US 12,004,797 B2
Medical systems, methods, and devices for hypopigmentation cooling treatments
Jesse Rosen, Albany, CA (US); Kevin Springer, Livermore, CA (US); Kristine Tatsutani, Redwood City, CA (US); and Michael O'Neil, Dublin, CA (US)
Assigned to R2 Technologies, Inc., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed by R2 Technologies, Inc., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/986,780.
Application 16/986,780 is a continuation of application No. 15/257,827, filed on Sep. 6, 2016, granted, now 10,765,467.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/214,446, filed on Sep. 4, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0015536 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/02 (2006.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/0206 (2013.01) [A61B 18/203 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00458 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00994 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0237 (2013.01); A61B 2018/2023 (2017.05); A61F 2007/0052 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of altering pigmentation in a skin of a patient, the method comprising:
generating seed crystals on a contact surface of a cooling treatment probe;
applying a coupling fluid to a treatment area on the skin of the patient; and
applying the contact surface of the cooling treatment probe to the treatment area with the applied coupling fluid present, wherein the applying the contact surface of the cooling treatment probe to the treatment area with the applied coupling fluid present introduces an ice nucleating agent to the coupling fluid, the ice nucleating agent configured to promote ice formation in the coupling fluid and to limit supercooling of the skin in the treatment area, and wherein applying the contact surface of the cooling treatment probe to the treatment area with the applied coupling fluid present 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.