Methods and apparatus for coupling a HIFU transducer to a skin surface

• US 20070238994A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solta Medical, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Quistgaard, Jens, Holman, Howard, Johnson, Jody, Darlington, Gregory, Stecco, Kathryn
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2253 using a coupling gel or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for coupling a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer to a skin surface using water as a coupling agent.

Claims

1. A method for coupling a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer to a skin surface, the method comprising:

applying a volume of water on the skin surface so the skin surface is at least lightly moistened;

placing a high intensity focused ultrasound transducer on to the moistened skin surface; and

pressing the ultrasound transducer against the skin surface so that said volume of water is distributed between the skin surface and the transducer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of water contains a surfactant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of water contains an anti-microbial agent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the water is sprayed under conditions such that beading up and rolling of the water is inhibited.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cleaning the skin surface prior to spraying a volume of water on the skin surface so the skin is lightly moistened.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising repositioning the high intensity focused ultrasound transducer on the skin surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a volume of water is spraying the volume of water.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein applying further comprises the steps of:

applying a volume of water on to a small skin surface; and

spreading the volume of water over a larger skin surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the water has less than 1% impurities by weight.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the water is applied at least 0.01 ml/cm² of skin surface.

11. A method of coupling an ultrasound transducer to a skin surface, the method comprising:

placing an ultrasound transducer in close proximity to a skin surface; and

applying a volume of water to the skin surface in a manner that the volume of water spreads between the ultrasound transducer and the skin surface by capillary action.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the volume of water contains a surfactant.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the volume of water contains an anti-microbial agent.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of cleaning the skin surface prior to the step of placing the ultrasound transducer in close proximity to a skin surface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the water has less than 1% impurities by weight.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the water is applied at least 0.01 ml/cm² of skin surface.

17. A method of coupling an ultrasound transducer to a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a volume of water to the transducer face so the transducer face is moistened; and

placing the moistened transducer face on to a skin surface.