Holographic tattoo

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating skin for aesthetic, functional, health or other purposes are described. According to various embodiments, materials are delivered to or formed in or on the skin at multiple depths or heights in a pattern to form a hologram in or on the skin.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates, in general, to the field of treating skin for aesthetic and/or health and/or other purposes. In particularly, this application relates to methods and systems for controlling the delivery of materials into or onto skin.

BACKGROUND

The introduction of various dyes or other pigmented materials into or onto the skin to in the form of cosmetics or tattoos is well known, as is the application of various biologically active compounds onto or into the skin surface for various medical-related purposes. In recent years, light-activated photodynamic therapy agents have been developed for the treatment of various skin problems, including skin cancers.

SUMMARY

According to various embodiments, methods are provided for forming patterned distributions of materials in the skin of a subject. A desired pattern may be formed by delivering a photoresponsive material to the skin and exposing the skin to light or other electromagnetic energy to cause a reaction or conversion of the photoresponsive material. In some embodiments, a photoresponsive material may be delivered into or onto the skin in a pattern. In some embodiments, patterned light may be delivered to the skin. One or both the photoresponsive material and light may be patterned in order to form a desired distribution of material. Materials distributed in or on the skin may have a variety of properties for aesthetic, cosmetic, functional, health, or medical purposes. Features of various embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed description and associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The exemplary embodiments may best be understood by making reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the figures, like referenced numerals identify like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates focusing of light in a skin region to produce modification of a photoresponsive material;

FIG. 2A illustrates transformation of a photoresponsive material from a first form to a second form with exposure to light;

FIG. 2B illustrates cross-linking of a photoresponsive material on exposure to light;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate photopatterning of skin by targeted application of light;

FIG. 4A illustrates topical application of a photoresponsive material;

FIG. 4B illustrates diffusion of topically applied photoresponsive material into the skin;

FIG. 5A illustrates hypodermal injection of photoresponsive material;

FIG. 5B illustrates diffusion of injected photoresponsive material;

FIG. 6 illustrates injection of photoresponsive material into skin with a microneedle array;

FIG. 7 depicts diffusion of photoresponsive material into skin from a capillary;

FIG. 8 depicts a skin region including a photoresponsive material;

FIG. 9 depicts targeted application of light to a skin region including a photoresponsive material;

FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment of a system for controlled delivery of light to skin;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method of forming a pattern in a skin volume;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a further method of forming a pattern in skin;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a further method of forming a pattern in skin;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a system for targeted application of light to skin;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a system for targeted application of light to skin;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for controlled delivery of light to skin;

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a method producing a pattern on a surface;

FIGS. 18A-18D depict steps of a method of patterning skin;

FIG. 19A illustrates an embodiment of a mask with a decorative pattern;

FIG. 19B depicts use of the mask depicted in FIG. 19A;

FIG. 19C illustrates a decorative pattern formed on a skin surface with the use of the mask depicted in FIG. 19A;

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of a method of forming a patterned distribution of material in skin;

FIG. 21A illustrates delivery of patterned light to a treated skin surface;

FIG. 21B illustrates a pattern formed on a skin surface by the patterned light depicted in FIG. 21A;

FIG. 22 is a flow diagram illustrating variations of methods for photopatterning of skin;

FIGS. 23A-23C illustrate steps of forming a patterned distribution of material in skin;

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram illustrating variations of methods for photopatterning of skin;

FIGS. 25A-25B illustrate patterning of skin by patterned delivery of photoresponsive material combined with patterned delivery of light;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a system for photopatterning of skin;

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram of a method of photopatterning skin including reversing the photoreaction;

FIG. 28 is a flow diagram of a method of photopatterning skin including removing the modified form of the photoresponsive material;

FIG. 29 is a flow diagram of a method of photopatterning skin including removing unmodified photoresponsive material from the skin;

FIG. 30 is a flow diagram of a method of photopatterning an active chemical compound in the skin;

FIG. 31 is a flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a device for delivering patterned light;

FIG. 32 is a flow diagram of a further method of manufacturing a device for delivering patterned light;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a system for delivery of patterned light;

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate a mounting system for maintaining alignment of masks;

FIGS. 35A-35C illustrate the use of indicia marked on the skin for maintaining alignment of masks;

FIGS. 36A-36G illustrate a multi step method for photopatterning of skin;

FIG. 37 depicts steps of a multi step method for photopatterning of skin;

FIG. 38 depicts steps of a further multi step method for photopatterning of skin;

FIG. 39 is an illustration of a system for forming holographic pattern data;

FIG. 40 depicts a hologram formed in a skin region;

FIG. 41 illustrates a holographic image formed from a hologram in a skin region;

FIG. 42 depicts a system for forming a hologram in a skin region;

FIG. 43 depicts an alternative system for forming a hologram in a skin region;

FIG. 44 depicts steps of a method of forming a holographic tattoo;

FIG. 45 depicts a method for forming a patterned distribution of material in skin;

FIG. 46 depicts a further method of forming a tattoo; and

FIG. 47 shows a method for forming a tattoo design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The detailed description and the drawings illustrate specific exemplary embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein unless the context dictates otherwise. The meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in,” “immediately proximate to” and “on.” A reference to the singular includes a reference to the plural unless otherwise stated or inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

According to various embodiments as disclosed herein, methods and systems are provided for forming patterned distributions of materials in or on skin. Patterned distributions of materials in skin may have various applications, including but not limited to commercial, aesthetic, cosmetic, structural, medical or health purposes. Patterned distributions of dyes, pigments, or other light-absorbing, -reflecting, -scattering, -polarizing, -dispersing, -diffracting, -fluorescing, -phosphorescing or -emitting materials, (or any other materials that may produce a visually or optically detectable effect) may be used for aesthetic, decorative, commercial, political or cosmetic purposes (for example, as tattoos or permanent or semi-permanent cosmetics, or for commercial-speech or political-advocacy purposes). Detectable markings, which may be detectable visually or optically (e.g. at various wavelengths, not necessarily within the visible spectrum), or by electrical, magnetic, acoustic, or various other detection methods, may have functional applications, as well, for example, marking the location of a surgical site on a patient, or for providing permanent or semi-permanent identifying markings, e.g., on pets, livestock, etc. The term optical, as used herein, can refer or pertain to the use or manipulation of light or electromagnetic radiation not only within the visible portions of the spectrum, but also within the near- and far- ultraviolet and near- and far- IR portions of the spectrum. Patterned distributions of materials having pharmaceutical activity or medical significance may be used to selectively treat or aid the treatment of various structures in or near the skin surface. Treatment targets may include skin lesions, including cancerous and precancerous skin lesions, moles, warts, and sites-of-infection such as ‘pimples’. Treatment may also be applied to disorders of various skin structures, for example, capillaries, veins, arteries, other vascular components, peripheral nervous system components, sweat glands, and hair follicles and components thereof. Patterned distributions of materials that modulate physiological processes of various types (e.g., melanin production, hair growth, oil production) may be formed; for example. In other embodiments, patterned distributions of structural materials (e.g., materials that add strength, form, shape, bulk, resilience, or other desired structural or mechanical properties to skin, connective tissue, cartilage, and so forth) may be used for cosmetic or reconstructive surgery applications. In some cases, a few examples of which are provided above, it may be desirable to form a pattern of material that remains in the skin for a predictable interval-of-time, permanently or semi-permanently. In other cases, e.g., if the patterned material is a biologically active compound intended to treat a specific medical problem, only transient presence of the patterned material may be desired or may be sufficient for the desired purpose.

FIG. 1 illustrates modification of a photoresponsive material in skin caused by delivery of light. In FIG. 1, molecules or particles of photoresponsive material 10 are distributed throughout skin region 12, and light 14 is targeted to a specific location by lens 16, where it produces a reaction or other modification of one or more molecules or particles of photoresponsive material 10 to produce modified form 11. Skin region 12 includes stratum corneum 18 and keratinocyte layer 20, which together form epidermis 22, and dermis 24. Also shown is hair follicle 26 and hair 28. Photoresponsive material 10 may be distributed in the form of molecules, clusters or aggregations of molecules, particles, gels, solutions, emulsions, suspensions, sprays, fluids, powders, among others. As used herein, the term photoresponsive material refers to a material (compound, element, composite material, mixture of compounds or substances, etc.) that undergoes or participates in a reaction, interaction, transformation, modification, phase change, change in energetic state, etc. in response to exposure to light to produce at least one reaction product, or modified form, indicated by reference number 11 in FIG. 1, having one or more different activities or properties than the original or ‘unmodified’ photoresponsive material. A “modification”, as used herein, may include chemical reactions, changes in energetic state, phase, conformation, associations, aggregations, formation of bonds or other interactions (e.g. molecular bonds, hydrogen bonds, vander Waals linkages, etc.), polymerization, cross linking, breaking of bonds, dissociation of associated molecules, atoms, ions, etc., oxidation or reduction reactions, formation of ions or free radicals, changes of 3-D molecular structure, for example. Photoresponsive material may be any material that is responsive, reactive, or sensitive to light to change from a first state to a second state, by itself or in cooperation or reaction with other materials naturally or deliberately made to be present. Photoresponsive materials may undergo photochromic reactions, changes in luminescent behavior, magnetic interactions of metal sites, metal-ligand coordinations by photoisomerization, for example. As used herein, photoresponsive materials may react to light in the presence of a catalyst, or catalyze the reaction of other materials in the presence of light. Photoresponsive materials may respond directly to external light delivered to the skin, or respond indirectly to externally delivered light by responding to an effect produced within the skin by the light. In some embodiments, a photoresponsive material may undergo a modification that results in a modification to a secondary material, in which it is the secondary material that produces an effect in the skin. In other embodiments, the photoresponsive material may be employed as a light-specified ‘mask’ which then is used to control the exposure of skin not so ‘masked’ to subsequent processing. Photoresponsive material may include mixtures of materials that react or interact upon exposure to light. Different components of a photoresponsive material may respond to light of different wavelengths, polarities, intensity, and so forth. FIG. 2A depicts a change in conformation produced by exposure to light, in which photoresponsive material 10 is converted from a first state 10 to a second state 11. FIG. 2B depicts cross linking of multiple molecules 30 of photoresponsive material produced by exposure to light, to form crosslinked network 31. Conversion of a photoresponsive material from an unreacted to a reacted form may include conversion from inactive to active form, from active to inactive form, from colored form to non-colored form (or vice versa), from a darker (less reflective or emissive) form to a lighter (more reflective or emissive) form (or vice versa), from a more-scattering form to a less-scattering form (or vice versa), from a first color to a second color, or any combination of these. Conversion of a photoresponsive material from an unreacted form to a reacted form may include a change in the scattering or absorption properties of the photoresponsive material for light of a given waveband.

