Methods, devices, and systems for non-invasive delivery of microwave therapy

• US 10,463,429 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: miraDry, Inc. (Sientra Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: miraDry, Inc. (Sientra Incorporated)
• Inventors: Deem, Mark E., Francis, Daniel E., Johnson, Jessi Ernest, Kim, Steven W., Salamini, Alexey
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael F
• Application Number:
  US15/288,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/104 Modelling the effect of the tool, e.g. the effect of an implanted prosthesis or for predicting the effect of ablation or burring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/007 for cooling the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/02 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems are provided for non-invasive delivery of microwave therapy. Microwave energy may be applied to epidermal, dermal and subdermal tissue of a patient to achieve various therapeutic and/or aesthetic results. In one embodiment, the microwave energy is applied to a target tissue via an energy delivery applicator connected to an energy generator. The energy delivery applicator may comprise one or more antennas, including monopole, dipole, slot and/or waveguide antennas (among others) that are used to direct the microwave energy to the target tissue. The energy delivery applicator may also comprise a cooling element for avoiding thermal destruction to non-target tissue and/or a suction device to localize thermal treatment at specific portions of a skin fold.

Claims

1. A system for treating a skin tissue of a patient comprising:

a microwave energy generator, the microwave energy generator being configured to deliver microwave energy at a frequency of about 5.8 GHz;

an array of waveguide antennas configured for placement proximate to the skin tissue, the array of waveguide antennas being configured for simultaneous or sequential treatment of multiple sections of skin tissue and being configured to radiate electromagnetic radiation in the lowest-order Transverse Electric modes;

a cooling plate configured for placement in contact with the skin tissue;

a cooling fluid circuit at least partially superimposed on the cooling plate and configured to retain a liquid coolant between the cooling plate and the array of microwave antennas;

a suction element configured for elevating the skin tissue and placing the skin tissue in contact with the cooling plate;

wherein the array of microwave antennas are operatively coupled to the microwave energy generator, and wherein the array of microwave antennas are configured to deliver energy to the skin tissue sufficient to create a thermal effect in a target tissue within a skin tissue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cooling plate comprises a thermally-conductive cooling plate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermally-conductive cooling plate is substantially transparent to microwave energy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cooling plate is configured to cool the skin tissue and physically separate the skin tissue from the array of microwave antennas.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally-conductive cooling plate comprises a ceramic plate.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid coolant is selected from the group consisting of water, deionized water, alcohol, and oil.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the suction element comprises a suction chamber configured for elevating target tissue comprising a portion of the skin tissue from underlying tissue.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor comprising a thermocouple configured for monitoring the temperature of the skin tissue.