Treatment of tissue with radiant energy

• US 20070219604A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Altshuler, Gregory B., Smotrich, Michael, Yaroslavsky, Ilya, Pankratov, Michail M.
• Application Number:
  US11/588,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219604A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/207 mixing two wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/007 for cooling the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0642 Irradiating part of the body at a certain distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Devices and methods for utilizing electromagnetic radiation and other forms of energy to treat a volume of tissue at depth are described. In one aspect, a device modulates the flux incident on surface tissue to control and vary the depth in the tissue at which an effective dose of radiant energy is delivered and, thereby, treat a specific volume of tissue. The methods and devices disclosed are used to perform various treatments, including treatments to relieve pain and promote healing of tissue.

Claims

1. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

irradiating a portion of tissue with EMR having a first input flux;

determining whether said subject has experienced a sensation of heating within said portion of tissue; and

irradiating said portion of tissue with EMR having a second input flux higher than said first input flux, if said subject has not experienced a sensation of heating in response to said first input flux.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising irradiating said portion of tissue with EMR having a second input flux lower than said first input flux when said subject has experienced a sensation of heating in response to said first input flux.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the steps of determining and irradiating with said second input flux until said subject experiences a sensation of heating within said portion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensation of heating is reported by said subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensation of heating is detected by a sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensation of heating corresponds to a highest level of irradiation that can be applied without causing damage to said tissue.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensation corresponds to approximately a highest level of irradiation that said subject can tolerate without requiring cooling of said tissue.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensation of heating corresponds to a highest level of stimulation that can be applied without causing a sensation of pain.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising irradiating said portion of tissue at a maximum input flux for a first duration of time, wherein said maximum input flux corresponds to the input flux applied when said subject reports a sensation of heating.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said duration corresponds to an amount of time that said maximum input flux can be applied without causing a sensation of severe pain in said subject.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said duration corresponds to an amount of time that said maximum input flux can be applied without causing damage to said portion of tissue.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising irradiating said portion of said tissue at a reduced input flux for a second duration of time, wherein said decreased input flux is less than said maximum input flux.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said reduced input flux is approximately 10% lower than said maximum input flux.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said reduced input flux is approximately 20% lower than said maximum input flux.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising irradiating said portion of said tissue using a series of reduced input fluxes, wherein each of said reduced input fluxes is less than said maximum input flux.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling said portion of said tissue.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said second input flux is approximately in the range of two to three times the first input flux.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said first input flux is in the range of approximately 0.1 watts/cm² to 0.6 watts/cm².

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said second input flux is in the range of approximately 0.2 watts/cm² to 1.8 watts/cm².

20. A method of treating pain in a subject, comprising:

irradiating a portion of tissue of said subject with EMR having a first intensity;

determining whether said subject has experienced a decrease in said pain; and

irradiating said portion of tissue with EMR having a second intensity lower than said first intensity after said subject has experienced a decrease in said pain.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of irradiating with EMR having a first intensity further comprises irradiating said portion until said subject experiences a sensation of heat within said tissue.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of irradiating with EMR having a first intensity further comprises irradiating said portion until said subject experiences a sensation of heat throughout said tissue.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of irradiating with EMR having a first intensity further comprises irradiating said portion until said subject experiences an intense sensation of heat within said tissue.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of irradiating with EMR having a first intensity further comprises irradiating said portion until said subject reports a sensation of heat in said tissue.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of irradiating with EMR having a first intensity further comprises irradiating said portion until said subject reports a sensation of heat throughout said tissue.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of irradiating with EMR having a first intensity further comprises irradiating said portion until said subject reports an intense sensation of heat within said tissue.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said first intensity is greater than approximately 0.1 watts/cm².

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said first intensity is selected from the range of approximately 0.8 watts/cm² to approximately 1.6 watts/cm².

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said second intensity is less than approximately 0.6 watts/cm².

30. The method of claim 20, wherein said second intensity is greater than approximately 0.1 watts/cm².

31. The method of claim 20, wherein said second intensity is selected from the range of approximately 0.4 watts/cm² to approximately 0.8 watts/cm².

32. The method of claim 20, wherein said first intensity does not damage said portion of tissue.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein said second intensity does not damage said portion of tissue.

34. The method of claim 20, further comprising waiting for a period of time between irradiating with said first intensity and irradiating with said second intensity.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said period of time is greater than one hour.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising irradiating said portion of tissue of said subject with EMR having a third intensity that is greater than said first intensity.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of irradiating with said third intensity is performed if said subject does not experience a decrease in pain in response to said first intensity.

38. The method of claim 20, further comprising irradiating said portion of tissue of said subject with EMR having a third intensity that is greater than said second intensity.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of irradiating said portion with said third intensity is performed after said step of irradiating said portion with said second intensity.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

determining whether said subject has experienced an increase in said pain;

wherein said step of irradiating with said third intensity is performed after said subject has experienced an increase in said pain.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said third intensity is substantially equal to said first intensity.

42. The method of claim 20, wherein said pain is chronic pain.

43. The method of claim 20, wherein said pain is acute pain.

44. The method of claim 20, wherein said portion of tissue is irradiated with said first intensity at a first location and said portion of tissue is irradiated with said second intensity at a second location.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said first location is a doctor'"'"'s office.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said second location is a residence.

47. The method of claim 20, wherein said portion of tissue is irradiated with said first intensity using a first device and said portion of tissue is irradiated with said second intensity using a second device.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said first device is a professional device.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said second device is a consumer product.

50. The method of claim 20, further comprising storing input data for a set of parameters for use in subsequent applications of EMR.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said input data is stored automatically.

52. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

irradiating said tissue with EMR at a first input flux; and

irradiating said tissue with EMR at a second input flux;

wherein said first input flux is greater than said second input flux.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said first input flux is greater than approximately 0.1 watts/cm².

54. The method of claim 52, wherein said first intensity is selected from the range of approximately 0.8 watts/cm² to approximately 1.6 watts/cm².

55. The method of claim 52, wherein said second input flux is less than approximately 0.6 watts/cm².

56. The method of claim 52, wherein said second input flux is greater than approximately 0.1 watts/cm².

57. The method of claim 52, wherein said second intensity is selected from the range of approximately 0.4 watts/cm² to approximately 0.8 watts/cm².

58. The method of claim 52, wherein said first input flux does not damage said tissue.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein said second input flux does not damage said tissue.

60. The method of claim 52, further comprising waiting for a period of time between irradiating with said first input flux and irradiating with said second input flux.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said period of time is greater than one hour.

62. A method of treating tissue comprising

irradiating a portion of tissue of a subject with a fluence of electromagnetic radiation;

increasing the fluence of the radiation applied to the tissue portion; and

adjusting the increased fluence such that an optimal fluence is achieved,

whereby the fluence is maximized at a level below that where the subject experiences a sensation of heating.

63. A method of treating pain in a subject, comprising

irradiating a portion of tissue of a subject with electromagnetic radiation having an intensity sufficient for the patient to experience a decrease in pain;

decreasing the intensity of the radiation applied to the tissue portion; and

adjusting the decreased intensity such that an optimal intensity is achieved,

whereby the intensity is minimized at a level where the subject still experiences a decrease in pain.