1. Scientist Explains Aesthera’s
Photopneumatic Therapy
Editor’s Note: The following news report is based age expansion was computed based on CCD photogra-
phy. We concluded that the stretching of skin is about
on an interview with Steven Jacques, Ph.D. 23% when pneumatic energy was applied. Second, a
Professor, Departments of Dermatology and spectroscopy study deter-
mined the increase in
Biomedical Engineering, Assoc. Professor, reflectance at shorter
Dermatology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health wavelengths and conclud-
ed that stretching the skin
and Sciences University.
18% cleared residual
blood from the skin, allow-
What were some initial assumptions underlying the ing for a 25% increase in
development of Aesthera’s Photopneumatic Therapy reflectance of light. This
(PPx)? increase was roughly con-
sistent with a decrease in
High energy levels required by conventional lasers the blood content of the
and light sources indicate that photon delivery skin and implies a better penetration of light into skin.
remains largely inefficient. If stretching the skin or Third, computer simulations allowed us to predict how
manipulating skin optics significantly increased the a reduction in epidermal melanin concentration would
efficiency of photon delivery to deep targets, then yield a specific increase in the light that reaches any
stretching the skin with a device such as the Aesthera depth in the skin. Mathematical modeling of a 23%
Photopneumatic (PPx) system would have greater clin- stretch using the Aesthera PPx system concluded that
ical significance than conventional technologies. the Aesthera PPx system increased the light received
Highly efficient photon delivery would allow one to by targets at any depth by 210%.
achieve efficacy and protect normal tissue by using Vic Narurkar, M.D. conducted a 60 patient clinical
lower overall levels of energy with no pain. study for hair removal, vascular and pigmented
lesions. This study concluded that the Aesthera PPx
What are the consequences of manipulating skin system used 60% to 80% less energy than other com-
optics with the Aesthera PPx system? peting technologies. Treatments with the PPx system
were effective and up to 7x faster. 100% of patients who
Stretching the skin and manipulating its optical completed a pain survey rated Aesthera PPx treat-
characteristics has three main effects. First, stretching ments as being no pain treatments.
reduces the thickness of the skin. Second, melanin per
unit area is reduced. Third, stretching the skin yields a What are the conclusions of these scientific and
dynamic pattern of a drop in initial blood perfusion. clinical tests?
These changes affect the optics of the skin (i.e., how
well light will penetrate the skin for therapeutic Our research demonstrates that a reduction in
effect). The Aesthera PPx system utilizes each of the blood and melanin concentration allows one to effec-
above to result in the use of lower total overall energy tively use shorter wavelengths, with the Aesthera PPx
employed. The clinical consequence of this is increased system. The influence of thinning the epidermal
safety without compromised efficacy. melanin with the PPx system is a 210% increase in the
amount of light received by the target at any depth.
How were the advantages of manipulating the optical The clinical studies suggest that target destruction
characteristics of the skin demonstrated scientifically? with PPx occurs at energy levels that are 60% to 80%
lower than those with conventional systems. The PPx
Our research team applied pneumatic energy to a system therefore provides a significantly safer treat-
four point grid on the forearm of a volunteer. Percent- ment environment. I
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