TREATMENT OF SWEAT GLANDS

• US 20110190745A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Original Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Inventors: Domankevitz, Yacov, Uebelhoer, Nathan S., Shumaker, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/960,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00458 Deeper parts of the skin, e.g. treatment of vascular disorders or port wine stains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

A treatment of sweat glands in a target region of skin includes generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 1,064 nm to about 1,800 nm. To decrease sweat production in a plurality of sweat glands, the electromagnetic radiation is delivered to a dermal interface defined by a dermal region and a subcutaneous fat region in the target region of skin to cause thermal injury to at least one of the dermal region, the subcutaneous fat region or the dermal interface. An epidermal region of the skin can be cooled at least one of before, during or after delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the dermal interface in the target region of skin.

Claims

1. A method of treating sweat glands, comprising:

generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 700 nm to about 1,800 nm;

delivering the electromagnetic radiation to a dermal interface defined by a dermal region and a subcutaneous fat region in a target region of skin;

cooling an epidermal region of the skin at least one of before, during or after delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the dermal interface in the target region of skin; and

causing thermal injury to at least one of the dermal region, the subcutaneous fat region or the dermal interface to decrease sweat production in a plurality of sweat glands.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the target region to thermally injure the plurality of sweat gland.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the target region to thermally injure hair bulbs in communication with at least some of the sweat glands.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising destroying at least some of the sweat glands.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,190 nm to about 1,230 nm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,210 nm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,064 nm.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the target region about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm below the surface of the skin.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a fluence of about 30 J/cm² to about 300 J/cm².

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a fluence of about 50 J/cm² to about 60 J/cm².

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a pulse duration of about 1 second to about 10 seconds.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the electromagnetic radiation to cause treatment temperature to peak at the dermal interface.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing thermal injury to induce fibrosis in at least one of the dermal region, the subcutaneous fat region, or the dermal interface.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising destroying the at least some of the sweat glands.

14. A method of treating sweat glands, comprising:

generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 700 nm to about 1,800 nm;

delivering the electromagnetic radiation to hair bulbs in communication with at least some of the sweat glands in a target region of skin to cause thermal injury to the hair bulbs, thereby inducing decreased sweat production in the at least some of the sweat glands; and

cooling an epidermal region of the skin at least one of before, during or after delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the dermal interface in the target region of skin.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,190 nm to about 1,230 nm.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,210 nm.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,064 nm.

19. An apparatus for treating sweat glands, comprising:

a source generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 700 nm to about 1,800 nm;

a delivery system coupled to the source for directing the electromagnetic radiation to a dermal interface defined by a dermal region and a subcutaneous fat region in a target region of skin; and

a cooling system to cool an epidermal region of the skin at least one of before, during or after delivering the electromagnetic radiation to the dermal interface in the target region of skin;

wherein the electromagnetic radiation is adapted to cause thermal injury to at least one of the dermal region, the subcutaneous fat region or the dermal interface to decrease sweat production in a plurality of sweat glands.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,190 nm to about 1,230 nm.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,210 nm.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength of about 1,064 nm.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a fluence of about 1 J/cm² to about 500 J/cm².

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a pulse duration of about 1 second to about 10 seconds.