METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING STRETCH MARKS

• US 20100022922A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• 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 8,915,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2207/00 Anti-cellulite devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0056 Beam shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8909 : using a static transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis and a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 0 mm to 1 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 2 to 50 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

Claims

1. A method for treating stretch marks in skin, said method comprising:

identifying a region of interest corresponding to a stretch mark in a skin surface, said region of interest comprising at least a portion of dermis, fibrous fascia, and subcutaneous fat;

directing ultrasound energy into said region of interest

heating a portion of said region of interest;

treating at least a portion of said stretch mark; and

treating said subcutaneous fat.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising improving an appearance of said skin surface.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising further comprising imaging at least a portion of said region of interest.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising tightening tissue in a portion of said region of interest.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising ablating tissue in a portion of said region of interest.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising shrinking tissue in a portion of said region of interest.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a lesion in said treatment region.

8. A method for treating stretch marks, the method comprising:

determining a treatment volume below a stretch mark, said treatment volume comprising at least portion of dermis, and fibrous fascia;

focusing ultrasound energy into said treatment volume; and

producing a spatially defined pattern of thermal injury in said treatment volume.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said treatment volume further comprises subcutaneous fat.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising treating said subcutaneous fat.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising further comprising increasing a cross-sectional size of said thermal injury as a function of depth of said spatially defined pattern.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said spatially defined pattern of thermal injury is a three-dimensional matrix of lesions.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising ablating more than one locus in said treatment volume.

14. A method of reducing an appearance of a scar in a skin surface, the method comprising:

identifying a treatment region below a skin surface comprising at least a portion of a scar, said treatment area comprising at least portion of a dermis layer and a fibrous fascia layer;

delivering ultrasound energy to said treatment region; and

coagulating tissue in at least a portion of said treatment region.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising monitoring said scar for a reduction in appearance in said skin surface.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising delivering at least one of a radio frequency energy and a light-based energy to said treatment region.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising producing an array of injury zones in said treatment region.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising forming a lesion in said treatment region.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising shrinking said tissue in said treatment region.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising imaging at least a portion of said treatment region.

21. A method for treating stretch marks, said method comprising:

identifying a stretch mark;

guiding ultrasound energy into a region of interest corresponding to said stretch mark, said region of interest comprising at least portion of a dermis layer and a fibrous fascia layer;

imaging said region of interest; and

ablating a portion of said region of interest.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising reducing an appearance of said stretch mark in a skin surface.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising monitoring said region of interest.