METHODS FOR CREATING TISSUE EFFECT UTILIZING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY AND A REVERSE THERMAL GRADIENT

• US 20090082764A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermage Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thermage Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Knowlton, Edward W., Weber, Bryan, Levinson, Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/22 Face shaping devices, e.g. chin straps; Wrinkle removers, e.g. stretching the skin skin stretchers for shaving A45D27/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00488 Esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0021 Female breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 : with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 : without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 : Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 : by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 : cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/28 : Apparatus for applying thermoelectric currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

A method of creating a tissue effect at a tissue site delivers electromagnetic energy through a skin surface from an electromagnetic energy delivery device coupled to an electromagnetic energy source. At least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or electromagnetic energy source includes a memory. A reverse thermal gradient is created through the skin surface to sufficiently heat an underlying tissue site to provide that a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the underlying tissue. Information is stored from the memory to facilitate operation of at least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or the electromagnetic energy source. Electromagnetic energy is applied through the skin surface to the underlying tissue. A tissue effect is created on at least a portion of the tissue site.

Claims

1. A method of creating a tissue effect at a tissue site using an electromagnetic energy delivery device, the method comprising:

delivering electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy delivery device transcutaneously through a skin surface;

creating a reverse thermal gradient through the skin surface to sufficiently heat an underlying tissue, wherein a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the underlying tissue;

detecting a temperature of the skin surface;

heating the skin surface and underlying tissue in response to a detected temperature of the skin surface; and

using the electromagnetic energy to create a tissue effect in at least a portion of the tissue site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue effect is dermal remodeling, dermal tightening, wrinkle reduction, elastosis reduction, scar reduction, sebaceous gland removal or deactivation, reduction of sebaceous gland activity, hair follicle modification, adipose tissue remodeling or removal, spider vein removal, modification of skin irregularities, creation of scar or nascent collagen, or modification of skin pore size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue effect is a reduction of skin bacteria activity or unclogging of skin pores.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information in a memory coupled to facilitate operation of at least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or an electromagnetic energy source coupled with the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

5. A method for creating a tissue effect at a tissue site using an RF energy delivery device with an energy delivery surface, the method comprising:

coupling the RF energy delivery surface with a skin surface;

creating a reverse thermal gradient through the skin surface to sufficiently heat the tissue, wherein a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a the temperature of the underlying tissue;

detecting a temperature of the skin surface;

delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device transcutaneously through the skin surface to the underlying tissue in response to a detected temperature of the skin surface; and

using the RF energy to create the tissue effect on at least a portion of the tissue site.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tissue effect is dermal remodeling, dermal tightening, wrinkle reduction, elastosis reduction, scar reduction, sebaceous gland removal or deactivation, reduction of sebaceous gland activity, hair follicle modification, adipose tissue remodeling or removal, spider vein removal, modification of skin irregularities, creation of scar or nascent collagen, or modification of skin pore size.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the tissue effect is a reduction of skin bacteria activity or unclogging of skin pores.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing information in a memory coupled to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF energy delivery device or an RF energy source coupled with the RF energy delivery device.

9. A method of creating a tissue effect using an energy delivery device, the method comprising:

reducing a temperature of at least a portion of a skin surface, wherein the temperature of the skin surface is less than the temperature of an underlying tissue when the temperature of the skin surface is reduced;

non-continuously delivering electromagnetic energy in a transcutaneous manner from the electromagnetic energy delivery device through the skin surface to the underlying tissue; and

using the electromagnetic energy to create a tissue effect on at least a portion of the underlying tissue.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the tissue effect is dermal remodeling, dermal tightening, wrinkle reduction, elastosis reduction, scar reduction, sebaceous gland removal or deactivation, reduction of sebaceous gland activity, hair follicle modification, adipose tissue remodeling or removal, spider vein removal, modification of skin irregularities, creation of scar or nascent collagen, or modification of skin pore size.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the tissue effect is a reduction of skin bacteria activity or unclogging of skin pores.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing information in a memory coupled to facilitate operation of at least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or an electromagnetic energy source coupled with the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

13. A method of creating a tissue effect using an electromagnetic energy delivery device, the method comprising:

non-continuously reducing a temperature of at least a portion of a skin surface, wherein the temperature of the skin surface is less than the temperature of an underlying tissue; and

transcutaneously delivering electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy delivery device to create a tissue effect on at least a portion of the underlying tissue.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the tissue effect is dermal remodeling, dermal tightening, wrinkle reduction, elastosis reduction, scar reduction, sebaceous gland removal or deactivation, reduction of sebaceous gland activity, hair follicle modification, adipose tissue remodeling or removal, spider vein removal, modification of skin irregularities, creation of scar or nascent collagen, or modification of skin pore size.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the tissue effect is a reduction of skin bacteria activity or unclogging of skin pores.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing information in a memory coupled to facilitate operation of at least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or an electromagnetic energy source coupled with the electromagnetic energy delivery device.