Applicator and tissue interface module for dermatological device

• US 10,321,954 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: miraDry, Inc. (Sientra Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: miraDry, Inc. (Sientra Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Yoav, Bentley, Peter J., Chun, Donghoon, Francis, Daniel E., Johnson, Jessi E., Shan, Kevin, Su, Ted Y., Kim, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fowler, Daniel W
• Application Number:
  US15/090,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20160213426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00681 Aspects not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 Radiators for near-field treatment

Abstract

A tissue interface module has an applicator chamber on a proximal side of the tissue interface module and a tissue acquisition chamber on a distal side of the tissue interface module. The applicator chamber may include: an opening adapted to receive the applicator; an attachment mechanism positioned in the applicator chamber and adapted to attach the tissue interface module to the applicator; a sealing member positioned at a proximal side of the applicator chamber; and a vacuum interface positioned at a proximal side of the applicator chamber and adapted to receive a vacuum inlet positioned on a distal end of the applicator. The invention also includes corresponding methods.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient comprising:

positioning a distal end of an applicator in an applicator chamber of a tissue interface module;

sealing a central opening between the applicator chamber and a tissue acquisition chamber of the tissue interface module against the distal end of the applicator;

applying a vacuum to the applicator chamber;

placing a distal opening of a tissue acquisition chamber of the tissue interface module against a tissue surface;

pulling a portion of the patient'"'"'s tissue into the tissue acquisition chamber by creating a vacuum in the tissue acquisition chamber, the vacuum being created by drawing air from the tissue acquisition chamber to a vacuum source in the applicator through a vacuum path comprising the applicator chamber and a filter between the applicator chamber and the tissue acquisition chamber; and

applying microwave energy to tissue positioned in the tissue acquisition chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising cooling the tissue positioned in the acquisition chamber.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising sealing the applicator chamber against the applicator at a vacuum interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising magnetically attaching the tissue interface module to the applicator.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of magnetically attaching comprises forming a magnetic circuit between elements of the applicator and the tissue interface module.