PHOTO-THERMAL TARGETED TREATMENT AND SAFETY SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR EFFICACY, CONSISTENCY, AND PAIN MINIMIZATION

A method for determining parameters for operating a light source within a photo-thermal targeted treatment system for targeting a chromophore embedded in a medium includes: 1) administering a laser pulse at a preset power level below known pain and damage thresholds to a location to be treated; 2) measuring a skin surface temperature at the location; 3) correlation fitting a relationship between the light source parameters and the skin surface temperature at the location; 4) defining a safe operating range for the light source parameters to avoid pain and thermal damage at the location; 5) maintaining the skin surface temperature below the known pain and damage threshold and increasing the peak temperature and of the thermal gradient depth; and 6) administering a higher-level laser pulse to raise the temperature of the targeted chromophore to its required damage temperature.