Various methods of delivering photoresponsive material and light to a skin region may be used to produce a patterned distribution of a material in the skin region. One or the other or both of the photoresponsive material and the light may be delivered in a targeted or spatially-varying fashion in order to produce a patterned distribution of material in the skin, including a patterned distribution having no obviously-ordered features, e.g. one that appears to be ‘random’.

In some embodiments, a patterned distribution of a material in or on skin may be produced by delivering a photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject in a relatively non-targeted fashion, and delivering targeted light to the skin region according to a pattern. The targeted light may have a wavelength content, time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a transformation of the photoresponsive material to a modified form, as a function of spatial position in or on the skin. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C, the method may include delivering targeted light to the skin region according to a pattern by delivering targeted light to a plurality of locations in the skin region according to a pattern. A patterned distribution of the modified form of the photoresponsive material may then be formed. This general approach is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C. In FIG. 3A, a skin region 100 is illustrated. Photoresponsive material has been applied to a portion 102 of skin region 100. Locations at which light is to be delivered to produce modification of the photoresponsive material are represented by white circles in this figure, as indicated by reference number 104. Focused light 106 from light source 108 is delivered to location 110a, which is one of multiple locations 110a-110j within portion 102 in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B illustrates delivery of light 106 to location 110a, where photoresponsive material is converted to a modified form, indicated by a dark circle. FIG. 3B depicts multiple locations 110b-110j that have previously been exposed to light to cause modification of photoresponsive material. Light source 108 may be positioned with respect to skin region 100 by a linkage 112. FIG. 3C depicts a pattern of modified material at locations 110a-110o.

Delivery of photoresponsive material in relatively non-targeted fashion may be accomplished by various methods, which may depend on various factors, including the type of photoresponsive material to be used, the desired depth of delivery of the material in the skin, or the size of the area in which a patterned distribution of material is to be produced. In some embodiments, photoresponsive material may be delivered to the skin topically. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a carrier material 130 containing a photoresponsive material 132 may be placed on a skin surface 134. Photoresponsive material 132 may diffuse out of carrier material 130 and into skin 12, as shown in FIG. 4B. Skin 12 includes epidermis 22 and dermis 24. Diffusion of photoresponsive material 132 may be enhanced by electrophoresis or by the presence of solvent or ‘carrier’ chemicals such as DMSO or EDTA in certain embodiments (see, e.g., “Photodynamic Therapy”, Medscape Dermatology 3(2), 2002, incorporated herein by reference. Other methods for enhancing movement of materials into the skin may include ultrasonic-transducer-driven pressure waves, for example. Photoresponsive material may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject topically in various forms, including, for example, an aerosol, cream, emulsion, gel, liquid, vapor, gas, lotion, patch, or powder or combinations of these.

In some cases, a general distribution of a photoresponsive material within a skin region may be obtained by injecting the photoresponsive material 132 into skin 12 with an hypodermic needle 140, as depicted in FIG. 5A. Photoresponsive material 132 may be in a liquid carrier solution 136, or in a suspension, an emulsion, or any other form suitable for delivery via a hypodermic needle. This approach may be suitable if the diffusion or dispersion of the photoresponsive material away from the injection site produces an acceptable (e.g., sufficiently uniform) distribution of photoresponsive material, as depicted in FIG. 5B, within an acceptable amount of time. Alternatively, photoresponsive material may be distributed into a skin region 12 with the use of a microneedle array 150, as depicted in FIG. 6. Photoresponsive material 132 may be injected below stratum corneum 18 of skin region 12 with the use of a microneedle array 150. As described in connection with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5A, photoresponsive material to be delivered via microneedle array 150 may be carried in a carrier fluid 152 that is adapted for use with a microneedle array. Alternatively, one or more high pressure jets or microjetted stream of fluid may be employed for delivering materials into the skin.

The distribution of photoresponsive material 132 that can be obtained within skin region 12 may depend on the combination of injection methodology and photoresponsive material used. For example, smaller molecules may diffuse or disperse more readily from the injection site than may larger molecules. In addition, the presence of certain functional groups may cause some photoresponsive materials to be taken up or retained or processed by certain tissues or cell types. Accordingly, photoresponsive materials may be selected or designed for use in combination with certain delivery mechanisms and for preferential delivery to, retention by, or processing by certain tissues or cells. The design or selection of photoresponsive materials to have certain diffusion or selective uptake-or-retention-or-processing properties may be performed by a person of skill in the relevant art, for example, as described in Pogue and Hasan, “Targeting in Photodynamic Therapy and Photo-Imaging, Optics & Photonics News, August 2003, pp. 36-43, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, a photoresponsive material may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject by delivering the photoresponsive material to the subject systemically. For example, photoresponsive material may be delivered to the subject orally in an ingestible formulation, via an inhalant, via intravenous or other ‘deep’ injection modalities or via various other regional or systemic routes. In some cases, a photoresponsive material may be delivered via injection, but subsequently carried throughout the body by the blood stream. As depicted in FIG. 7, a systemically delivered photoresponsive material 132 may be carried in the blood stream (e.g., in capillary 160) and diffuse out into the skin region of interest, which in this example is skin region 12. Depending on the particular photoresponsive material, it may distribute uniformly throughout the subject's body, or may distribute preferentially to certain regions, tissues, or cells of the body. In this, and other embodiments, the photoresponsive material may be attached to a carrier molecule compounded in various ways as known to those of skill in the arts of drug delivery, in order to produce a desired distribution of photoresponsive material within the subject's body.

FIG. 8 depicts the arm 200 of a subject, showing a skin region 202 in which a photoresponsive material is distributed. In this and other embodiments, photoresponsive material may be distributed only to the skin region of interest (skin region 202 in the present example), by, for example, topical application or local injection, or it may be distributed to a larger portion of the subject's body (up to and including the entire body), of which the region of interest is a part. In FIG. 9, patterned light 204 is delivered to skin region 202 from light source 206 to cause modification of the photoresponsive material to produce a patterned distribution 208 of the modified material in skin region 202.

FIG. 10 provides a general illustration of a device 300 that may be used to produce a patterned distribution of light. Controller 301 controls the deliver of light 302 from light source 304 via optical system 306. Device 300 may be positioned by a mechanical linkage 112 supported by a base 140. Light 302 may be delivered at different x, y positions on the skin surface (e.g. x₁, y₁, X₂, y₂, X₃, and y³ in FIG. 10), as well as at different depths or z positions (e.g. Z₁, Z₂, and Z₃ in FIG. 10) below the skin surface 134. Each location may be characterized by an x coordinate and y coordinate in an effectively planar portion of the skin region. Similarly, each location may be characterized by z coordinate corresponding to the depth of the location below a surface of the skin region. In some applications, the z coordinate may be selected for each location such that a pattern is formed in the epidermis of the skin region. In other applications, the z coordinate may be selected for each location such that a pattern is formed in the dermis of the skin region, or even below the dermis. Also shown in FIG. 10 is sensor sub-system 308 for performing a sensing function to provide for feedback control of device 300. Sensor sub-system 308 may measure a parameter of skin surface 134, either prior to or subsequent to the application of the light (e.g., skin color, temperature, or conductance, distance of device 300 from skin surface 134, or one or more other parameters) for controlling some aspect of application of light by device 300.

A method as depicted in FIG. 11 may be used for forming a pattern in a skin volume. At step 402, a photoresponsive material is delivered to at least a skin volume of a subject, the skin volume including a region having a depth underlying a skin surface having an area. At step 404, light of a wavelength band, time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause modification of the photoresponsive material may be aimed and focused at a plurality of locations within the volume, with at least a portion of the plurality of locations being at different depths within the region.

FIG. 12 depicts steps of a method of forming a patterned distribution of material in skin, including delivering a photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject at step 452 and delivering targeted light to the skin region according to a pattern, the targeted light having a wavelength content, polarization, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a transformation of at least a portion of the photoresponsive material to a modified form, at step 454. FIG. 13 depicts a related method, which includes delivering a photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject at step 472 and delivering targeted light to a plurality of locations in the skin region according to a pattern, the targeted light having a wavelength content, polarization, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a transformation of at least a portion of the photoresponsive material to a modified form, in step 474.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a system 500 for delivering patterned light. System 500 includes a light source 502 capable of producing light 503 of at least one defined wavelength band, and a controllable optical system 504. Controllable optical system 504 is configured to receive control signal 506 generated according to a pattern 508, and responsive to the control signal 506 to aim and focus light 503 from the light source 502 onto one or more selected skin locations of the plurality of skin locations 510a-510p according to pattern 508. Pattern 508 may represent a desired distribution of a material to a plurality of locations in or on skin region 510. System 500 may also include electronic circuitry 512 configured to limit the peak flux or fluence of light 503 produced by the light source 502 to levels that are non-damaging or not significantly damaging to skin. Controller 514, which may be, for example, a microprocessor, may perform computations used to produce control signal 506 for controlling controllable optical system 504, and light source drive signal 515 for driving light production by light source 502. Electronic circuitry 512 may function to limit light source drive signal 515 to limit light generation to safe levels, as well as to provide feedback control capability via a sensor (not shown). In some embodiments, a system for delivering patterned light to skin may include a light source capable of producing light of at least one defined wavelength band, a controllable optical system, and electronic circuitry configured to limit the peak flux or fluence of light produced by the light source to levels that are non-damaging or not significantly damaging to skin. The controllable optical system may be configured to receive a control signal generated according to a pattern representing a desired distribution of a material to a plurality of locations in or on a skin region, and responsive to the control signal to aim and focus light from the light source onto one or more selected skin locations of the plurality of skin locations according to the pattern. The system for delivering patterned light may also include an imaging device adapted for imaging a skin region containing at least a portion of the plurality of skin locations. In some embodiments, the system may include a device driver including one or more of hardware, software, or firmware for generating the control signal based upon pattern data stored in a machine readable medium. In some embodiments, the controllable optical system may include one or more deflectors configured to aim light from the light source, and the position of at least one of the one or more reflectors may be controllable to aim light toward at least one of the plurality of skin locations. In some embodiments, the controllable optical system may include a positioner adapted to adjust the position of the light source. Deflectors may include mirror-type reflectors and surface-acoustic wave (SAW) Bragg-type deflectors, as well as electrically-steered refractive elements. In some embodiments, feedback control of patterning action may be provided.

Patterned light may be delivered in the form of discrete pulses applied at multiple locations, as depicted in FIG. 14. Patterned light may also be delivered by sweeping a focused beam of light across a skin surface in a continuous pattern, for example, as depicted in FIG. 15. A beam may be moved across the skin surface with the use of a scanning mirror or functionally-equivalent optical systems of other types, the design and use of which is well known to those of skill in the art. Patterned light may also be delivered in some combination of continuous and discrete light; for example, a beam may be swept across the skin surface to form contiguous portions of a pattern, but turned on and off (e.g., by either mechanical or electrical means, or combinations thereof) as the beam is moved to non-contiguous portions of the pattern.

FIG. 15 depicts a system 600 including a controllable positioning system 602 that may be used to move a beam of light 604 over a skin surface 606 and to adjust the positioning of light from the light source on a skin region. System 600 may include a controllable optical system 608 that includes one or more deflectors 610 configured to aim light 604, from the light source 612. The position of at least one deflector 610 may be controllable to aim light 604 toward at least one of the plurality of skin locations. Controllable optical system 608 may include a positioner adapted to adjust the position of light source 612. Light source 612 may be capable of producing light 604 of at least one defined wavelength band. System 600 may also include memory 614 capable of storing a pattern 616 in machine-readable form representing a plurality of locations within a skin region to which light 604 from light source 612 is to be directed. In some embodiments, system 600 may include one or more optical components capable of focusing light 604 from the light source 612 at a specific depth within a skin region 12 in response to a control signal 618, controller 620 configured to generate control signal 618 for driving controllable positioning system 602 to direct light onto a plurality of skin locations according to pattern 616 stored in memory 614. Controller 620 may be configured to generate a control signal from driving one or more optical components to adjust the focusing of light 604 at different depths and at different skin locations according to pattern 616, and may be informed in at least one of its operations by at least one sensor 624 of skin condition. Deflectors 610 may be controllable deflectors configured to aim light 604 from light source 612, wherein the position of at least one of the one or more deflectors 610 is controllable to aim light toward any of the plurality of skin locations. Controller 620 may include one or more of hardware, software, and firmware. In some embodiments, controller 620 may include a microprocessor. In some embodiments, system 600 may include an imaging device, which may be for example, a CCD camera.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of different aspects of a system 700 for delivering patterned light to a skin region 12. System 700 may include light source 702 and optical system 704, which directs and focuses light 706 from light source 702. Overall system operation may be controlled by processor 708, which may be, for example, a microprocessor, powered by power supply 710. Processor 708 may execute commands from executable code 712 to generate signals 714 and 716, which are sent to light source driver 718 and optical driver 720, respectively. Light source driver 718, which may include hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, drives operation of light source 702. Optical driver 720, which also may include hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, drives operation of optical system 704, via position control module 722 and focus control module 724. System 700 may be used to deliver targeted light to a plurality of locations under software control and/or under microprocessor control, and may include feedback control.

FIG. 17 outlines a method that includes delivering patterned light of a restricted wavelength band to a skin surface coated with a photosensitive material, wherein the patterned light is capable of interacting with the photosensitive material to produce a visible pattern on the coated surface, as shown at step 752 of the flow diagram. The photosensitive material may be applied to the surface. Light may be delivered to different locations in sequence, in either discrete or continuous fashion. Patterned light as used in certain embodiments may be produced with the use of a controllable optical system that is controllable to focus the light source on at least two of a plurality of skin locations in sequence. In some embodiments, a controllable optical system may be used that is controllable to focus the light source on at least two of a plurality of skin locations simultaneously.

In some embodiments, light may be delivered to all parts of a pattern simultaneously. FIG. 18A illustrates a skin region 800 with a treated region 802 that contains a photoresponsive material. As described previously, photoresponsive material may be delivered to region 802 topically, by injection, regionally, or systemically. In step 18B, patterned light is delivered to area 804 in region 802 through the use of a stencil or mask or other methods as described herein below. Patterned light causes a reaction or transformation of at least a portion of photoresponsive material in area 804, to produce a pattern 806 of modified material as shown in FIG. 18C. In some embodiments, an additional step may be carried out to remove unmodified photoresponsive material from skin region 800, so that only pattern 806 remains in skin region 800, as depicted in FIG. 18D.

Several methods may be used to expose a treated skin region to patterned light. As shown in FIGS. 19A-19C, a mask (or stencil) 850 may be placed on the skin surface to block exposure of the skin surface to light except in the areas that are to be patterned. FIG. 19A depicts a mask 850 having an opaque portion 852 and a light transmitting portion 854. Mask 850 may be placed over a skin region that contains a photoresponsive material. In the example of FIG. 19B, the skin region is a portion of the arm 858 of a subject. A drape 860 may be used to extend the covered area of arm 858; various functionally-equivalent configurations may be devised by a practitioner of skill in the relevant art. Light from light source 862 may cover all of the light transmitting portion 854 of mask 850, as depicted in FIG. 19B. In some alternative embodiments, light from a light source may cover a portion of a light transmitting portion of a mask, and the light source may be moved to one or more additional regions in order to expose all of the skin region exposed by the light transmitting portion of the mask. Light source 862 may be removed or turned off following exposure to light for a period of time sufficient to produce a desired modification of the photoresponsive material, and mask 850 and drape 860 (if used) removed. As shown in FIG. 19C, arm 858 of the subject bears a patterned distribution 864 of modified photoresponsive material that corresponds to the light transmitting regions 854 of mask 850.

The method illustrated in FIGS. 19A-19C is summarized in FIG. 20. At step 872, a photoresponsive material is delivered to at least a skin region of a subject. At step 874, a mask is placed over the skin region, the mask including one or more light blocking regions and defining one or more light transmissive regions to form a pattern. At step 876, the skin region is exposed to light of wavelength band, time-averaged or peak flux and/or fluence sufficient to produce sufficient modification of the photoresponsive material within the skin region beneath the one or more light transmissive regions defined by the mask. Delivering a photoresponsive material may include delivering a photoresponsive material that is converted from an active form to an inactive form by exposure to light. Alternatively, delivering a photoresponsive material may include delivering a photoresponsive material that is converted from an inactive form to an active form by exposure to light. In further embodiments, the method may also include reversing the photo reaction by exposing the skin region to light of a wavelength band, time-averaged or peak flux and/or fluence sufficient to reverse the reaction. Photo reactions that may operate in a first direction at a first wavelength band, time-averaged or peak flux and/or fluence, and which may be reversed at a second wavelength band, time-averaged flux and/or fluence include, for example crosslinking of PEG-cinnamylidine acetate as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,193, and reactions of various aromatic diazo dyes, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,588, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

An alternative method of delivering patterned light is depicted in FIGS. 21 A and 21B. FIG. 21A depicts a light source 880 that produces patterned light 882. This may be accomplished by placing a mask over a single light source of sufficient size and capable of generating substantially collimated light, or by placing multiple smaller light sources, also capable of producing relatively parallel light, in a suitable arrangement. Patterned light 882 from light source 880 may then be delivered to a treated surface 884. In the example of FIG. 21A, treated surface 884 need not be masked, because the light is patterned, although in some embodiments patterned light may be used in combination with a mask or stencil. FIG. 21B illustrates pattern 886 that has been formed by modification of photoresponsive material in or on treated surface 884 by exposure to patterned light 882.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, various methods of delivering photoresponsive material to a skin region may be combined with various methods of delivering targeted light to a skin region to produce a number of related embodiments. Delivering photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject, at step 902, may be further characterized as delivering photoresponsive material topically (step 902a), delivering photoresponsive material by injection in the skin region (902b) by delivering photoresponsive material by injection below the stratum corneum with a microneedle array (902c), or delivering the photoresponsive material systemically (902d). Delivering targeted light to the skin region according to a pattern, as at step 904, may be performed by a number of approaches, including delivering targeted light to a plurality of locations in the skin region according to a pattern (904a), delivering targeted light to the skin region according to a decorative pattern (step 904b) or delivering targeted light to the skin region according to a pattern corresponding to one or more structures in the skin region (step 904c). Methods including step 904c may also include a step of detecting one or more features in the skin region. The target light may have a wavelength content, time-averaged or peak flux, and/or fluence sufficient to cause a transformation of the photoresponsive material to a modified form. Distinctly different optical effects may be realized by differing means of delivery, and these delivery means may be employed at the same or differing times or process/patterning steps in a sequence thereof.

In some embodiments, a photoresponsive material may be introduced into a skin region in a patterned distribution, and light delivered to the skin in a relatively non-targeted fashion in order to cause transformation of at least a portion of the photoresponsive material to a modified form. This approach is illustrated in FIGS. 23A-23C. A photoresponsive material may be delivered topically in a pattern by various methods, including painting, printing (e.g., ink-jet or wire-jet printing), and stenciling, for example. Photoresponsive material may be delivered into the skin, below the skin surface, by injection with one or multiple needles (e.g. tattoo needles, micro-needle array, hypodermic needle) or by a pressure jet.

FIG. 23A illustrates a skin region 950 including a patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 952. In FIG. 23B, light source 954 is used to deliver light to a region 956 which includes patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 952. Light source 954 delivers light in a relatively non-targeted fashion; any light distribution that covers patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 952 with light of sufficient peak or time-averaged intensity or fluence may be used. In some embodiments, light may be delivered in several stages or from several sources, e.g., by delivering light from two or more sources, or from the same source at two different times, such that each individual delivery of light covers only a part of the patterned distribution of photoresponsive material, but that together, the multiple deliveries of light cover the entire patterned distribution of photoresponsive material. In FIG. 23C, following modification of photoresponsive material due to light exposure, a patterned distribution of modified material 958 is present in skin region 950.

