DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY LYSING CELLS

• US 20080200864A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ulthera Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Original Assignee: Cabochon Aesthetics, Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Inventors: Merchant, Adnan I., Sutton, Doug S., Deem, Mark E., Holzbaur, Michael C., Hoffmann, Stephan T.
• Application Number:
  US11/771,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• 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

Abstract

A device comprising a housing defining a mixing chamber; means for mixing solution contained in the mixing chamber to generate microbubbles in the solution; a needle array removably attached to the housing and in fluid connection with the mixing chamber, the needle array including at least one needle; and means for adjusting a needle insertion depth of the at least one needle.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a housing defining a mixing chamber;

means for mixing solution contained in said mixing chamber to generate microbubbles in the solution;

a needle array removably attached to the housing and in fluid connection with said mixing chamber, said needle array including at least one needle; and

means for adjusting a needle insertion depth of said at least one needle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said needle array includes at least two needles and said insertion depth adjustment means individually adjusts the insertion depth of each needle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said needle insertion depth adjustment means includes a plurality of discrete needle adjustment depths.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said needle insertion depth adjustment means provides continuous adjustment of said needle adjustment depth.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said needle insertion depth adjustment means includes one of a readout and a display indicative of said needle adjustment depth.

6. A device, comprising:

a housing defining a mixing chamber;

means for mixing solution contained in said mixing chamber to generate microbubbles in the solution;

a needle array removably attached to the housing and in fluid connection with said mixing chamber, said needle array including at least one needle, said needle array includes a tissues apposition surface; and

said at least one needle includes a distal end, said at least one needle being moveable between a retracted position in which said distal end of the needle is maintained beneath the tissue apposition surface and an extended position in which said distal end of the needle extends beyond said tissue apposition surface.