Invented by Cody Youngbull, Lixin Zheng, Excelsior Nanotech Corp
Erasable Ink For Tattoo Removal
NYU chemical engineers have developed an erasable ink that can be removed without lasers. The ink consists of small groups of molecules bound together in capsules, making it simple for the body’s immune system to break them down.
The global market for Erasable Ink for Tattoo Removal is expected to expand over the coming years due to rising disposable income and changing lifestyles.
Market drivers
Erasable ink for tattoo removal is an innovative treatment that allows people to remove a tattoo they no longer desire. The technology employed is microencapsulation, which works by encasing molecules of water-soluble pigment in an insoluble polymer which can then be hit with a laser. The laser breaks apart the encapsulated pigment and reprocesses it back into your body.
The market for Erasable ink for tattoo removal is being driven by various factors. These include an increasing demand for non-invasive procedures, changing employment policies and evolving fashion trends. Furthermore, the rising popularity of tattoos is fueling this growth sector.
Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the global tattoo removal market, due to an influx of aesthetic clinics and increased research activities to develop novel laser systems. Furthermore, this region will reap benefits from an increase in population living in urban areas and higher disposable income levels.
North America currently holds the majority of the global tattoo removal market and is expected to remain so throughout the forecast period. The rising popularity of tattoos and availability of high-quality tattoo parlors are fueling growth within this sector.
At present, laser therapy dominates the global tattoo removal market with 66% share in 2021. Lasers have long been considered as the most efficient method for erasing tattoos due to their capacity for breaking apart different pigment colors.
Lasers are not only great for tattoo removal, but they’re also effective at rejuvenating skin and repairing scar tissue. In fact, lasers have become one of the most widely-used and successful treatments for conditions like sun damage, acne, rosacea and brown spots on any complexion.
The tattoo removal devices market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2022-2030, with a global market size estimated at USD 128.6 million in 2021 and projected growth at an annual CAGR of 6.7% between 2020 and 2030.
Market challenges
The market for Erasable ink for tattoo removal has experienced significant growth over the last several years. Due to fierce competition within this industry, analysts anticipate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% during the forecast period.
The growth of the Erasable ink for tattoo removal market is driven by several factors. Most prominent among them is COVID-19 outbreak in the US which had temporarily put a damper on things. But now that this pandemic has ended and normal operations have resumed in the industry, analysts anticipate seeing significant growth over the coming years.
Other challenges faced by print manufacturers include an uneven demand from end users and a lack of effective treatments to remove unwanted inks. The solution lies in finding a way to adjust laser wavelengths according to specific colors in order to break down pigment molecules and eliminate them completely.
It may be a difficult task, but it can be done through cutting-edge photonic technologies. These include Pockels cells and other crystal optics that modulate light output. Furthermore, this advancement enables more effective and safer tattoo removal treatments.
For instance, the most efficient tattoo removal device utilizes a laser that targets specific wavelengths to break down ink molecules and absorb it into your body. With this technology, it’s possible to eliminate colored inks such as green, blue, yellow and other dark hues which are typically difficult for aesthetic laser systems to break down.
The most remarkable aspect of this technology is its safety and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional laser removal methods. Furthermore, it can target multiple colors simultaneously for increased tattoo removal effectiveness in one treatment session.
With the world moving towards more vibrant and colorful inks, innovation will be necessary to guarantee consumers have access to safe and efficient options for getting rid of their tattoos. Fortunately, there are numerous solutions and the market for Erasable Ink for Laser Tattoo Removal looks set for a bright future.
Market opportunities
The market for Erasable ink for tattoo removal has seen an uptick in popularity due to various factors. These include rising prevalence of tattoos, rising per capita disposable income, and increased awareness among individuals. Furthermore, this market is anticipated to expand at a significant compound annual growth rate over the forecast period.
In the near future, laser systems in tattoo removal procedures are expected to become increasingly popular due to their numerous benefits such as safety and success rates, fast recovery times, minimal pain levels and efficient removal. Furthermore, emerging technologies like intense pulsed light therapy and pulsing laser technology could present lucrative business opportunities for market players over the coming years.
