METHOD AND SYSEM FOR NON-ABLATIVE ACNE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

• US 20080294073A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Makin, Inder Raj S., Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,566,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/08 Antiseborrheics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/10 Anti-acne agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system

Abstract

A method and system for non-ablative acne treatment and prevention is disclosed. The method utilizes ultrasound energy which is targeted at a region of interest to treat existing acne and prevent future acne from forming. The application of ultrasound energy causes numerous physiological effects that treat acne. Some of these physiological effects comprise reducing sebum, increasing perfusion at the region of interest, denaturing proteins at the region of interest, creating an uninhabitable environment at the region of interest, initiating programmed cell death at the region of interest and the initiation of mechanical effects at the region of interest.

Claims

1. A method for treating acne comprising:

targeting ultrasound energy to an area comprising a pilosebaceous unit;

wherein the ultrasound energy raises the temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit at specific depths below a patient'"'"'s skin;

wherein the ultrasound energy is enough to effect tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit without causing ablation or coagulation of tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit; and

wherein the raised temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit causes physiological effects that treat acne within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the physiological effects are increased blood perfusion, the denaturing of proteins, programmed cell death, decreasing sebum and its production, and creation of an uninhabitable environment for organisms that contribute to acne.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the organisms are bacteria.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein sebaceous glands and their contents within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit are particularly affected by the increased blood perfusion, the denaturing of proteins, programmed cell death, decreased sebum and its production, and creation of uninhabitable environment for organisms that contribute to acne.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the specific depth is in a range of approximately 1-10 millimeters.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit is raised to 35°

-49°

C.

7. A method for treating acne comprising:

providing a transducer probe that emits unfocused ultrasound energy;

providing a control system comprising a sensor that operatively controls the emission of unfocused ultrasound energy from the transducer probe;

targeting the ultrasound energy to an area comprising a pilosebaceous unit;

emitting ultrasound energy from the transducer probe until a predetermined threshold of non-ablation is reached wherein the predetermined threshold is sensed by the sensor;

wherein the ultrasound energy raises the temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit at a depth of approximately 1-10 millimeters;

wherein the ultrasound energy is enough to effect tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit without causing ablation or coagulation of tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit; and

wherein the raised temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit causes at least two of;

increased blood perfusion,

the denaturing of proteins,

the inhibition of sebum production, and

programmed cell death.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the temperature is raised to greater than 50°

C. or more and maintained at that level for more than five seconds.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the temperature is raised and lowered creating a pulsed profile.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein sebaceous glands and their contents within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit are affected but not destroyed.

11. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of applying a medicinal agent to the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit before the step of targeting ultrasound energy to the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

12. An ultrasound treatment system for the non-ablative treatment of acne comprising:

a control system for facilitating control of the ultrasound treatment system and controlling whether the ultrasound treatment system emits ultrasound energy or does not emit ultrasound energy wherein the control system further comprises a sensor that senses whether a predetermined threshold is reached and directs that the control system emit or not emit ultrasound energy depending on the existence of the predetermined threshold;

a probe configured for the targeted delivery of the ultrasound energy to an area comprising inflamed sebaceous glands.

30. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 12 wherein the control system further comprises software that contains data wherein the data comprises at least one characteristic of the predetermined threshold that when reached results in the control system preventing the ultrasound treatment system from emitting energy.

13. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13 wherein the predetermined threshold is an ablative application of ultrasound energy.

26. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13 wherein the ultrasound energy is only emitted below the predetermined threshold of ablation at the areas comprising inflamed sebaceous glands.

27. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13 further comprising an alarm connected to the sensor wherein the alarm is activated when the predetermined threshold is reached.

28. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13 wherein the predetermined threshold is the application of ultrasound energy for a duration of one second at a temperature of 56°

C.

29. The ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13 wherein the predetermined threshold is a thermal dose of t₄₃.

14. A method for treating acne and delivering drugs to a patient comprising:

applying a medicinal agent to an area comprising a pilosebaceous unit;

targeting ultrasound energy to the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit;

wherein the ultrasound energy raises the temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit by 1-15°

C.;

wherein the ultrasound energy targeted is enough to affect tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit without causing ablation or coagulation of tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit;

wherein the raised temperature within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit causes a physiological effect that treats acne within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit; and

wherein the raised temperature facilitates the delivery of drugs within the medicinal agent to the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the medicinal agent couples a probe that emits the ultrasound energy to a patient'"'"'s skin.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the medicinal agent contains medicines used for skin treatment.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the physiological effect is increased blood perfusion at the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising a second physiological effect which is the denaturing of proteins within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising a third physiological effect which is the creation of an uninhabitable habitat for organisms that contribute to acne within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising a fourth physiological effect which is programmed cell death.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising a fifth physiological effect which is the inhibition of sebum and its production.

22. A method for treating acne comprising:

providing a probe that emits ultrasound energy;

coupling the probe to an area comprising a pilosebaceous unit;

targeting ultrasound energy from the probe to the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit and;

wherein the ultrasound energy has certain mechanical effects on cells within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit at specific depths;

wherein the ultrasound energy is enough to effect tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit without causing ablation or coagulation of tissue within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit; and

wherein the mechanical effects within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit cause a physiological effect that treats acne within the area comprising a pilosebaceous unit.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the mechanical effects comprise cavitation.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein the mechanical effects comprise sheer stress on the cellular wall of cells comprising a sebaceous gland.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the mechanical effects comprise streaming.