In some embodiments, both photoresponsive material and light may be delivered to the skin in a pattern. Patterned delivery of photoresponsive material and of light may be accomplished by any of the exemplary methods described herein above, for example. The patterns may be substantially similar and overlapping, in which case the distribution pattern of the modified form in or on the skin will be substantially the same as the distribution patterns of the unmodified form and the light. If the distribution pattern of the photoresponsive material and the distribution pattern of the light are partially overlapping, a patterned distribution of the modified form may be obtained that is defined by the shape and distribution of the regions of overlap between the distribution patterns of photoresponsive material and light. This approach is illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIGS. 25A-25C. At step 972 of FIG. 24, a photoresponsive material is delivered to a skin region of a subject in a first pattern. In one exemplary variant, 972a, photoresponsive material is delivered to the skin region topically. In another exemplary variant 972b, photoresponsive material is delivered to the skin region by injection (e.g., via a hypodermic needle, tattoo needle, microneedle array, pressure jet, etc.) At step 974, targeted light is delivered to the skin region in a second pattern, the second pattern overlapping partially with the first pattern. The photoresponsive material in the areas of overlap between the first pattern and the second pattern may undergo photomodification to form an overlap pattern of modified photoresponsive material within the skin region. The method is illustrated in graphic form in FIGS. 25A-25C. In FIG. 25A, a patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 1000 is formed in skin region 1002. In the present example, patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 1000 includes five lines of photoresponsive material 1000_a, 1000_b, 1000_c, 1000_d, and 1000_e. Such a patterned distribution may be formed by printing, injection, or other methods as described herein or as may be devised by one of skill in the art. In FIG. 25B, a patterned distribution of light 1004 is delivered to skin region 1002, overlapping patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 1000. Patterned distribution of light 1004 in this example includes five lines of light, 1004₁, 1004₂, 1004₃, 1004₄, and 1004₅, which may be formed by various methods as described previously. Following exposure to light, the photoresponsive material may react to form the patterned distribution 1006 of modified material in skin region 1002, as shown in FIG. 25C. Patterned distribution 1006 includes regions 1006_rc, where r=1 . . . 5 and c=a . . . e, formed by areas of overlap between patterned distribution of photoresponsive material 1000 and patterned distribution of light 1004.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to detect an image of a skin region in which a patterned distribution of a material is to be formed. For example, it may be desirable to detect a feature in a skin region that may be a treatment target, prior to delivery of a treatment in a targeted or aligned fashion. Or, it may be desirable to view an image of the skin region in order to determine placement of a decorative pattern in or on the skin region, e.g, aligned relative to a portion of a previously-emplaced pattern. FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a system 1050 that includes an imaging device 1052. System 1050 may include a light source 1054 capable of producing light of at least one defined wavelength band, memory 1056 capable of storing a pattern in machine-readable form representing a plurality of locations within a skin region to which light from the light source is to be directed and/or a pattern to be created, controllable positioning system 1060 configured to adjust the positioning of light from light source 1054 on a skin region, one or more optical components 1062 capable of focusing light from the light source 1054 at a specific depth within a skin region in response to a control signal, and controller 1064 configured to generate a control signal 1066 for driving controllable positioning system 1060 to direct light onto a plurality of skin locations according to the pattern 1058 stored in memory 1056. In some embodiments, controller 1064 may be configured to generate control signal 1066 for driving optical components 1062 to adjust the focusing of light at different depths and at different skin locations according to pattern 1058 stored in memory 1056. System 1050 may include additional sensing components or subsystems (not shown) for detection of at least one aspect or feature or portions of the skin or the pattern being formed on the skin. In some embodiments, controllable positioning system 1060 includes one or more controllable deflectors configured to aim light from light source 1054, wherein the position of at least one of the deflectors is controllable to aim light toward any of the plurality of skin locations. System 1050 may also include one or more I/O devices 1068 to provide for entry of control inputs by a user and for the presentation of information or data to the user. Various types of I/O devices are known or may be developed by those of skill in the arts of electronics and sensors for receipt and presentation of information and data in audio, visual, electronic, tactile, or other form, examples of which include scanners, touchscreens, keyboards, mice, trackballs, buttons, dials, microphones, speakers, video displays, etc. Controller 1064 may include one or more of hardware, software, and firmware. In some embodiments, controller 1064 may include a microprocessor. System 1050 may include an imaging device, which may be, for example, a CCD camera, as well as a sensor sub-system that enables the feedback capabilities referenced above.

In various embodiments, the skin in or upon which a pattern is to be formed may be pre-treated in order to render it particularly amenable to the patterning process. For example, it may smoothed or ‘planarized’ (made locally ‘flat’) to control the optical characteristics of the skin before, during, or after the patterning process, or to render the patterning particularly adherent or durable, etc. Smoothing of the skin may be accomplished by various methods as are known in the art, e.g. abrasion, laser treatment, etc.

In various embodiments, examples of which are described herein, photoresponsive materials may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject, and some or all of the photoresponsive material may be exposed to light to cause a reaction or conversion of the photoresponsive material. In some applications it may be desirable to remove one or both of modified and unmodified material from the subject's body. Unwanted material may be removed by processes normally occurring in the body, such as metabolism or excretion of the material, or by sloughing of skin containing the material. In some cases, materials may not be removed by naturally occurring processes, or may not be removed as quickly as is deemed desirable, and further treatment steps may be used to remove the materials form the body. In some embodiments, unmodified material may be removed, while modified material may be left in the skin region. In some embodiments, modified material may be removed from the skin region after a use period. Treatment to removed either modified or unmodified photoresponsive material, or both, may include phototreatment (e.g., photobleaching), chemical treatment (e.g., chemical bleaching, oxidizing, reducing, or application of at least one solvent), chemo-mechanical treatment (e.g., rinsing or scrubbing with a fluid which may include a surfactant), or treatment by exposure to at least one of heat, cold, pressure, vibration, electromagnetic fields, among others.

FIG. 27 depicts an exemplary sequence of method steps. At step 1102, a photoresponsive material is delivered to at least a skin region of a subject. At step 1104, a mask is placed over the skin region, the mask including one or more light blocking regions and defining one or more light transmissive regions to form a pattern. At step 1106, the skin region may be exposed to light of wavelength band, time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to produce modification of the photoresponsive material within the skin region beneath the one or more light transmissive regions beneath the mask. Method steps 1102 through 1106 correspond to the method illustrated in FIGS. 19A-19C, for example. At step 1108, the modification is reversed by exposing the skin region to light of a wavelength band, time-averaged or peak flux and/or fluence sufficient to reverse the modification.

Various of the methods disclosed herein (for example, the method as outlined in FIG. 12), may include removal of the modified form of the photoresponsive material from the skin region over time. In some embodiments, the modified form may be removed from the skin region by metabolism. The modified form may be removed from the skin region through sloughing of dead skin cells and/or the continual shedding of epidermal outer layers, for example. In some embodiments, the modified form may be removed from the skin region after a treatment period. The method may include removing the modified form by a photo treatment, by a chemical treatment, or by a chemo-mechanical treatment.

FIG. 28 depicts steps of a method that includes removing the modified form of the photoresponsive material from the skin region after a treatment period. At step 1152, a photoresponsive material is delivered to at least a skin region of a subject. At step 1154, targeted light is delivered to the skin region according to a pattern, the targeted light having a wavelength content, time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a transformation of at least a portion of the photoresponsive material to a modified form. At step 1156, the modified form is removed from the skin region after a treatment period. The modified form may be removed by photo treatment (step 1156a) or by chemical treatment (1156b), for example. The treatment period may be quite brief, producing only a transient presence of the modified material in the system, or may be of extended duration, of hours, days, weeks, months, or even years.

Examples of photoresponsive materials that may be used in various embodiments include, but are not limited to photodynamic therapy agents, photochromic dyes and pigments, photo-crosslinkable materials, photopolymerizable materials, and photodimerizable materials, luminides, light reactive polymers that change in conformation, volume, binding activity, drug activity, and hydrogels of various types. Various exemplary photoresponsive materials are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,602,975; 5,998,588; 6,555,663; 5,990,193; and 6,818,018, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Photoresponsive materials may be cosmetic materials having selected color or other appearance properties. Reaction undergone by photoresponsive materials may be a reversible transformation or an irreversible transformation. In some embodiments, the transformation may convert the photoresponsive material from an active to an inactive form. In other embodiments, the transformation may convert the photoresponsive material from an inactive to an active form. The transformation may include, for example, conversion of a photoresponsive material from a substantially colorless form to a colored form, or from a colored form to a substantially colorless form, or from a soluble form to an insoluble form or vice versa. Examples of photochromic dyes are listed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,975, which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the transformation may include conversion of the photoresponsive material from a first color to a second color, or may modify the extent or manner in which it scatters or converts or processes light of a given waveband. The modified form may be visible under natural light in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the modified form may be visible under ultraviolet light. In some embodiments, the modified form may be fluorescent or phosphorescent. The modified form may be a pigment, a dye, a refractive or reflective material, a light-scattering or -polarizing material, a pharmaceutical compound, or a cosmetic material.

FIG. 29 depicts steps of a method that includes removing unmodified photoresponsive material from a skin region of a subject. At step 1202, a photoresponsive material is delivered to at least a skin region of a subject. At step 1204, targeted light is delivered to the skin region according to a pattern, the targeted light having a wavelength content, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a transformation of at least a portion of the photoresponsive material to a modified form. At step 1206, the unmodified photoresponsive material is removed from the skin region. The unmodified photoresponsive material may be removed by photo treatment, as shown in step 1206a, or by chemical treatment, as shown in step 1206b, or by mechanical treatment (e.g., scrubbing) at step 1206c, or a combination of these.

FIG. 30 illustrates a method of providing controlled delivery of an active compound to a skin region, which includes delivering an inactive chemical compound non-specifically to at least a skin region of a subject at step 1252 and exposing the skin region to targeted light delivered to multiple selected locations within the skin region to form a pattern at step 1254, the targeted light having a wavelength band, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause modification of the inactive chemical compound to form an active compound within the skin region at the selected locations according to the pattern. As illustrated by steps 1252a and 1252b, respectively, delivering an inactive chemical compound may include delivering an inactive form of a photodynamic therapy agent or a photochromic dye or pigment. It is within the present inventive scope to deliver two-or-more materials in this manner, and to induce reactions between the two-or-more materials or between the two-or-more materials and ambient materials by the action of the incident light.

Systems for the delivery of light to skin, as described herein, may include various types of light sources. In general, suitable light sources must deliver light having wavelength content, fluxes and fluences sufficient to produce a particular effect in the photoresponsive material(s) that is (are) being exposed to the light. For example, in some embodiments, the light may have a wavelength content, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a photo cross-linking reaction of the photoresponsive material. In other embodiments, the light may have wavelength content, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a photochromic reaction of the photoresponsive material. In still other embodiments, the light may have a wavelength content, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to cause a photodimerization or other photopolymerization reaction of at least a portion of the photoresponsive material. Light sources suitable for use in various embodiments as described herein include lasers, laser diodes, as well as various non-coherent light sources. Light sources may include light emitting diodes. In some embodiments, light sources may emit light in an ultraviolet waveband. In some embodiments, light sources may emit light in a visible waveband, or in an infrared one. Broad-band (e.g., incandescent filament-based) light sources may be used in some embodiments.

FIG. 31 depicts a method of manufacturing a targeted light delivery system. Step 1302 includes providing a housing configured to be positioned relative to a skin region of a subject. At step 1304, a light source is mounted in fixed relationship with respect to the housing, the light source capable of delivering light of a wavelength band, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to activate a photoresponsive material in a skin region when the housing is positioned relative to the skin region. At step 1306, a controllable optical system is mounted with respect to the housing and the light source such that light from the light source may be focused on a skin region by the controllable optical system when the housing is positioned relative to the skin region. At step 1308, driver interface circuitry is connected to the light source and the controllable optical system, the driver interface circuitry adapted to receive one or more control signals and responsive to the control signals to drive the controllable optical system and the light source to focus light on one or more targets in the skin region according to a pattern and/or in an aligned manner. Alternatively, or in addition, the system may be driven in a manner responsive to feedback from the skin being patterned.

