METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING STRETCH MARKS

• US 20060079816A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• 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 7,615,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• 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: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2207/00 Anti-cellulite devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0056 Beam shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8909 : using a static transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis and a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 0 mm to 1 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 2 to 50 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system configured for treating stretch marks comprising:

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

an imaging system coupled to said control system, said imaging system configured for imaging of a region of interest, said region of interest comprising at least one of an epidermis, a dermis, a deep dermis, and a fibrous fascia;

an ultrasound probe configured for generating a conformal lesion within said region of interest to facilitate substantial elimination of stretch marks, said control system and said probe being configured to operate in a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 50 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 ultrasound probe is configured to be at least one of mechanically and electronically scanned across said region of interest.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said region of interest ranges in depth from about 0 to about 10 mm.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 1, wherein said ultrasound probe is configured to treat said region of interest, and wherein said region of interest is located at least one of parallel and perpendicular to a stretch mark.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 7, wherein said ultrasound probe is configured to facilitate creation of an anisotropic pattern of tissue damage.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

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

14. 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.

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

16. 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.

17. A method for treating stretch marks, said method comprising:

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

imaging a treatment region comprising at least one of an epidermis, a dermis, a deep dermis, and a fibrous fascia;

verifying said temporal and said spatial parameters of said probe;

confirming acoustic coupling of said probe to said treatment region; and

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

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of applying ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 2 MHz to about 50 MHz.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of applying ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 2 MHz to about 25 MHz.

20. The method of claim 17, 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 17, further comprising applying ultrasound energy to ablate a second portion of said treatment region.

22. An ultrasound system configured for treating stretch marks comprising:

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

an imaging system coupled to said control system, said imaging system configured for imaging at least one of an epidermis, a dermis, a deep dermis, and a fibrous fascia;

an ultrasound probe configured for generating a conformal lesion within said region of interest to facilitate treatment of stretch marks, 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 2 MHz to about 50 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, 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, tissue reformation, ablation of existing tissue, enhanced delivery and activation of medicants, stimulation of protein synthesis and increased cell permeability.

27. A method for providing treatment of stretch marks, said method comprising:

localizing of at least one of an epidermis, a dermis, a deep dermis, and a fibrous fascia within a region of interest;

targeting of delivery of ablative ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to said at least one of said epidermis, said dermis, said deep dermis, and said fibrous fascia; and

monitoring of results of said targeted delivery within said at least one of said epidermis, said dermis, said deep dermis, and said fibrous fascia during and after said targeted delivery to continue planning of treatment.