METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SKIN STABILIZATION AND POSITIONING

• US 20110224683A1
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Manstein, Dieter
• Application Number:
  US12/910,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• 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 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2005 with beam delivery through an interstitially insertable device, e.g. needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15136 by use of radiation, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/02 Devices for locating such points
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of a method, device, and apparatus for positioning an apparatus on a location of a tissue. For example, a substantially rigid film over an area of tissue to be treated can be provided. The film can include a positioning arrangement that facilitates a particular spatial engagement with the apparatus. The exemplary method can further include applying a portion of the film to a portion of a surface of the tissue and positioning the apparatus at the location by the engagement of the film to the apparatus using the feature of the film.

Claims

1. A method for positioning an apparatus on at least one location of a tissue, comprising:

providing a substantially rigid film over an area of tissue to be treated, the film having at least one feature that facilitates an engagement with the apparatus;

applying at least a portion of the film to at least a portion of a surface of the tissue; and

positioning the apparatus at the at least one location by the engagement of the film to the apparatus using the at least one feature of the film.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature includes at least one positioning arrangement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the film comprises at least one of a plastic or a polymer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the application procedure is performed using at least one of a surgical glue, a cyanoacrylate compound, a cement, a glue, an epoxy, or a curable polymer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an effect on the tissue using the apparatus at the at least one location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the generation of the effect comprises at least one of drilling or ablating at least one hole in the tissue.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising generating a further effect on the tissue at the at least one location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the generation of the further effect comprises positioning a further apparatus at a location that is substantially the same as the at least one location via an engagement of at least one further feature with respect to the at least one feature to generate the further effect at the at least one location.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the generation of the effect comprises at least one of drilling or ablating at least one hole in the tissue, and the generation of the further effect comprises directing energy into the at least one hole.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the generation of the effect comprises at least one of drilling or ablating at least one hole in the tissue, and the generation of the further effect comprises inserting an object at least partially into the at least one hole.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the object is at least one of a probe, a waveguide, a sensor, a needle, or an optical fiber.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising stretching the tissue surface in at least one direction before applying at least a portion of the film to the tissue surface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature includes at least one of a recess, a protrusion, a groove, a track, a magnet, or a visual marker.

14. An apparatus to be positioned on at least one location of a tissue, comprising:

at least one portion which includes at least one first feature which is structured or configured to couple or connect to at least one second feature of a film, the film being configured to be engage with at least a portion of a surface of the tissue at the at least one location,

the at least one first feature and the at least one second feature being configured to engage each other so as to position the device at the at least one location.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to generate an effect at the at least one location.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a device configured to generate a further effect at the at least one location, the device including at least one third feature configured to engage the at least one second feature such that the device is positioned at a location substantially the same as the at least one location via an engagement of the at least one second features and the at least one third feature, and the further effect is generated at the at least one location.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the film comprises at least one of a plastic or a polymer.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the film is engaged with the surface of the tissue using at least one of a surgical glue, a cyanoacrylate compound, a cement, a glue, an epoxy, or a curable polymer.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the effect comprises at least one of drilling or ablating at least one hole in the tissue.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the effect comprises at least one of drilling or ablating at least one hole in the tissue, and the further effect comprises directing energy into the at least one hole.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the effect comprises at least one of drilling or ablating at least one hole in the tissue, and the further effect comprises inserting an object at least partially into the at least one hole.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the object is at least one of a probe, a waveguide, a sensor, a needle, or an optical fiber.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the at least one first feature includes at least one of a recess, a protrusion, a groove, a track, a magnet, or a visual marker.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one first feature includes a first positioning arrangement and the at least one second feature includes at least one second positioning arrangement.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the at least one first and second features includes at least one of a guide, a ridge, a groove, or a track.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one first feature and the at least one second feature are configured to interact such that the apparatus is constrained to follow a particular path when the at least one first feature and the at least one second feature interact.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one first feature includes at least one sensor configured to detect at least one marker provided on the at least one second feature.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one marker includes at least one of a bump, a notch, a magnetic element, or a pigmented marking.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the sensor is in communication with a control arrangement of the apparatus configured to control an operation of the apparatus.

30. A tissue stabilizing apparatus, comprising:

a rigid film configured to be sufficiently rigid which facilitates a prevention of a deformation of a tissue that is proximal to the film when a device contacts the film, the rigid film being configured to precisely position the device at a focal point thereof within the tissue.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the device includes at least one of a laser handpiece or an ultrasound handpiece.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the film is configured to facilitate transmission or propagation of energy therethrough.

33. The tissue stabilizing apparatus of claim 32, wherein the film includes a material that is substantially transparent with respect to light.

34. The tissue stabilizing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the film includes an ablatable material.

35. A film for positioning a device on at least one location of a tissue, comprising:

at least one portion which includes at least one first feature which is structured or configured to couple or connect to at least one second feature of the device, the at least one portion being configured to be engage with at least a portion of a surface of the tissue at the at least one location, and position the device thereon