Methods and systems for treating plantar fascia

• US 20120143056A1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,183,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5246 combining images from the same or different imaging techniques, e.g. color Doppler and B-mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0013 Fracture healing
• 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 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0095 by modifying an excitation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments, described herein, provide methods and systems for the treatment of plantar fascia. In some embodiments, a method of non-invasive treatment of plantar fasciacan include the steps of identifying a damage location comprising a planter fascia; directing a conformal distribution of ultrasound energy to the plantar fascia at the damage location; creating a plurality of micro lesions in the plantar fascia at the damage location; initiating healing of a plurality of micro tears in the plantar fascia at the damage location; and sparing intervening tissue between the plantar fascia and a surface of a sole of a foot.

Claims

1. A method of treating plantar fascia, the method comprising:

identifying a damage location comprising a planter fascia and surrounding tissue;

directing a conformal distribution of ultrasound energy to the damage location;

creating a conformal region of elevated temperature in the damage location;

stimulating at least one biological effect in at least one of the plantar fascia and the surrounding tissue; and

reducing inflammation in the surrounding tissue.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising imaging the damage location.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising ablating a portion of the plantar fascia.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising driving a medicant into the damage location.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising activating the medicant with the conformal distribution of ultrasound energy.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising peaking inflammation in the surrounding tissue and initiating a wound healing cascade in the surrounding tissue.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising welding a portion of the plantar fascia in the damage location with the conformal ultrasound energy.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising stimulating collagen growth in the plantar fascia.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising stimulating collagen growth in the plantar fascia.

9. A system for treating plantar fascia, the system comprising:

a hand-held probe comprising;

a housing containing;

an ultrasound transducer configured to focus a conformal distribution of ultrasound energy into a region of interest comprising a plantar fascia and surround subcutaneous tissue;

a position sensor configured to communicate a position of the housing and a speed of movement of the housing;

a communication interface configured for wireless communication and in communication with the ultrasound transducer, the motion mechanism, and the position sensor; and

a rechargeable power supply configured to supply power to the ultrasound transducer, the position sensor, and the communication interface;

and

a controller in communication with the communication interface and configured to control a spatial parameter and a temporal parameter of the ultrasound transducer to emit the conformal distribution of ultrasound energy.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to receive the position of the housing and the speed of movement of the housing, and configured to control the timing of conformal distribution of ultrasound energy based on the position and the speed.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the housing further contains a motion mechanism coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to scan the ultrasound transducer in at least one of a linear pattern and a two-dimensional pattern, and the controller is configured to control the scan of the motion mechanism based on the position and the speed.

12. The system according the claim 9, wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to provide an image the region of interest and to create a conformal region of elevated temperature in the region of interest.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the controller comprises a display configured to display the image of the region of interest.

14. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a needle configured to transfer a medicant into the region of interest.

15. A method of non-invasive treatment of plantar fascia, the method comprising:

identifying a damage location comprising a planter fascia;

directing a conformal distribution of ultrasound energy to the plantar fascia at the damage location;

creating a plurality of micro lesions in the plantar fascia at the damage location;

initiating healing of a plurality of micro tears in the plantar fascia at the damage location; and

sparing intervening tissue between the plantar fascia and a surface of a sole of a foot.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising welding a portion of the plurality of micro tears in the plantar fascia at the damage location with the conformal distribution of ultrasound energy.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising increasing blood perfusion to the damage location.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising directing a second and a different conformal distribution of ultrasound energy to the plantar fascia at the damage location and initiating a therapeutic effect on the plantar fascia.

20. The method according the claim 15, further comprising creating a three dimensional matrix of micro lesions in the plantar fascia at the damage location.