METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING CELLULITE

• US 20060074313A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Makin, Inder Raj S., Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,133,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8906 Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8936 using transducers mounted for mechanical movement in three dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a deep tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat labuli into the dermis. The invention delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat labuli, whereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. The invention can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system configured for cellulite treatment comprising:

a control system configured for control of said ultrasound treatment system;

an ultrasound probe configured for generating a conformal lesion within a region of interest, said region of interest comprising at least one of a lower part of a dermis, a proximal protrusion of fat labuli into said dermis, and a subcutaneous layer to facilitate cellulite treatment by ablation of a portion of at least one labuli to facilitate a substantially smooth surface;

said control system and said probe being configured to operate in a frequency range of about 750 kHz to about 20 MHz.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said ultrasound probe is further configured for spatial and temporal control to generate said conformal lesion.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said conformal lesion provides at least one of physically breaking fat cell clusters and stretching fibrous bonds.

6. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises:

power source components configured to provide energy to said control system and said ultrasound probe;

sensing and monitoring components configured for monitoring spatial and temporal parameters;

cooling and coupling controls configured to remove waste heat from said ultrasound probe to facilitate temperature control at superficial human tissue interface and deeper into tissue; and

processing and control logic components for overall control of said ultrasound treatment system.

7. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound probe comprises:

a control interface for interfacing with said control system;

a transducer configured for providing ablative ultrasound energy to said region of interest;

coupling components for acoustically coupling said transducer to said region of interest;

monitoring and sensing components for facilitating control by said control system; and

a motion mechanism comprising one of manual and automated movement of said ultrasound probe.

8. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound probe comprises a transducer, said transducer comprising at least one of a curvilinear array, an annular array, a linear array, a planar array, 1-D array, and a 2-D array.

9. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound probe comprises an array and at least two focused transduction elements, wherein said array is at least one of a linear array, a planar array, 1-D array, 2-D array, and an annular array.

10. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasound probe comprises a single-element array configured with a plurality of masks.

11. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, wherein said transducer probe is further configured to induce at least one of enhancement of lymphatic drainage, evacuation of fat decay products, creation of a thermal injury and coagulation of proximal protrusions of fat labuli.

12. The ultrasound system according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging system coupled to said control system, said imaging system configured for imaging said region of interest.

13. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said treatment system comprises at least two of an imaging system, a therapy system, and a treatment monitoring system, wherein said at least two systems are combined with an auxiliary imaging and treatment monitoring apparatus and a secondary therapy system.

14. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary imaging apparatus comprises at least one of a photographic device and an optical modality.

15. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises an imaging system configured for facilitating at least one of one-dimensional imaging, one-dimensional treatment, two-dimensional imaging, two-dimensional treatment, three-dimensional imaging, and three-dimensional treatment.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein said temporal control comprises selection of one or more temporal parameters comprising drive amplitude levels, frequency/waveforms, and timing sequences.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 4, wherein said spatial control comprises selection of one or more spatial parameters comprising transducer configuration, distance, placement, orientation, and movement.

16. A method for cellulite treatment, said method comprising:

selecting a probe configuration based on a spatial and a temporal parameter;

verifying said temporal and said spatial parameters of said probe;

confirming acoustic coupling of said probe to a treatment region, said treatment region comprising at least one of a lower part of a dermis, a proximal protrusion of fat labuli into said dermis, and a subcutaneous layer; and

applying ultrasound energy to ablate a portion of said treatment region to facilitate cellulite treatment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of applying ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 750 kHz to about 20 MHz.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of applying ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 2 MHz to about 10 MHz.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of imaging said treatment prior to said step of applying ultrasound energy.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising a step of re-imaging said treatment region to confirm ablation of said portion of said treatment region.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising applying ultrasound energy to ablate a second portion of said treatment region.

22. An ultrasound system configured for cellulite treatment comprising:

a control system configured for control of said ultrasound treatment system;

an ultrasound probe configured for generating a conformal lesion within a deep tissue region comprising at least one of a lower part of a dermis, a proximal protrusion of fat labuli into said dermis, and a subcutaneous layer to facilitate cellulite treatment, said control system and said ultrasound probe being configured for spatial and temporal control to generate said conformal lesion.

23. The ultrasound system of claim 22, wherein said ultrasound probe and said control system are configured to operate in a frequency range of about 750 kHz to about 20 MHz.

24. The ultrasound system of claim 22, wherein said spatial control comprises selection of at least one spatial parameter comprising transducer configuration, distance, placement, orientation, and movement.

25. The ultrasound system of claim 22, wherein said temporal control comprises selection of at least one temporal parameter comprising a drive amplitude level, a frequency/waveform, and a timing sequence.

26. The ultrasound system of claim 22, further comprising an imaging system coupled to said control system, said imaging system configured for imaging said deep tissue region.

27. The ultrasound system of claim 22, wherein said ultrasound probe is to provide at least two energy effects to said region of interest;

wherein said at least two energy effects are configured to facilitate a response in said region of interest, and wherein said at least two energy effects include at least two of thermal, cavitational, hydrodynamic, and resonance induced tissue effects and wherein said response includes at least one of hemostasis, subsequent revascularization/angiogenesis, growth of interconnective tissue, ablation of existing tissue, enhanced delivery and activation of medicants, stimulation of protein synthesis and increased cell permeability.

28. A method for providing treatment of cellulite, said method comprising:

localizing of at least one of a lower part of a lower part of a dermis, a proximal protrusion of fat labuli into said dermis, and a subcutaneous layer within a region of interest;

targeting of delivery of ablative ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to said at least one of said lower part of said dermis, said proximal protrusion of fat labuli into said dermis, and said subcutaneous layer; and

monitoring of results of said targeted delivery within said at least one of said lower part of said dermis, said proximal protrusion of fat labuli into said dermis, and said subcutaneous layer during and after said targeted delivery to continue planning of treatment.