FIG. 32 depicts a method of manufacturing a device for delivering patterned light. At step 1352, a housing is provided that is configured to be positioned adjacent to a skin region of a subject. At step 1354, a light source is mounted in fixed relationship with respect to the housing, the light source capable of delivering light of a wavelength band, peak or time-averaged flux and/or fluence sufficient to activate a photoresponsive material in a skin region when the housing is positioned adjacent to the skin region. A controllable optical system is mounted with respect to the housing and the light source such that light from the light source may be focused on a skin region by the controllable optical system when the housing is positioned relative to the skin region at step 1356. At step 1358, driver interface circuitry is connected to the light source and the controllable optical system, the driver interface circuitry adapted to receive one or more control signals from a microprocessor-based controller and responsive to the control signals to drive the controllable optical system and the light source to focus light on one or more locations in the skin region according to a pattern. Alternatively, or in addition, control signals may be generated in response to feedback from the skin being patterned. At step 1360, software code is provided that is executable by the microprocessor-based controller to generate the one or more control signals. In some embodiments, the driver interface circuitry may be adapted to receive the one or more control signals from a microprocessor-based controller. In some embodiments, the method may include providing software code executable by the microprocessor-based controller to generate the one or more control signals.

FIG. 33 depicts features of a device as described in connection with FIG. 32; included are housing 1400, light source 1402, controllable optical system 1404, and driver interface circuitry 1406. Driver interface circuitry receives at least one control signal 1408 on input 1410, and generates control signals 1412 and 1414 for driving light source 1402 and controllable optical system 1404, respectively. Portion 1416 of housing 1400 may be configured to be positioned adjacent a skin region 1418, so that light 1420 may be directed to skin region 1418 by controllable optical system 1404.

The methods, apparatuses, and approaches described herein may be modified and combined in a variety of ways analogous to those of photolithography of semiconductor (e.g., silicon) wafers. For example, masks or stencils may be used to form positive or negative patterns on, above or beneath the surface of skin. Additive and subtractive processing may be performed by appropriate combinations of steps. For example, multiple steps, each involving the use of a different stencil and a different depth of focus of light in the skin, may be used to form a patterned distribution of material that varies as a function of depth within the skin. As another example, a multi-step process may be used in which a material modified at a first step, for example by treatment at a first wavelength, may in turn influence (e.g. by causing, preventing, promoting, or inhibiting) a further reaction or modification of the same or a different material produced at a second step by treatment with a second wavelength. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of combinations of treatment steps may be devised to control formation of patterned distributions of material in skin. As with photolithography methods, as multiple steps involving patterned delivery of materials or light to the skin are used, it may be necessary to maintain alignment or registration of patterns delivered at each step, e.g. by controlling mask positioning or targeting of light or delivery of photoresponsive material. Methods of maintaining positioning, targeting, or alignment are known to those of skill in the art, and variations are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate an embodiment of a system for positioning masks in proper alignment over a skin surface. In FIG. 34A, mounting 1550 includes first recess 1552 configured to receive first mask 1554. Mounting 1550 is supported by linkage 1556, which in the present exemplary embodiment is attached to post 1558. Post 1558 is positioned with respect to skin region 1560. Light delivery system 1562, which may include a light source, optical components, may also be positioned relative to skin region 1560 by means of post 1558. Mounting 1550 may include a second recess 1564, adapted to receive a mask. In an example of use of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 34A and 34B, at a first step shown in FIG. 34A, light from light delivery system 1562 may be delivered to skin region 1560 through light transmissive region 1568 in first mask 1554. At a second step shown in FIG. 34B, light from light delivery system 1562 is delivered to skin region 1560 through light transmissive region 1570 in second mask 1566. In this example, first mask 1554 was removed from first recess 1552, and second mask 1566 was placed in second recess 1564, in registration with first mask 1554, but at a slightly different level. In some embodiments, second (or subsequent) masks may be placed in first recess 1552 rather that in a recess located at a different height relative to the skin region. The number of recesses and masks may be varied depending upon the intended application.

FIGS. 35A-35C illustrate the use of indicia marked on the skin for maintaining alignment of masks. In FIG. 35A, skin surface 1600 has cross-shaped marking 1602 made up of crossing lines 1604 and 1606. First mask 1608 is positioned on skin surface 1600 by aligning first edge 1610 with first line 1604 and second edge 1612 with second line 1606. After completion of a first step, utilizing first mask 1608, first mask 1608 is removed, as shown in FIG. 35B, and at FIG. 35C, second mask 1616 is positioned on skin surface 1600 by aligning first edge 1618 with first line 1604 and second edge 1620 with second line 1620.

FIGS. 36A-36G provide an example of the use of multiple steps in the photopatteming of skin. It will be appreciated that this is only one of many possible combinations of previously described steps, and that various other combinations of such steps will be apparent to the practitioner of skill in the art. In FIG. 36A, a skin region 1650 is depicted in cross section, with the skin surface indicated by reference number 1652. Photoresponsive material 1654 may be present in at least a portion of skin region 1650. A mask 1656 may be placed on skin surface 1652. Light blocking regions of mask 1656 are indicated by black rectangles. The gaps between the light blocking regions of mask 1656 represent the light transmitting regions of mask 1656. As depicted in FIG. 36B, when light of wavelength λ₁ is focused at a first depth range 1660 in skin region 1650, photoresponsive material 1654 is modified to a first modified form 1662 at locations not blocked mask 1656. Mask 1656 is subsequently removed, leaving skin region 1650 containing first modified form 1662 at selected regions, as depicted in FIG. 36C. As depicted in FIG. 36D, when light of wavelength λ₂ is focused at a second depth range 1664 in skin region 1650, photoresponsive material 1654 is modified to a second modified form 1666 at locations not blocked by first modified form 1662. For example, first modified form 1662 may function to absorb, reflect, or otherwise modify the effect of light of wavelength λ₂. Second modified form 1666 is thus formed at multiple locations within second depth range 1664. In FIG. 36E, a second mask 1668 (including light blocking portions 1668 and light transmissive regions between the light blocking portions) is placed on skin surface 1652. Next, as depicted in FIG. 36F, light of wavelength λ₂ is focused at a third depth range 1670 in skin region 1650, photoresponsive material 1654 is modified to a second modified form 1666 at locations in third depth range 1670 not blocked by second mask 1668. Finally, as shown in FIG. 36G, the second mask may be removed, leaving skin region 1650 patterned with second modified form 1666 in second and third depth ranges 1664 and 1670, and patterned with first modified form 1662 at first depth range 1660. Depending upon the nature of first modified form 1662, it may be left in place in skin region 1650 or removed by various methods. Similarly, photoresponsive material 1654 may similarly be left in skin region 1650, or removed by naturally occurring processes or by a specifically involved removal process (e.g., treatment with light, a chemical, etc.).

As outlined above and detailed in FIG. 37, a method of forming a patterned distribution of a material in or on skin may include delivering a photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject at step 1702, delivering a first patterned distribution of light of a first wavelength band at a first depth within the skin region to cause a first transformation of the photoresponsive material at the first depth to a first modified form at step 1704, and delivering a second patterned distribution of light of a second wavelength band at a second depth within the skin region sufficient to cause a second transformation of the photoresponsive material at the second depth to a second modified form at step 1706.

A variety of parameters may be varied during the practice of the invention, in various combinations. In some embodiments, the first depth may be the same as the second depth. In other embodiments, the first depth may be different than the second depth. In some embodiments, the first wavelength may be the same as the second wavelength, while in others the first wavelength may be different than the second wavelength. The first patterned distribution of light may produce a first transformation of the photoresponsive material at the first depth, and the second patterned distribution of light may produce a first transformation of the photoresponsive material at the second depth. The first transformation of the photoresponsive material may include a conversion of the photoresponsive material from a first state to a second state, while the second transformation of the photoresponsive material may include a conversion of the photoresponsive material from a second state to a third state. In some cases, the first state may be equivalent to the third state, while in others the first state may be different from the third state. In some embodiments, the photoresponsive material may include two or more components, so that the first transformation of the photoresponsive material includes a modification of a first component of the photoresponsive material and the second transformation of the photoresponsive material includes a modification of a second component of the photoresponsive material.

Delivery of photoresponsive material to the skin during multi-step methods may be performed in the same ways as in single-step methods. In some embodiments, photoresponsive material may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject topically, for example in the form of an aerosol, cream, emulsion, gel, liquid, fluid, gas, vapor, lotion, patch, powder, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, photoresponsive material may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject by injecting the photoresponsive material into the skin region. Photoresponsive material may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject by injecting the photoresponsive material below the stratum corneum of the skin region with the use of a microneedle array. In other alternative embodiments, photoresponsive material may be delivered to at least a skin region of a subject by delivering the photoresponsive material to the subject systemically, which may be performed, for example, by delivering the photoresponsive material to the subject orally in an ingestible formulation.

The first and second transformations may be the same type of transformation, or they may be different types of transformations. In some embodiments, one transformation may reverse the other transformation. In some embodiments of a multi-step method, at least one of the first transformation and the second transformation may convert the photoresponsive material from an active to an inactive form. In some embodiments, at least one of the first transformation and the second transformation converts the photoresponsive material from an inactive to an active form. In some embodiments, at least one of the first transformation and the second transformation converts the photoresponsive material from a substantially colorless form to a colored form, or, conversely, from a colored form to a substantially colorless form. In some embodiments, at least one of the first transformation and the second transformation converts the photoresponsive material from a first color to a second color or changes its scattering or absorption properties for light of a given waveband. At least one of the first modified form and the second modified form may be visible under natural light, or, alternatively or in addition, at least one of the first modified form and the second modified form may be visible under ultraviolet light. In some embodiments, at least one of the first modified form and the second modified form may be fluorescent. One or both of the first modified form and the second modified form may be a pigment, dye, pharmaceutical compound, or cosmetic material.

In multi-step methods, registration or alignment of light or photo responsive materials delivered at different steps may be maintained. A multi-step method may include delivering the second patterned distribution of light in registration with the first patterned distribution of light. The method may include delivering the first patterned distribution of light by placing a first mask over the skin region at a first mask location, the mask including one or more light blocking regions and defining one or more light transmissive regions to form a pattern; and exposing the skin region to light of the first wavelength band. The second patterned distribution of light may be delivered by aiming and focusing light of the second wavelength band at a plurality of locations at the second depth in the skin region according to a second pattern. Alternatively, the second patterned distribution of light may be delivered by placing a second mask over the skin region in registration with the first mask location, the mask including one or more light blocking regions and defining one or more light transmissive regions to form a pattern; and exposing the skin region to light of the second wavelength band. Registration of the second mask with the first mask location may be maintained by positioning the second mask with respect to one or more indicia marked on the skin, illustrated in FIGS. 35A-35C. Alternatively, registration of the masks may be maintained placing the first mask over the skin region at a first mask location by placing the first mask in a mounting device positioned relative to the skin region and placing the second mask over the skin region in registration with the first mask location by placing the second mask in the mounting device, wherein the mounting device may be configured to maintain a correct registration of the second mask with respect to the first mask location, as depicted in FIGS. 34A and 34B.

