Method and Apparatus for Monitoring and Controlling Thermally Induced Tissue Treatment

• US 20070093797A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reliant Technologies, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reliant Technologies, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Frangineas, George, DeBenedictis, Leonard, Chan, Kin, Sink, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2059 Mechanical position encoders
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2065 Tracking using image or pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

A method and apparatus for thermal treatment of tissue by irradiating the skin with electromagnetic energy is disclosed. Sources of electromagnetic energy include radio frequency (RF) generators, lasers, and flashlamps. The apparatus includes either a positional sensor or a dosage evaluation sensor, or both types of sensors. These sensors provide feedback to a controller. The controller may control the electromagnetic source parameters, the electromagnetic source activation, and/or the sensor measurement parameters. An additional scanning delivery unit may be operably coupled to the controller or to the sensors to provide a controlled distribution of electromagnetic energy to the target region of the skin. The use of positional measurement sensors and dosage evaluation sensors permits the controller to automatically determine the proper electromagnetic source parameters including, for example, pulse timing and pulse frequency.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlled fractional tissue treatment comprising:

an electromagnetic source that generates electromagnetic energy;

a manually movable handpiece that delivers the electromagnetic energy to a target region of human skin;

a dosage evaluation sensor that measures a skin response to a fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin; and

a controller operably connected to the dosage evaluation sensor, the controller adjusting in real-time at least one operational parameter of the apparatus in response to the measurements of the dosage evaluation sensor, said adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor measures changes in skin birefringence due to the fractional treatment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a spacing or density of treatment zones if overtreatment or undertreatment is detected by the dosage evaluation sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor comprises:

an ultrasonic signal generator that generates an ultrasonic shock wave, and

an ultrasonic detector that measures characteristic parameters of the ultrasonic shock wave to quantify changes in the skin response.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor measures changes in skin tension or changes in distance between two features located in or on the skin.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor uses coherent detection methods.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor captures images of the treatment region when illuminated with different wavelength ranges and images are quantitatively compared by the sensor or by the controller.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor comprises two sensors that generate data corresponding to the skin condition prior to the fractional treatment or portion thereof and to the skin condition following said fractional treatment or portion thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment zone density is adjusted in response to measurements of the dosage evaluation sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor is configured to measure the response to at least one prior treatment pulse to evaluate the appropriate treatment level for at least one subsequent pulse.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor captures two or more images formed by different illumination wavelengths.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor captures two or more images formed by different polarizations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the dosage evaluation sensor detects skin birefringence.

14. A method for controlled fractional tissue treatment comprising:

directing electromagnetic energy via a handpiece toward a target region of human skin;

manually moving the handpiece across the target region;

sensing a skin response to a fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin; and

automatically adjusting in real-time at least one operational parameter of the electromagnetic energy in response to the sensed skin response, said adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy.

15. An apparatus for controlled fractional tissue treatment comprising:

source means for generating electromagnetic energy;

manually movable handpiece means for delivering the electromagnetic energy to a target region of human skin;

sensor means for measuring a skin response to a fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin; and

control means operably connected to the sensor means, for adjusting in real-time at least one operational parameter of the apparatus in response to the measurements of the sensor means, said adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy.