METHODS AND DEVICES FOR INFLAMMATION TREATMENT

• US 20130066237A1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smotrich, Michael H., Yaroslavsky, Ilya, Altshuler, Gregory B., Cohen, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/540,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066237A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0017 Wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/022 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0619 Acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for controlled mediation and/or improvement of inflammation, inflammation associated with pain, and pain by delivering non-ablative thermal tissue damage to portions of a region of tissue including a volume of inflamed tissue, thereby activating the immune systems pain relief response to the tissue damage.

Claims

1. A method for treating inflammation or pain, comprising:

determining a location of a volume of inflamed tissue; and

applying radiation suitable for damaging tissue to portions of the volume where a damaged portion of the volume is separated from another damaged portion by a non-treated portion of the volume.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising introducing a corticotropin-releasing hormone to the body of the subject.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the corticotropin-releasing hormone is in a topical.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the topical is disposed on the location of the volume one of prior to applying radiation, after applying radiation, and simultaneous with applying radiation.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the corticotropin-releasing hormone is injected into the location of the volume.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the corticotropin-releasing hormone is ingested prior to applying radiation.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

applying to portions of the volume radiation suitable for ablating tissue, where an ablated portion of the volume is separated from another ablated portion by an non-treated portion of the volume; and

disposing a corticotropin-releasing hormone to the location of the volume.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiation is electromagnetic radiation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiation is one of optical radiation, ultrasound radiation, and radio frequency radiation.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of inflamed tissue is determined by the subject feeling that the location is tender to the touch.

11. A method for treating inflammation or pain, comprising:

applying radiation suitable for damaging tissue to portions of a volume of tissue, where a damaged portion of the volume is separated from another damaged portion by an non-treated portion of the volume; and

introducing a corticotropin-releasing hormone to the body of the subject.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the corticotropin-releasing hormone is in a topical.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the topical is disposed on the location of the volume one of prior to applying radiation, after applying radiation, and simultaneous with applying radiation.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the corticotropin-releasing hormone is injected into the location of the volume.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the corticotropin-releasing hormone is ingested prior to applying radiation.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the radiation is electromagnetic radiation.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the radiation is one of optical radiation, ultrasound radiation, and radio frequency radiation.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the volume of inflamed tissue is determined by the subject feeling that the location is tender to the touch.

19. A method for treating chronic pain, comprising:

determining a location of a volume of inflamed tissue that is associated with the chronic pain; and

delivering non-ablative thermal tissue damage to a depth of at least 50 microns to at least a portion of the volume of inflamed tissue, to at least a portion of a volume of tissue adjacent the volume of inflamed tissue, or to at least a portion of a volume of tissue adjacent the volume of inflamed tissue and to at least a portion of the volume of inflamed tissue.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising delivering the thermal tissue damage to a depth of at least 100 microns.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising determining the need for additional pain treatment upon the resolution of the thermal tissue damage previously delivered.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the thermal tissue damage portion is separated from another thermal tissue damage portion by a non-treated portion of the volume.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the non-ablative thermal damage comprises cold treatment.

24. A device for treating inflammation or pain comprising:

an inflammation detector for detecting inflammation in a region of tissue;

a source of radiation configured to generate radiation to damage a volume of tissue; and

an optical path that delivers radiation from the source to the volume of tissue to form a damaged portion of the volume separated from another damaged portion of the volume by an non-treated portion of the volume.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the inflammation detector comprises at least one of a thermometer, medical IR thermal camera, thermally sensitive film, video camera, and ultrasound inflammation detector.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the optical path delivers radiation solely to the region of tissue containing inflammation.

27. The device of claim 24 wherein the inflammation detector signals the user to deliver radiation due to the presence of the region of tissue containing inflammation.

28. The device of claim 24 wherein the device is wearable and is removably attachable to a subject'"'"'s body.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the wearable device is one of a patch or a garment.

30. The device of claim 24 wherein at least one of the repetition rate of energy administration and the frequency of energy administration varies as a function of the detected inflammation.

31-33. -33. (canceled)