In some multi-step methods, the first patterned distribution of light may be delivered by aiming and focusing light of the first wavelength band at a plurality of locations at the first depth in the skin region according to a first pattern. Such methods may also include delivering the second patterned distribution of light by placing a mask over the skin region in registration with the first patterned distribution of light, the mask including one or more light blocking regions and defining one or more light transmissive regions to form a pattern; and exposing the skin region to light of the second wavelength band. Alternatively, they may include delivering the second patterned distribution of light by aiming and focusing light of the second wavelength band at a plurality of locations at the second depth in the skin region according to a second pattern.

A multi-step method as depicted in FIG. 37 may include delivering photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject by delivering a photochromic material to at least a skin region of a subject, or it may include delivering photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject by delivering a photodynamic therapy agent to at least a skin region of a subject. It may include delivering photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject by delivering a composite material including one or more of a photodynamic therapy agent or a photochromic material to at least a skin region of a subject.

The first modified form may influence the second transformation of the photoresponsive material at the second depth. The first modified form may influences the second transformation by acting in cooperation with light of the second wavelength band to cause the second transformation of the photoresponsive material at the second depth. Alternatively, the first modified form may influence the second transformation by preventing transformation of photoresponsive material by light of the second wavelength band at the second depth. The first modified form may influence the second transformation by promoting transformation of photoresponsive material by light of the second wavelength band at the second depth, or it may influence the second transformation by inhibiting transformation of photoresponsive material by light of the second wavelength band at the second depth. The first modified form may influence the second transformation within the area of overlap between the first patterned distribution of light and the second patterned distribution of light.

As depicted in FIG. 38, a method of producing a patterned distribution of material in skin may include the steps of delivering a photoresponsive material to at least a skin region of a subject (step 1752), delivering light to the skin region according to a first pattern, the light having a first waveband and peak or time-average flux or fluence sufficient to produce a first response in the skin region (step 1754), delivering light to the skin region according to a second pattern, the light having a second waveband and peak or time-average flux or fluence sufficient to produce a second response in the skin region, the second response being modified by the first response in the areas of overlap between the first pattern and the second pattern (step 1756), and repeating one or more steps of delivering a photoresponsive material and delivering light to the skin region, wherein the repeated one or more steps produce a response that may be modified by a previous response of the skin region to delivery of one or more of photoresponsive material and light, as shown at step 1758. Delivering photoresponsive material and delivering light may be repeated in various combinations. The examples of individual method steps and combinations of method steps described and depicted herein are merely exemplary, and based upon disclosure herein a practitioner of skill in the art may devise many different variations.

According to certain embodiments, multi-step photopatterning may be employed to create structures on and above the surface of the skin, within or on top of substrates created or erected on the skin surface. One or more photoresponsive materials may be delivered to the skin surface as described herein. At least the portion of the patterned material formed adjacent to the skin surface may be at least temporarily adherent to the skin surface, or to a substrate material that is adherent to the skin surface. Photopatterning may be performed by delivering targeted or patterned light within a volume of photoresponsive material placed on the surface of the skin. The volume may be defined by the properties of the photoresponsive material itself, which may be a fluid, gel or paste that will maintain a desired thickness on the skin surface. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the photoresponsive material tends to disperse or spread into too thin a layer, the photoresponsive material may be maintained within a desired area and volume over the skin surface by a retaining enclosure such as a dam or envelope. Such a retaining enclosure may be removed following photopatterning to leave only the patterned structure on the skin surface, or the enclosure may remain in place. For example, the enclosure could have the general appearance of a transparent or translucent patch. Structures on the skin surface having three-dimensional structure may create decorative or cosmetic effects. Three-dimensional structures may have sub-micron feature sizes (i.e., on the scale of wavelengths of visible light), in order to produce iridescent or opalescent patterning on the skin surface. Alternatively, three-dimensional surface structures may be larger, e.g. to fill or smooth wrinkles, scars, pock marks, and the like, or to modify skin contours, either temporarily or semi-permanently, to produce an enhanced ‘natural’ appearance or to produce various decorative but not necessarily natural-appearing effects on the skin surface.

In some embodiments, at least one of the first modified form and the second modified form may be patterned to form a structure with components having a characteristic dimension, spacing, or spatial periodicity of the order of an optical wavelength. Such a structure or pattern may be formed in which at least one of the first modified form and the second modified form includes one or more of a metallic material, a dielectric material, or a resonantly-interacting material. Alternatively, at least one of the first modified form and the second modified form may include a fluorescent, phosphorescent, diffracting, or refracting material. At least one of the first modified form and the second modified form may be patterned to form at least one structure having visible appearance(s) that change(s) as a result of a change of the intensity, color, or incident angle of illuminating radiation or of the angle-of-regard of a viewer.

Systems for delivering patterned light to skin in multi-step methods, for example as described in connection with FIGS. 37 and 38, may be similar to or the same as systems used for delivering patterned light to skin in a single step. Components of such systems may include a first light source capable of producing light of a first wavelength band and peak or time-average flux or fluence, a second light source capable of producing light of a second wavelength band and peak or time-average flux or fluence, a controllable optical system, and electronic circuitry configured to limit the peak or time-average flux and/or fluence of light produced by the light source to levels that are not significantly damaging to the skin. The controllable optical system may be configured to receive a first control signal generated according to a first pattern representing a first desired distribution of light of the first wavelength band and peak or time-average flux or fluence, and to receive a second control signal generated according to a second pattern representing a second desired distribution of light of the second wavelength band and peak or time-average flux or fluence, the controllable optical system responsive to the first control signal to aim and focus light of the first wavelength band at one or more selected skin locations within the first desired distribution, and responsive to the second control signal to aim and focus light of the second wavelength band at one or more selected skin locations within the second desired distribution. Systems may also include various other components, such as memory capable of storing the first pattern and/or the second pattern in machine readable form, an imaging device, a device driver including one or more of hardware, software, or firmware for generating the control signal based upon pattern data stored in a machine readable medium. In some embodiments of such systems, the first light source and the second light source may be different light sources, in others, the first light source and the second light source may be the same light source. The controllable optical system may include one or more beam expanders, focusing elements, devices for modulating the spectral or spatial frequency-content of at least one beam, and beam-deflectors, which may be configured to aim, process or modulate light from at least one of the first light source and the second light source. The position of at least one of the one or more deflectors may be controllable to aim light toward at least one of the plurality of skin locations.

Methods of forming patterned distributions of light modulating materials at multiple levels or depths in skin, as described herein, may be used to form decorative patterns or tattoos in or on skin. The term “light-modulating material”, as used herein, refers to any of various dyes, pigments, or other light-absorbing, -reflecting, -scattering, -polarizing, -dispersing, -diffracting, -fluorescing, -phosphorescing or -emitting materials, or any other materials that may produce a visually or optically detectable effect. An appropriately formed distribution of one or more light modulating materials at multiple levels within and/or upon the skin may, in selected embodiments, form a hologram, which, upon exposure to light having appropriate characteristics, will form a holographic image in, on, or above the skin surface.

FIG. 39 illustrates a system used for forming a hologram pattern. A beam 1800 from laser 1802 is split by beam splitter 1804 into object beam 1806 and reference beam 1808. Laser 1802 may produce light in one or more wavebands. Object beam 1806 passes through beam expander 1810 and is directed by mirror 1812 onto object 1814, which is the object that is to be represented holographically. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 39, object 1814 is a three-dimensional heart-shaped icon, but this is merely an example of a wide variety of possible objects. Reference beam 1808 passes through beam expander 1816 and is reflected off mirror 1818, and reflected reference beam 1820 is thus directed to holographic recording device 1822. Reflected object beam 1824, which is reflected off object 1814, forms an interference pattern with reflected reference beam 1820, and the interference pattern is recorded by holographic recording device 1822 and saved or stored as hologram pattern data 1824.

Systems for recording holographic data, as illustrated generally in FIG. 39, are well known to those of skill in the art. Hologram pattern data 1824, which may be a pattern for the distribution of light modulating material in the skin to produce a holographic representation of a desired object (e.g., object 1814) may be stored in various formats. Hologram pattern data 1824 may include a pattern for the distribution of light modulating material at two or more levels. The number of levels may be pre-set or pre-programmed (e.g., by hardware, firmware or software) into holographic recording device 1822, or may be selected by an operator of holographic recording device 1822. In general, hologram pattern data (also referred to herein simply as a ‘pattern’) may be created prior to formation of a holographic tattoo. In some embodiments, hologram pattern data may be created well in advance of the formation of a tattoo; for example, in some applications, an individual desiring to obtain a tattoo may select from a variety of previously created patterns representing images of different objects. In other embodiments, a hologram pattern may be created upon demand specifically for a particular individual.

While the simplified representation of FIG. 39 shows a beam spreader 1816 and mirror 1818, in some embodiments the system may include other components, such as beam shapers, polarizers, wavelength filters, neutral density filters, phase correcting elements, spectral or spatial wavenumber-content modulators, or other types of components. In one approach, a phase correction can be applied, either through a phase correcting element or by modifying the holographic data to accommodate phase distortion or other variations induced by nonuniformities, feature changes, or other optical defects or peculiarities of the skin or other tissue. Phase correction approaches include substrates having defined phase shifts that may be defined by the substrate's topography or by locally controlling relative index of refraction. Where the index of refraction is controlled electrooptically or piezoelectrically, the phase correction can be defined dynamically, and may include feedback from a detector with processor-controlled local indexes.

In another approach, the phase front control can be minimized by planarizing the skin surface or otherwise making the region containing the hologram more uniform. Depending on the configuration of the system and other considerations, this approach may be employed independently or in conjunction with the phase control approach described previously.

