SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING MUSCLE, TENDON, LIGAMENT AND CARTILAGE TISSUE

• US 20120271294A1
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: BARTHE, Peter G., MAKIN, Inder Raj S., SLAYTON, Michael H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,444,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• 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 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• 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 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• 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 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0082 Scanning transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A method and system for treating subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy is disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Certain procedures can include a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and treatment of cartilage tissue.

Claims

1. A method of treating a sagging brow, the method comprising:

acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe system to a skin surface on a brow, the ultrasound probe system comprising an imaging element, a therapy element, and a motion mechanism;

wherein the motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe;

using the ultrasound imaging element to image a region of interest under said skin surface at a fixed depth, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising a portion of at least one of muscular fascia, fat, and SMAS tissue;

wherein the region of interest at said fixed depth is displayed on a display system, said display system being electronically connected to said ultrasound imaging element;

using the ultrasound therapy element to treat said region of interest;

wherein the therapy element is coupled to the motion mechanism within the probe;

wherein the therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ablative ultrasound energy to form a thermal lesion with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at the fixed depth of up to about 9 mm from the skin surface; and

activating the motion mechanism within the probe to form a plurality of said thermal lesions along a line at the fixed depth into said tissue to cause any one of the group consisting of ablation, deactivation, and shrinkage of at least a portion of the tissue,

wherein the plurality of thermal lesions facilitates a tightening of the tissue that leads to a brow lift.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging element is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 kHz to 75 MHz and the therapy element is configured to treat with a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixed depth of the lesion is within a range of 0 to 5 mm from the skin surface.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixed depth of the lesion is within a range of 1 mm to 6 mm from the skin surface.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said activating the motion mechanism comprises communication between and at least two of the group consisting of a control system, an accelerometer, encoder and a position/orientation device.

6. A method of treating skin on a face, comprising:

providing a probe that emits ultrasound energy;

coupling the probe to a skin surface on the face proximate a region comprising subcutaneous fat, muscle, and connective tissue;

imaging the region with said probe;

applying a sufficient amount of therapeutic ultrasound energy to coagulate at least one of the group consisting of subcutaneous fat, muscle, and connective tissue at a specific depth to reduce skin sagging on the face.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a sufficient amount of ultrasound energy is emitted to ablate the subcutaneous fat, muscle, and connective tissue responsible for wrinkles.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the subcutaneous fat tissue is disposed along the lower eyelid and a lower lid blepharoplasty is performed.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the subcutaneous fat tissue is disposed along the upper eyelid and an upper lid blepharoplasty is performed.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the subcutaneous fat tissue is disposed along both the upper and lower eyelids and both an upper and lower blepharoplasty is performed.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the region is comprises an orbicularis oculi muscle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the application of ultrasound energy ablates the orbicularis oculi muscle.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ablation of the orbicularis oculi muscle results in the removal of crow'"'"'s feet.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein the region comprises a corrugator supercilii muscle.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the corrugator supercilii muscle is ablated with ultrasound energy at a frequency of 3-7 MHz.

16. A method of reducing wrinkles on a brow with an imaging and therapy ultrasound transducer, the method comprising:

identifying a treatment area comprising at least one wrinkle in a skin surface proximate wrinkle causing subcutaneous tissue;

imaging at least a portion of the treatment area with an ultrasound transducer configured for both imaging and therapy; and

delivering ultrasound energy with the ultrasound transducer through the skin surface and into a portion of the treatment area comprising the wrinkle-causing subcutaneous tissue to cause thermally injury to a portion of the wrinkle-causing subcutaneous tissue, thereby reducing the at least one wrinkle the skin surface.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the delivering ultrasound energy is in a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 25 MHz.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the delivering ultrasound energy is at an energy level sufficient to cause the portion of the wrinkle-causing subcutaneous tissue to reabsorb into the body.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the portion of the wrinkle-causing subcutaneous tissue comprises a portion of an epicranius muscle.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the portion of the wrinkle-causing subcutaneous tissue comprises a portion of a procerus muscle.