Another key factor driving market growth is the rising demand for innovative products and procedures. These devices can effectively remove multiple ink colors without harming nearby skin, offering patients significant advantages.
However, some risks associated with the treatment process such as blisters, scarring and discoloration are expected to hinder tattoo removal market growth. Furthermore, the high cost of tattoo removal is another major factor limiting its expansion.
Tattoo removal market growth is anticipated to be spurred by changes in employment policies, an increasing demand for laser treatments for cosmetic operations and evolving fashion trends. It is particularly anticipated to expand rapidly in Asia Pacific nations such as India and China due to increased mergers and acquisitions by industry players in the near future.
The global tattoo removal market is highly consolidated and competitive. To stay ahead of their rivals, key companies are investing in research and development activities as well as distribution capabilities to strengthen their market positions. Examples of key players operating within this space include Alma Lasers Ltd, Asclepion Laser Technologies Gmbh, Lumenis Ltd, Cutera Inc., and Hologic Inc. These firms are focused on developing new tattoo removal technologies and introducing them into the marketplace in an effort to gain a stronghold within this industry.
Market trends
Ephemeral, a revolutionary new technology in tattoo removal, could make it simpler than ever for artists to remove ink. This process works by replacing regular ink with smaller molecules bound together in capsules that break down naturally when exposed to sunlight and can then be easily broken apart by an artist using a tattoo gun loaded with topical solution.
It could be beneficial for both artists and clients, since they can get rid of their tattoo without spending money on an expensive laser treatment. Furthermore, businesses could potentially expand their customer base by offering this option; people may be more willing to get a tattoo that’s easy to take out if they think about regretting it later.
At NYU, a team of chemical and biomolecular engineering students is developing an ink that can be erased with just topical application. Dubbed “erasable ink,” this technology promises to allow for quick erasure even days, weeks, months or years after it has been applied.
At present, lasers are the only permanent way to permanently erase ink. But at Ephemeral we’re working hard on finding a solution so that if you decide against laser treatment altogether, you can simply apply the solution on the design and have it erased without needing expensive and painful laser sessions.
In 2019, the global tattoo removal market was valued at $478 million and forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.3% from 2020-2027. This growth can be attributed to rising popularity of laser tattoo removal procedures, demand for minimally invasive techniques and increased public awareness regarding tattoo removal.
One major factor driving the tattoo removal market is the growing acceptance of tattoos as fashion accessories. Furthermore, people are opting for them for personal reasons as well.
The tattoo removal market is expected to witness steady growth as more people opt for removal, particularly in Asia-Pacific where disposable incomes and growing concerns about tattoos make this region one of the leading markets.
The Excelsior Nanotech Corp invention works as follows
An improved tattoo ink that can be erased and a method and apparatus to remove tattoos using energy transfer photodisruptive mechanisms. This mechanism optimizes the efficiency of the energy transfer from low energy light sources to higher energy donors and then to a tattoo pigment molecules for photodecomposition.
Background for Erasable ink for tattoo removal
Tattooing is a popular and widespread method of adding color to the skin by injecting colored pigment ink into the skin through small holes created therein with a needle or tattoo device. Millions of people have at least one permanent tattoo. With the popularity of “body art”, more young people are getting tattoos. The tattoos may be difficult to conceal depending on the location. Tattoos that were tattooed in youth can make it difficult to find employment and social acceptance later in life. There is a large market for tattoo removal.
Tattoo removal can be more painful, difficult and expensive than the original application. This involves injecting different colors into the dermis. The dermis, the outer skin layer that lies below the epidermis (a thin layer of skin about 1 mm thick), is the skin layer. Newly applied tattoos can cause ink pigments to clump near the epidermis. Early techniques for tattoo removal used abrasives, which were used to remove the epidermis and the tattoo pigment. This technique can cause permanent scarring and infection, and is therefore painful. Additionally, tattoo pigments can become encapsulated in the fibroblasts over time and migrate deeper into your dermis. This makes it more difficult to remove older tattoos by abrasion.