Hologram patterns for use in various embodiments as described herein may be produced with the use of a holographic recording device as illustrated in FIG. 39, or may be produced computationally, by calculating the interference pattern that would be correspond to a particular object, or via a combination of these two methods. Patterns may be entirely holographic, or may be partially holographic, but also include non-holographic portions, so that some portions of a design or image may be represented holographically, while other portions of a design or image may have a flat or two-dimensional character. In some embodiments, rather than directing a reflected object beam and reference beam to a holographic recording device as depicted in FIG. 39, the reflected object beam and reference beam may be routed directly into a skin region containing a photoresponsive material, where the interference pattern of the two beams will interact with the photoresponsive material to form a distribution of light modulating material corresponding to the interference pattern that may be irradiated to form a holographic image. In some embodiments, a hologram may be formed in the skin by delivery of a combination of photoresponsive material and light to a skin region.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional representation of a skin region 1850 containing a hologram 1852 formed by light modulating material 1854. The skin surface is indicated by reference number 1856. Light modulating material 1854 (indicated by shaded dots, only a few of which are called out specifically by reference number 1854) is distributed within skin region 1850 at as many as N different levels. The different levels are separated from each other by a distance of approximately λ/4, where λ is the wavelength of light used to form the holographic image in the medium in which the interference pattern is being created. The first, or most superficial, level is located at a depth of about d₁ below skin surface 1856, where λ is the freespace wavelength of light used to form the holographic image. λ may be between about 300 and about 800 nm, for example. The different levels are separated from each other by a distance of λ/4, with level N occurs at about d₂ below Level 1, and thus a distance d₁+d₂ below skin surface 1856. Upon exposure of hologram 1852 to light of wavelength λ, a holographic image may be formed that appears in, on, or above skin surface 1856.

Formation of a holographic image in the vicinity of the skin is illustrated in FIG. 41. Hologram 1900 is formed in skin region 1902 of the arm 1904 of a subject. Incident light 1906 is reflected from hologram 1900. Reflected incident light 1908 and reference light 1910 interact to form holographic image 1912 detectable by an imaging device or via a scattering screen positioned in the vicinity of the interacting reference beam 1910 and reflected incident beam 1908. In embodiments in which visible wavelengths of light are used, holographic image 1912 may be detected by a human eye, without the use of additional imaging or detection equipment.

In various embodiments as described and exemplified herein, λ may range between about a few tenths of a micron (micrometer or μm) to dimensions on the order of one or a few millimeters. A tattoo that would form a holographic image under visible light, for example, would include levels spaced between about 0.1 and 0.2 μm, since the visible light spectrum includes wavelengths between about 0.4 to about 0.75 μm. Tattoos including more widely spaced layers may be employed to form holographic images detectable with use of longer wavelengths of light. Such tattoos may be suitable, for example, as markings or tags that are not intended to be detected under most conditions, but which can be detected under exposure to appropriate wavelengths. Choices of d₁ and d₂ may depend on λ. For detection under visible light, a holographic tattoo may be formed as a deep as about 100 λ. For values of λ in the visible range, a holographic tattoo with finer resolution may be formed in the uppermost layer of the skin, or stratum corneum, hence with d₁ on the order of a few microns and d₁+d₂ about 40 μm or less. A tattoo formed in the stratum corneum may persist for a week or more before the outer skin layer carrying it sloughs off. Tattoos formed deeper in the skin may be more permanent. Holographic tattoos adapted for use with longer wavelength, e.g., in the IR range, may be formed deeper in the skin, as well as in superficial layers.

Formation of a holographic image in the vicinity of the skin is illustrated in FIG. 41. Hologram 1900 is formed in skin region 1902 of the arm 1904 of a subject. Incident light 1096 is reflected from hologram 1900. Reflected incident light 1908 and reference light 1910 interact to form holographic image 1912.

In some embodiments, a hologram may be formed in the skin by delivery of a combination of photoresponsive material and light to a skin region. An object beam and reference beam determined according to holograph pattern data as recorded in FIG. 39 (or generated directly from the imaged object) may be directed into a skin region containing a photoresponsive material, where the interference pattern of the two beams will interact with the photoresponsive material to form a distribution of light modulating material corresponding to the interference pattern. In some embodiments, a distribution of light modulating material that corresponds to the interference pattern may be formed as a consequence of delivery of a finely focused single beam of light targeted upon multiple locations within the skin region.

A hologram may also be formed by more conventional methods of delivery material to the skin, e.g. with a tattoo needle, an array of needles, or one or more high pressure jets. Any of these delivery approaches may include the use of a computer or micro-processor-based system or other system capable of controlling the delivery or formation of light modulating material in the skin based upon holographic pattern data. FIGS. 10, 14-16, and 26 are exemplary of systems that may be used for forming holograms in the skin through delivery of photoresponsive material and light, by providing a pattern that represents a distribution of material that will form a hologram.

FIG. 42 illustrates a system 1950 that may be used to control the injection of light modulating material into a skin region 1952 to form a hologram. System 1950 includes controller 1954, which may be, for example, a microprocessor. Memory 1956 is operatively connected to controller 1954 and contains holographic pattern data 1958. Based upon holographic pattern data 1958, controller 1954 generates control signal 1960, which is transmitted to needle driver 1962. Needle driver 1962 controls the operation of one or more injection needles 1964. Needle driver 1962 includes position control module 1966, depth control module 1968, and injection control module 1970. Position control module 1966 may control the X, Y position of needle 1964, depth control module 1968 may control the depth (or Z position) of needle 1964, and injection control module 1970 may control the delivery of light modulating material into skin region 1952. For example, FIG. 42 depicts light modulating material 1972₁, 1972₂, and 1972₃ that has been injected into skin region 1952 at three locations, (X₁, Y₁, Z₁), (X₂, Y₂, Z₂), and (X₃, Y₃, Z₃), respectively. Drive signal 1974 from control module 1962 drives operation of actuator 1976, which actuates needle 1964. In some embodiments, system 1950 may also include one or more sensors 1978 for sensing parameters (e.g., distance or proximity to skin surface 1980, skin color, etc.), to serve as a feedback signal that may be incorporated into the control of system 1950.

FIG. 43 illustrates a system 2000 for delivering a light modulating material or precursor thereof to a skin region 2002 with a needle array 2004. System 2000 may include a computer system 2006 or other microprocessor based system, similar to system 1950 depicted in FIG. 42. Computer system 2006 may generate one or more control signals 2008 which are delivered to needle array driver 2010. Needle array driver 2010 may include reservoir/pump 2014 containing light modulating material in a form suitable for delivery via needle array 2004. Needle array driver 2010 may drive delivery of light modulating material into skin region 2002 under control of control signals 2008. In order to control the location at which light modulating material is delivered into skin region 2002, light modulating material may be routed to the appropriate needle within needle array 2004, and the depth at which the material is delivered may be adjusted, either by adjusting the depth of penetration of the individual needle or of the array as a whole. Needle array 2004 may be a microneedle array as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,899,838, 6,511,463, and 6,334,856, and U.S. Patent Applications 20030057391, 20030015807, and 20050034200, for example, which are incorporated herein by reference. Flow of fluid to selected microneedles may be controlled by the incorporation of microchannel arrays, e.g., as described in U.S. Patent applications 20040050705, 20050145496, and 20040121066, which are also incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 44 depicts a method of forming a holographic tattoo, including forming a first distribution of a first light modulating material in a first plurality of locations in a first level of the skin of a subject at step 2052, and forming a second distribution of a second light modulating material in a second plurality of locations in a second level of the skin at step 2054, where the first plurality of locations and the second plurality of locations are selected such that the first and second light modulating materials form a hologram within the skin. The hologram may be configured to produce a holographic image from light of at least one selected wavelength and the first light modulating material and the second light modulating material may reflect light to form an interference pattern corresponding to a desired image represented in the holographic tattoo, in the manner depicted in FIGS. 39-41. The first and second levels may be separated by a distance of at least one quarter of the selected illuminating wavelength, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 40. One or more of the first distribution and the second distribution may be formed with a light modulating material, which may include, for example, a pigment, a dye, a photochromic material, a reflecting or refracting material, or a fluorescent or phosphorescent material. The light modulating material may be a reflective material. In some embodiments, the light modulating material may include a retroreflector or corner-cube reflector. In such embodiments, the corner-cube reflector may be conditioned to reflect at least one selected wavelength of light.

A holographic tattoo may be formed by a method which includes injecting the material with a tattoo needle, as depicted in FIG. 42. The tattoo needle may be a single needle or one needle of an array of tattoo needles. Alternatively, light modulating material or a precursor thereof may be injected with a high pressure jet. In the method shown in FIG. 44, injecting the light modulating material or a precursor thereof may be performed under microprocessor control.

In the practice of methods as exemplified by FIG. 44, the first plurality of locations and the second plurality of locations may be selected based upon a predefined tattoo pattern stored in computer-readable form. In some embodiments of such methods, the first light modulating material and the second light modulating material may be the same material. In other embodiments, the first light modulating material and the second light modulating material may be different materials. Methods as exemplified by FIG. 44 are not limited to use in forming distributions of light modulating materials in two levels. In some embodiments, the method may be expanded to include forming a distribution of one or more light modulating materials at a plurality of levels of the skin of the subject. Two or more of the plurality of levels may be separated from adjacent levels of the plurality of levels by a distance of at least one quarter of the at least one wavelength. In some embodiments, the plurality of levels may form a region having a depth of about 10 times at least one of the illuminating wavelengths. The region may be located at a depth of about 30 wavelengths below the surface of the skin, or it may be located more superficially. In some embodiments, the plurality of levels may form a region having a depth of a fewer than 10 time the illuminating wavelength. The method may include delivering the first light modulating material to the first plurality of locations and delivering the second light modulating material to the second plurality of locations by delivering one or more photoreactive materials to a region including the first plurality of locations and the second plurality of locations, and delivering light selectively to the first plurality of locations to cause at least one of the one or more photoreactive materials to react to form the first light modulating material and delivering light selectively to the second plurality of locations to cause at least one of the one or more photoreactive materials to react to form the second light modulating material. The targeted light may be delivered to one or more of the first plurality of locations and the second plurality of locations with a focused laser beam, using a system as depicted in FIGS. 10, 14-16, or 26, for example.

FIG. 45 depicts an exemplary method that may be used to carry out step 2052 in FIG. 44. Steps include forming the first distribution of the first light modulating material by: positioning an injection device at a location on a skin surface of a subject, the location determined from a tattoo pattern specifying the first plurality of locations, as shown at step 3002. According to the pattern, the first light modulating material or a precursor thereof may be injected into the first level of the skin at step 3004. An injection device may be positioned at a new location selected from the first plurality of locations specified by the tattoo pattern as shown at step 3006. As shown at step 3008 steps 3002-3006 (also referred to as steps a)-c) in the figure) may be repeated until the first light modulating material or precursor thereof has been injected into the skin of the subject at all of the first plurality of locations specified by the tattoo pattern. Similarly, an approach like that illustrated in FIG. 45 may be used to form the second distribution of second light modulating material, i.e., the second distribution of the second light modulating material may be formed by positioning an injection device at a location on a skin surface of a subject, the location determined from a tattoo pattern specifying the second plurality of locations; according to the pattern, the second light modulating material or a precursor thereof may be injected into the first level of the skin; the injection device may be positioned at a new location selected from the second plurality of locations specified by the tattoo pattern; and the steps may be repeated until the second light modulating material or precursor thereof has been injected into the skin of the subject at all of the second plurality of locations specified by the tattoo pattern. The same injection device may be used at each of the first plurality of locations and/or each of the second plurality of locations. The injection device may be a tattoo needle or a high pressure jet, for example. Alternatively, the method may include using a plurality of injection devices at the first plurality of locations. For example, the plurality of injection devices may form an array of injection devices. The plurality of injection devices may include a plurality of tattoo needles or a plurality of high pressure jets.

