ENERGY BASED HYPERHIDROSIS TREATMENT

• US 20130310863A1
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• 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., Slayton, Michael H., Makin, Inder Raj
• Granted Patent: US 8,932,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0004 Applications of ultrasound therapy
• 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 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

A method and system for energy-based (e.g., ultrasound treatment and/or other modalities) of sweat glands are provided. An exemplary method and system for targeted treatment of sweat glands can be configured in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound (or other energy) through control of various spatial and temporal parameters. As a result, ablative energy can be deposited at the particular depth at which the aberrant sweat gland population is located below the skin surface.

Claims

1. A method for reducing sweat, the method comprising:

positioning a probe on a skin surface, the probe comprising at least one therapy element;

targeting a region of interest under the skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises at least one sweat gland; and

using the at least one therapy element to thermally ablate the at least one sweat gland in the region of interest to reduce sweat,

wherein the at least one therapy element is configured to deliver energy at a depth of 1 mm to 7 mm below the skin surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one therapy element delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency in a range of 500 kHz to 15 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling a tissue region to facilitate temperature control in at least a portion of the region of interest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the at least one therapy element comprises destroying the at least one sweat gland within a specified treatment depth identified through localization of the at least one sweat gland.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the at least one therapy element comprises adjustable control of spatial parameters and temporal parameters of the probe to generate conformal lesions of specifically targeted shapes, sizes or orientations in at least a portion of the region of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the at least one therapy element comprises using a motion mechanism coupled to the at least one therapy element within the probe.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the using the at least one therapy element comprises using electronic phase focusing of the at least one therapy element to position a focus for delivery of the energy to create a thermal lesion in the at least one sweat gland.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a plurality of thermal lesions by producing a discrete locus of spaced conformal lesions based on adjustable control of spatial parameters and temporal parameters.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a plurality of elements.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a region treated by the at least one therapy element for further planning, assessing of results, or providing feedback.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering a pharmaceutical agent to the region of interest to further reduce sweat.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sweat gland is located an area selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following:

a face, an armpit, a palm, and a sole.

13. A method for reducing sweat, the method comprising:

identifying a subject having a region of interest comprising at least one overactive sweat gland;

placing an energy delivery probe on a skin surface overlying the region of interest;

targeting energy, via the energy delivery probe, through the skin surface to the region of interest thereby creating a plurality of lesions in the region of interest using an automated motion mechanism.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising delivering the energy, via at least one therapy element, wherein the energy comprises ultrasound energy.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising imaging the region of interest.

16. A method for reducing sweat, the method comprising:

transmitting energy, via at least one therapy element, to deliver a first ablative lesion to a first sweat gland; and

moving the at least one therapy element, via a motion mechanism, to deliver a second ablative lesion to a second sweat gland,

wherein the first and second ablative lesions reduce an amount of sweat produced from the first and second sweat glands.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy comprises ultrasound energy.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising imaging a region of interest comprising at least the first sweat gland, wherein the energy comprises ultrasound energy at a frequency in the range of 500 kHz to 15 MHz.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second ablative lesions are delivered along a linear path.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising imaging a region of interest comprising at least the first sweat gland.