Treatment device and method for treating skin lesions through application of heat

• US 20070049998A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LumaTherm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tyrell, Inc. (LumaTherm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Charles, Klemp, Walter, Martin, Robert, Conrad, Robert, Rogers, Jeff, Lord, Randall, Dumas, Robert, Wucher, James
• Application Number:
  US11/435,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0093 programmed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating

Abstract

A regulated heat source is described that can be applied to a skin lesion, such as pustular-form eruption or localized abscess, in order to accelerate the death of invading bacteria, fungi or viral particles, or to assist in the breakdown of a skin irritant and thereby speed the recovery process.

Claims

1. A treatment device for treating localized skin conditions on a patient, the treatment device comprising:

a thermally conductive surface designed to be placed in contact with the skin of the patient;

a temperature sensor adjacent to the thermally conductive surface;

a heating element operable to heat the thermally conductive surface; and

a controller electrically connected to the heating element and the temperature sensor, the controller operable to control the heating element in response to a signal from the temperature sensor.

2. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive surface is interchangeable or disposable.

3. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of maintaining the interface at a temperature between about 48°

C. to about 53°

C. for at least 30 seconds.

4. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of maintaining the interface at a temperature between about 48°

C. to about 53°

C. for at least 60 seconds.

5. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of maintaining the interface at a temperature between about 48°

C. to about 53°

C. for at least 90 seconds.

6. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of maintaining the interface at a temperature between about 48°

C. to about 53°

C. for at least 120 seconds.

7. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of maintaining the interface at a temperature between about 48°

C. to about 53°

C. for at least 150 seconds.

8. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller uses a feedback control mechanism involving the use of PID control algorithms.

9. The treatment device of claim 1 wherein the controller is capable of controllably ramping the temperature of the thermally conductive surface to the desired temperature range.

10. A treatment device comprising:

a replaceable treatment tip including a thermal mass and a heating element in thermal contact with the thermal mass, the thermal mass having a contact surface; and

a body connectable to the replaceable treatment tip, the body including a controller operable to control the heating element to heat the contact surface of the thermal mass to an operating temperature.

11. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the replaceable treatment tip includes a temperature sensor to provide a signal to the controller indicative of the temperature of the contact surface.

12. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the replaceable treatment tip includes a memory storing calibration information specific to the replaceable treatment tip.

13. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the replaceable treatment tip includes a memory storing a number of treatment cycles for which the replaceable treatment tip has been used.

14. The treatment device of claim 13 wherein the controller monitors the number of treatment cycles for a particular replaceable treatment tip by reading the memory in the particular replaceable treatment tip and wherein the controller prevents the use of the particular replaceable treatment tip when the number of treatment cycles exceeds a predetermined number.

15. The treatment device of claim 14 wherein the controller provides a signal indicating when the number of treatment cycles for a particular replaceable treatment tip approaches the predetermined number.

16. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the replaceable treatment tip includes a thermal interlock to prevent overheating of the contact surface.

17. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the operating temperature is a temperature between about 48°

C. to about 53°

C.

18. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the controller includes a plurality of pre-programmed settings, each pre-programmed setting intended to treat a different condition.

19. The treatment device of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of indicators operable to provide an indication of the status of the treatment device.

20. The treatment device of claim 19 wherein the plurality of indicators includes both visual and audible indicators.

21. The treatment device of claim 10 further comprising a rechargeable batter, wherein the rechargeable batter provides power to the controller and the heating element.

22. A replaceable tip for a treatment device, the replaceable tip comprising:

a thermally conductive contact surface;

a heating element in thermal contact with the contact surface;

a temperature sensor in thermal contact with the contact surface;

a memory element storing treatment tip specific information related to the replaceable tip, the information including a maximum number of treatment cycles for the replaceable tip; and

a connector operable to connect the heating element, temperature sensor, and memory element to a controller.

23. The replaceable tip of claim 22 wherein the temperature sensor is a thermister.

24. The replaceable tip of claim 22 wherein the memory element stores calibration information specific to the replaceable treatment tip.

25. The replaceable tip of claim 22 wherein the memory element stores a number corresponding to the number of treatment cycles for which the replaceable treatment tip has been used.

26. The replaceable tip of claim 22 wherein the replaceable treatment tip includes a thermal interlock to prevent overheating of the contact surface.

27. The replaceable tip of claim 22 further comprising a thermal mass in thermal contact with the heating element and contact surface.

28. The replaceable tip of claim 27 wherein the thermal mass comprising thermal potting compound.

29. The replaceable tip of claim 28 wherein at least the heating element and temperature sensor are encased in the thermal potting compound.

30. A method for determining an optimum configuration for a treatment device, the treatment device for treating skin lesions by applying a heated contact surface having a surface area, at a treatment temperature for a predetermined treatment time, the method comprising:

selecting values for two variables selected from a group of three variables, the group of three variables comprising;

the treatment temperature, the treatment time, and the surface area; and

determining an optimum value for a third variable from the group of three variables.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the surface area of the heated contact surface is chosen according to its thermal aspect ratio.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the thermal aspect ration is determined from the ratio between a contact area for the heated contact surface and a thermal transfer area of the heated surface.

33. A method for determining a fault condition in replaceable treatment tip, the replaceable treatment tip for treating skin conditions through application of heat generated by a heating element in the replaceable treatment tip, the method comprising:

predicting a model behavior for the treatment tip in response applied heat from the heating element;

monitoring an actual behavior of the replaceable treatment tip in response to the applied heat; and

determining if the treatment tip is faulty based on a comparison of the model behavior and the actual behavior.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the model behavior is stored in a memory device in the replaceable treatment tip.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the replaceable treatment tip is connectable to a controller during operation, the controller operable to determine if the treatment tip is faulty.

36. A method for calibration of a replaceable treatment tip comprising:

heating the replacement treatment tip using an external thermal mass to a known set point;

measuring a resulting resistance value for a thermister in the replacement treatment tip;

determining the difference between the resulting resistance value and an expected resistance value for the thermister; and

determining a correction factor for the thermister based on the difference.