METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING PHOTOAGED TISSUE

• US 20060241442A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• 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 8,066,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6842 by marking the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 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 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• 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 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• 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 15/8909 : using a static transducer configuration

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasound treatment of photoaged tissue are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for first, ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and third to monitor the treatment area during and after therapy to assess the results and/or provide feedback. The exemplary treatment method and system can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal components of photoaged tissue.

Claims

1. An ultrasound treatment system configured for treatment of the photoaged effects in tissue, said ultrasound treatment system comprising:

a control system for facilitating control of the ultrasound treatment system;

a display system for displaying an image of at least one of epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues within a region of interest, said display system coupled to said control system; and

a probe system configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue to cause reduction of the photoaged effects in tissue.

2. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is configured for localization of said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues through imaging prior to energy delivery, for controlling targeted delivery of energy through said probe system to said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues, and monitoring of said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues after said target delivery.

3. The ultrasound treatment system of claim 2, wherein said control system comprises an imaging system configured for monitoring of said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues prior to, during and after delivery of ultrasound energy into said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues.

4. The ultrasound treatment system of claim 3, wherein said imaging system is configured to provide feedback to facilitate said targeted delivery.

5. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said display system comprises a display of images corresponding to said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues.

6. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said probe system comprises an imaging and therapy transducer configured for targeted delivery of ablative ultrasound within said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues.

7. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 6, wherein said imaging and therapy transducer comprise a combined transducer within a single transduction element.

8. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 6, wherein said imaging and therapy transducer comprises a single element array comprising a single transduction element and a plurality of masks configured for generating a plurality of ablative zones with each of said plurality of ablative zones providing at least one of focused, defocused and planar ultrasound energy distribution.

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

10. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary imaging comprises at least one of a photographic instrument and an optical modality.

11. A method for providing treatment of photoaged tissue, said method comprising:

localizing of at least one of epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues within a region of interest;

targeting of delivery of ablative ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissues; and

monitoring of results of said targeted delivery within said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue during and after said targeted delivery to continue planning of treatment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said localizing comprises imaging a region of interest to identify said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue.

13. The method of claim 11, said targeting of delivery of ablative ultrasound energy comprises producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation within said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said targeting of delivery comprises adjustment of spatial and temporal parameters based on imaging of said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue location.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said monitoring of results comprises measurement of results of treatment of said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue as visualized during and after said target delivery of ablative ultrasound.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation comprises scanning said transducer probe over a line above said photoaged tissue to produce a matrix of spaced treatment spots.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said producing of a matrix of spaced treatment spots comprises adjusting of treatment depths within said region of interest.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said localizing comprises generating three-dimensional imaging information.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said targeting comprises treating three-dimensional treatment region.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein said targeting of delivery further comprises cooling through tissue regions comprising said at least one of said epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal tissue to facilitate treatment.