FIG. 46 depicts a method of forming a tattoo that includes delivering a photoreactive material into a skin region of a subject, as shown at step 3502, where the skin region contains a target volume having a length, width, and depth. At step 3504, targeted light may be delivered to a plurality of locations within the target volume, the targeted light sufficient to cause reaction of the photoreactive material to produce a light modulating material within the target volume at each of the plurality of locations. The plurality of locations may be selected so that the light modulating material at the plurality of locations is capable of forming a holographic image when exposed to light of at least one selected wavelength. The photoreactive material may be delivered to the subject systemically or topically, or via an injection e.g., by various methods as described herein. The target volume in which a tattoo may be formed may have a depth of about 10 wavelengths of light of the at least one wavelength. In some embodiments, the plurality of locations may be located within multiple different levels within the target volume, for example, at about 40 different levels within the target volume. The targeted light may be targeted to a location with an accuracy of at least about one quarter of a wavelength of light of the at least one selected wavelength, for example through the use of a focused laser beam. As in various other embodiments, the light modulating material may include a pigment, dye, or fluorescent material, as well as various other materials described in the foregoing.

FIG. 47 depicts steps of a method of forming a tattoo design. Step 3102 includes detecting at least one light interference pattern from an object to be depicted in a tattoo, step 3104 include determining a volume representation of the light interference pattern for a volume corresponding to the area and thickness of a skin region capable of receiving the tattoo, and step 3106 includes storing the volume representation in digital format. At least one light interference pattern may be detected from a three-dimensional object, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 39. In some embodiments, the light interference pattern may be formed from a single wavelength of light. In an alternative embodiment, the light interference pattern may be formed from multiple wavelengths of light and comprise multiple interference patterns, each interference pattern corresponding to a single wavelength of light. The volume representation saved in digital format at step 3106 may serve as holographic pattern data, upon which formation of a holographic tattoo may be based. A follow-on to the steps shown in FIG. 47 may be retrieving the volume representation from the digital format and generating a control signal for controlling delivery of one or more light modulating materials to a skin region based upon the retrieved representation.

A method as outlined in FIG. 47 may include a tattoo design based upon: a volume representation of a light interference pattern produced by interference of light reflected from an object comprising the subject matter of the tattoo and light from a reference source. The volume representation may correspond to an area and depth of a skin region capable of receiving a tattoo, that is, the distribution and spacing of light modulating material. The representation may include a multi-layer representation, which in some embodiments may be a two-layer representation, and which may include larger numbers of layers in other embodiments. In general, a higher resolution holographic image may be obtained with a hologram formed of a larger number of layers, but the choice of number of layers will depend on the nature of the image to be presented holographically and on any constraints (e.g. time, expense, etc.) relating to the number of layers that can be conveniently formed. In some embodiments, the tattoo design may be stored in a digital format. The tattoo design may be stored on a signal-bearing medium, which may be, for example, a computer storage medium such as a random access memory, read-only memory, flash memory, CD-ROM, DVD, optical disk, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, or magnetic disk storage, or a communication medium such as a wired medium, an acoustic medium, a radio-frequency medium, an optical medium, or an infra-red medium.

With regard to the hardware and/or software used in the control of skin treatment systems according to the present embodiments, and particularly to the sensing, analysis, and control aspects of such systems, those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the art has progressed to the point where there is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software can become significant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency or implementation convenience tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a solely software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles by which the processes described herein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations will require optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be implicitly understood by those with skill in the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmware would be well within the capabilities of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordable type media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digital tape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links (e.g., links carrying packetized data).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical equipment).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the art to describe devices for detection or sensing, signal processing, and device control in the fashion set forth herein, and thereafter use standard engineering practices to integrate such described devices and/or processes into skin treatment systems as exemplified herein. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a skin treatment system via a reasonable amount of experimentation.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that systems as described herein may include one or more of a memory such as volatile and non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digital signal processors, computational-supporting or -associated entities such as operating systems, user interfaces, drivers, sensors, actuators, applications programs, one or more interaction devices, such as data ports, control systems including feedback loops and control implementing actuators (e.g., devices for sensing position and/or velocity and/or acceleration or time-rate-of-change thereof; control motors for moving and/or adjusting components). A skin treatment system may be implemented utilizing any suitable available components, combined with standard engineering practices.

The foregoing-described aspects depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should NOT be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” and/or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense of one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense of one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together).

Although the methods, devices, systems and approaches herein have been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. As illustrated by the foregoing examples, various choices of light delivery system configuration and method of delivery of photoresponsive material may be within the scope of the invention. As has been discussed, the choice of system configuration may depend on the intended application of the system, the environment in which the system is used, cost, personal preference or other factors. System design, manufacture, and control processes may be modified to take into account choices of photoresponsive material and intended application, and such modifications, as known to those of skill in the arts of display design and construction, may fall within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the full spirit or scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. A method of forming a holographic tattoo, comprising: a) forming a first distribution of a first light modulating material in a first plurality of locations in a first level of the skin of a subject; and b) forming a second distribution of a second light modulating material in a second plurality of locations in a second level of said skin; wherein said first plurality of locations and said second plurality of locations are selected such that said first and second distributions of light modulating materials form a hologram within said skin.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first distribution of first light modulating material and said second distribution of second light modulating material reflect light to form an interference pattern corresponding to a desired image represented in the holographic tattoo.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said corner-cube reflector is conditioned to reflect at least one selected wavelength of light.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. The method of claim 1, including injecting said light modulating material or a precursor thereof under microprocessor control.

13. The method of claim 12, selecting said first plurality of locations and said second plurality of locations based upon a predefined tattoo pattern stored in computer readable form.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first light modulating material and said second light modulating material are the same material.

15. (canceled)

16. The method of claim 1, including forming a distribution of one or more light modulating materials at a plurality of levels of the skin of the subject.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. The method of claim 1, including delivering said first light modulating material to said first plurality of locations and delivering said second light modulating material to said second plurality of locations by delivering one or more photoreactive materials to a region including said first plurality of locations and said second plurality of locations, and delivering light selectively to said first plurality of locations to cause at least one of said one or more photoreactive materials to react to form said first light modulating material and delivering light selectively to said second plurality of locations to cause at least one of said one or more photoreactive materials to react to form said second light modulating material.

21. The method of claim 20 including delivering said targeted light to one or more of said first plurality of locations and said second plurality of locations with a focused laser beam.

22. The method of claim 1, including forming said first distribution of said first light modulating material by: a) positioning an injection device at a location proximate to a skin surface of a subject, the location determined from a tattoo pattern specifying said first plurality of locations; b) according to said pattern, injecting said first light modulating material or a precursor thereof into said first level of said skin; c) positioning an injection device at a new location selected from said first plurality of locations specified by said tattoo pattern; and d) repeating steps a) through c) until said first light modulating material or precursor thereof has been injected into the skin of said subject at all of said first plurality of locations specified by said tattoo pattern.

23. The method of claim 22, including forming said second distribution of said second light modulating material by: a) positioning an injection device at a location on proximate to a skin surface of a subject, the location determined from a tattoo pattern specifying said second plurality of locations; b) according to said pattern, injecting said second light modulating material or a precursor thereof into said first level of said skin; c) positioning an injection device at a new location selected from said second plurality of locations specified by said tattoo pattern; and d) repeating steps a) through c) until said second light modulating material or precursor thereof has been injected into the skin of said subject at all of said second plurality of locations specified by said tattoo pattern;

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. A method of forming a holographic tattoo comprising: a) delivering a photoreactive material into a skin region of a subject, said skin region containing a target volume having a length, width, and depth; and b) delivering targeted light to a plurality of locations within said target volume, said targeted light sufficient to cause reaction of said photoreactive material to produce a light modulating material within said target volume at each of said plurality of locations, said plurality of locations selected so that said light modulating material at said plurality of locations is capable of forming a holographic image when exposed to light of at least one selected wavelength and the resulting scattered light is interfered with a reference beam of at least one selected wavelength.

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. The method of claim 31, including delivering said targeted light to each of said plurality of locations with a focused light beam.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein said light modulating material comprises a pigment, dye, photochromic material, light-scattering material, polarizing material, phosphorescent material or fluorescent material.

40. A method of forming a tattoo design, comprising: a) detecting at least one light interference pattern from an object to be depicted in a tattoo; b) determining a volume representation of said light interference pattern for a volume corresponding to the area and thickness of a skin region capable of receiving said tattoo; and c) storing said volume representation in digital format.

41. The method of claim 40, including detecting at least one light interference pattern from a three-dimensional object.

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising: a) retrieving said volume representation from said digital format; and b) generating a control signal for driving delivery of one or more light modulating materials to a skin region according to said retrieved representation.

45. A tattoo design comprising: a volume representation of a light interference pattern produced by interference of light reflected from an object comprising the subject matter of the tattoo and a reference light, the volume representation corresponding to an area and depth of a skin region capable of receiving a tattoo.

46. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

48. The tattoo design of claim 45, wherein said representation is stored in a digital format.

49. The tattoo design of claim 45, wherein said representation is stored on a signal-bearing medium.

50. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. The method of claim 1, including forming one or more of said first distribution and said second distribution with a light modulating material including a pigment, a dye, a photochromic material, a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material, a reflective material, a refractive material, a polarizing material, a scattering material, a retroreflector or a corner-cube reflector.

55. The method of claim 1, including injecting said light modulating material or a precursor thereof with one or more tattoo needles or high pressure jets.

56. The method of claim 22, including using a plurality of injection devices at said first plurality of locations, the plurality of injection devices including an array of injection devices including at least one tattoo needle or high pressure jet.

57. The method of claim 31, including delivering the photoreactive material to the subject systemically, topically, or via an injection.

58. The method of claim 40, wherein said light interference pattern is formed by at least one of illuminating the object with a single wavelength of light and interacting the scattered light with a reference beam of the same single wavelength, or illuminating the object with light containing multiple wavelengths of light, wherein said interference pattern comprises multiple interference patterns each corresponding to a single wavelength of light.

59. The tattoo design of claim 45, wherein said representation comprises two or more layers.

60. The tattoo design of claim 49, wherein said signal-bearing medium includes at least one of random access memory, read-only memory, flash memory, CD-ROM, DVD, optical disk, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, a wired communication medium, an acoustic communication medium, a radio-frequency communication medium, an optical communication medium, or an infra-red communication medium.