NONINVASIVE TISSUE TIGHTENING FOR COSMETIC EFFECTS

• US 20130281853A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Makin, Inder Raj S., O'Connor, Brian D., Barthe, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6842 by marking the skin
• 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 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• 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 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• 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 2007/027 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8909 : using a static transducer configuration

Abstract

Systems and methods for noninvasive tissue tightening are disclosed. Thermal treatment of tissues such as superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue, muscle, adipose tissue, dermal tissue, and combinations thereof are described. In one aspect, a system is configured for treating tissue through delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, temperature, and energy level to achieve a desired cosmetic effect.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:

using an ultrasound probe to deliver ultrasound energy from a therapy element housed within the ultrasound probe to a region of interest at a depth under a skin surface,

wherein the region of interest comprises at least one of a muscle and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue, and

moving the therapy element within the ultrasound probe for creating thermal foci along a line at the depth under the skin surface,

wherein the creation of the thermal foci causes shrinkage of the region of interest and tightening of the skin surface.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising imaging the region of interest with an ultrasound imaging probe.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the imaging probe is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the region of interest further comprises at least one of an adipose and a dermis tissue.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the moving the therapy element comprises using a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci along the line.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the depth of the thermal foci is within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm from the skin surface.

8. The method according to claim 2,

providing an imaging probe to image the region of interest at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 4 MHz to 15 MHz,

wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci, and

wherein the temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of the tissue is 60°

C. to 90°

C.

9. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:

using an ultrasound probe to deliver ultrasound energy from a therapy element housed within the ultrasound probe to a region of interest at a depth under a skin surface,

wherein the region of interest comprises at least two of a muscle, adipose and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue, and

moving the therapy element within the ultrasound probe for creating thermal foci along a line at the depth under the skin surface,

wherein the creation of the thermal foci causes shrinkage of the region of interest and tightening of the skin surface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising imaging the region of interest with an ultrasound imaging probe.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the imaging probe is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci along the line.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the depth of the thermal foci is within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm from the skin surface.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

providing an imaging probe to image the region of interest at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 4 MHz to 15 MHz,

wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci, and

wherein the temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of the tissue is 60°

C. to 90°

C.

15-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for tissue shrinkage, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound therapy element housed within the probe, and an imaging element, the ultrasound system configured for;

(i) imaging, with the imaging element, a region of interest under the skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises a tissue;

(ii) treating, with the therapy element, the tissue,

wherein the tissue comprises at least one of a muscle and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue,

wherein the therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of the tissue at a depth under the skin surface; and

(iii) moving the therapy element, with a motion mechanism, to form a plurality of thermal foci at the depth to cause the shrinkage.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the imaging element is an ultrasound imaging element that is housed within the probe.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the region of interest further comprises at least one of an adipose and a dermis tissue.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the therapy element is configured to deliver the energy within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm below the skin surface.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the shrinkage of the tissue causes a tightening of the tissue that leads to any one of a face lift, a treatment of laxity, and a treatment of sagging in the skin surface.

27. The method of claim 22,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 4 MHz to 15 MHz,

wherein the motion mechanism is coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci, and

wherein the imaging element is an ultrasound imaging element that is housed within the probe.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the therapy element is configured to heat the tissue to 60°

C. to 90°

C.