APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COMPREHENSIVE ULTRASOUND SKIN TREATMENT

• US 20160375271A1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Slender Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Slender Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: AZHARI, Haim, TSOREF, Liat, KRASNOV, Gregory, GROSS, Yossi
• Application Number:
  US15/038,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0056 Beam shaping elements
• 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

Cartridge apparatus (230) for use with a handle (220) is provided. The apparatus includes a housing (500) which: (a) includes a handle-coupling portion (235) shaped and sized to securely couple the housing to the handle and to facilitate separation of the housing from the handle, (b) shaped to define a skin-application portion (40) on an outer surface of the housing, and (c) includes at least one ultrasound element (60) in acoustic communication with the skin-application portion and configured to transmit ultrasound energy to the skin through the skin-application portion when the cartridge is attached to the handle. The cartridge apparatus also includes an inflatable element (250) inflated with a fluid, the fluid being in fluid communication with the skin-application portion. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. Cartridge apparatus for use with a handle, the apparatus comprising:

a housing, (a) comprising a handle-coupling portion shaped and sized to securely couple the housing to the handle and to facilitate separation of the housing from the handle, (b) shaped to define a skin-application portion on an outer surface of the housing, and (c) comprising at least one ultrasound element in acoustic communication with the skin-application portion and configured to transmit ultrasound energy to the skin through the skin-application portion when the cartridge is attached to the handle; and

an inflatable element inflated with a fluid, the fluid being in fluid communication with the skin-application portion.

2. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skin-application portion comprises a flexible external surface configured to contact the skin, and wherein the fluid is positioned to apply pressure and outwardly deform the flexible surface.

3. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the fluid in fluid communication with the skin-application portion is 0.5-10 cc.

4. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a total volume of the fluid is 1-50 cc.

5. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable element has a fluid pressure of 2-25 kPa.

6. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the inflatable element is 0.5-50 cc.

7. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a pressure in the inflatable element inflated with the fluid is 2-25 kPa.

8. The cartridge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical socket configured to receive electrical current from the handle.

9. Apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a skin-application portion, configured to be placed in contact with skin of a subject;

at least one ultrasound element configured to be placed in acoustic contact with the skin and to apply ultrasound energy to the skin via the skin-application portion; and

an inflatable element coupled to the housing and inflated with a fluid, the fluid being in fluid communication with the ultrasound element and the skin-application portion.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a replaceable cartridge in which the inflatable element is disposed, and wherein the cartridge is removably coupled to the housing.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a replaceable cartridge in which the inflatable element and the at least one ultrasound element are disposed, and wherein the cartridge is removably coupled to the housing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the skin-application portion comprises a flexible external surface configured to contact the skin, and wherein the fluid applies pressure and outwardly deforms the flexible surface.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a volume of the fluid disposed between the ultrasound element and the skin-application portion is 0.5-10 cc.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a total volume of the fluid is 1-50 cc.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the inflatable element has a fluid pressure of 2-25 kPa.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the inflatable element is inflated to a volume of 0.5-50 cc.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a pressure in the inflatable element inflated with the fluid is 2-25 kPa.

18. Cartridge apparatus, for use with an ultrasound device that includes a housing, a skin-application portion, and at least one ultrasound element, the cartridge apparatus comprising:

a cartridge configured to be removably attached to the housing;

a fluid port; and

an inflatable element disposed within the cartridge and inflated with a fluid, the fluid port being sized and shaped to provide fluid communication between the fluid in the inflatable element and the skin-application portion, when the cartridge is attached to the housing.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the cartridge is shaped to define an outer surface thereof, and wherein the outer surface of the cartridge is not inflatable.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the skin-application portion comprises a flexible external surface configured to contact the skin, and wherein the fluid applies pressure and outwardly deforms the flexible surface, when the cartridge is attached to the housing.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a volume of the fluid disposed between the ultrasound element and the skin-application portion is 0.5-10 cc.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a total volume of the fluid in the apparatus is 1-50 cc, when the cartridge is attached to the housing.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the inflatable element has a fluid pressure of 2-25 kPa.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the inflatable element is inflated to a volume of 0.5-50 cc.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a pressure in the inflatable element inflated with the fluid is 2-25 kPa.

26. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the cartridge apparatus further comprises the at least one ultrasound element.

27. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a coupling mechanism configured to couple the cartridge to the housing and to allow fluid communication between the fluid in the inflatable element and the skin-application portion, when the cartridge is attached to the housing.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the cartridge apparatus further comprises the at least one ultrasound element.

29-47. -47. (canceled)