The laser was the first non-abrasive method for tattoo removal. In the 1960’s, experiments were made with laser energy applied to permanent ink tattoos. These experiments were done using continuous wave argon lasers and later carbon dioxide lasers. This effectively burned off the tattoo. Permanent scarring at the original location of the tattoo was an undesirable, but not unforeseeable side effect.
In the 1980’s, pulsed or Q?switched lasers were developed. This made it possible to treat a variety of dermatological pigmentation issues including tattoo removal. Q-switching allows for high-energy nanosecond pulses (or laser energy) from solid-state lasers. By selecting the wavelength of the laser or choosing a color that absorbs the laser energy faster than the surrounding skin, the tattoo can be removed using thermal photo ablation. The laser pulses can cause thousands of pigment particles in tattoo skin to heat up, photo ablate or break down into smaller pieces due to the thermal shock waves produced by the laser energy. Normal body processes can then diffusely remove the pigment fragments.
Tattoo pigments come in a variety of colors so there is no one laser wavelength that can be used to remove tattoos by photo ablation. Four factors are required to selectively ablate ink pigments.
The main sources of trauma in laser treatment and tattoo removal are the application of laser energy and the resulting heating and formation of thermal shock waves in dermis. It is common to require multiple treatments to remove a tattoo. These procedures can be painful and expensive, and may cause permanent scarring or pigment color variations.
Many attempts have been made in order to find a cheaper and more painless way to remove or conceal permanent ink tattoos. U.S. Patent No. No. No. To conceal the tattoo, the colored ink can be brushed on top of the original. The tattoo can be made permanent by injecting skin-colored ink. This method doesn’t affect the permanent removal of the tattoo, but it must be used on a regular schedule to keep the concealment.
Malak discloses methods and devices for Plasmon Enhanced Cosmetic and Medical Procedures in U.S. Patent Application No. US 2005/0203495, published Sep. 15, 2005. This publication suggests that magnetic nano bodies may be used to inject tattoo pigment particles into the dermis using nanosecond pulses laser energy. Laser energy pulses interact to the nano particles to produce surface plasmon resonance illumination (SPR), which photodecomposes the pigment. Malak’s method is still theoretical and requires a number of painful injections to make tattoos effective.
More recently, Smits et al. in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0215209, Tattoo Removal and Other Dermatological Treats Using Multi-Photon Process, published August 23, 2012. This patent application discloses a method and system for removing a small portion of a tattoo by using a low-energy, multi-photon intense pulse light to treat the tattoo ink. Sits et al. The process claims to reduce tissue damage around the tattoo, but it doesn’t eliminate it. It still requires several passes to remove it effectively.
Considering the above, a tattoo removal method and system is required that provides effective, painless, and scar-free tattoo removal. This can be done economically in one session, without the need to have multiple treatments.
{{IMAGE_LIST_3}}
Accordingly, this invention provides an improved erasable ink and a method to remove tattoos using an Energy Transfer Photodisruptive Mechanism. This maximizes the efficiency of the transfer energy from a low-energy light source to a higher energy donor and then to the tattoo pigment molecule for photodecomposition.
In accordance to an embodiment, energy transfer efficiency is optimized by providing nanocrystal donors that are surface-treated for upconversion in near infrared (NIR), blue (UV) and ultraviolet (UV). These donors can be stably miscible in tattoo ink.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises sodium yttriumfluoride (NaYF4) nanocrystals that are doped with Rare Earth elements.
In another embodiment, the initiator/acceptors of upconverting are sensitive to UV radiation and blue light.
Another embodiment of the invention optimizes FRET efficiency by controlling the distance between donor and initiator/acceptor, controlling the spectrum overlap between donor emission spectrums and acceptor absorption spectrums, and controlling relative orientation of donor emission dipole moment versus acceptor absorption dipole moment.
In another embodiment, the photodecomposition process can be initiated by exposing the area tattooed to ultraviolet energy.
These and other objects of this invention will be obvious from the accompanying description and supporting materials.
Click here to view the patent on Google Patents.