIVE
We present a new theory of selective thermal damage of non-uniformly pigmented structures in biological tissues. Spatial separation of the heavily pigmented areas and the target requires limitation of the pigment temperature and heat diffusion from the pigmented to the targeted areas.


METHODS
A concept of selective target damage by heat diffusion is presented for three target geometries: planar, cylindrical, and spherical. An in vitro experiment is described in which the dependence of thermal damage on pulsewidth at constant fluence was evaluated.


RESULTS
The in vitro experiment showed that the size of the damage zone for similar hair follicles was pulsewidth-independent over a very broad range of pulsewidths (30-400 ms). We formulated a new theory (extended theory of photothermolysis) to interpret the experimental results.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this new theory, the treatment pulsewidth for non-uniformly pigmented targets is significantly longer than the target thermal relaxation time (TRT). The theory provides new recommendations for photoepilation and photosclerotherapy parameters.
Altshuler
G B
GB
Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc., Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, USA. GAltshuler@palmed.com
Anderson
R R
RR
Manstein
D
D
Zenzie
H H
HH
Smirnov
M Z
MZ
D002102:Cadaver; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000379:methods*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D010789:Phototherapy; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase