Pneumatic skin flattening (PSF): a new technology for more selective, safer and painless coupling of an intense treatment laser beam into the skin

Pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) is a new technology which enables painless and safer coupling of an intense treatment laser beam into the skin with enhanced spectral selectivity. Applications are mainly in aesthetic laser and IPL treatments. PSF generates vacuum over the skin, followed by very fast suction and flattening of the skin against a Sapphire window. The utilization of a translucent diffusing Sapphire window considerably enhances safety without compromising efficacy. PSF clinical advantages are: - Pain inhibition which is attributed to the "gate theory of pain transmission" whereby strong enough "squeezing" of pressure receptors over a large area of the skin blocks the transmission of pain to the brain in the dorsal horn. - Expulsion of blood from the treatment beam pathway. This results in a more transparent skin. - Reduced post treatment erythema and edema. - Increased distance between target and underlying structures. - Capability to increase efficacy by the increase of energy without pain. Controlled clinical studies of pain reduction and efficacy over ~100 patients have been conducted in X6 clinical centers. The studies confirmed the clinical advantages of PSF with high statistical significance and repeatability. The adaptability of PSF technology to almost any laser or IPL enables the entire worldwide aesthetic laser/IPLs install base to take advantage of this new technology.