Method and apparatus for therapeutic treatment of skin
First Claim
1. A method of rejuvenating skin, the method comprising applying an acoustic pulse to a dermis layer below a surface of a region of skin with sufficient intensity and duration, and inducing a shock wave response in the dermis layer and consequent formation of new connective tissue to cause a change in the dermis layer of the skin that results in greater smoothness at the surface of the skin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus of reducing skin wrinkles, including applying an acoustic pulse or train of pulses to a subsurface region of human skin without damaging or adversely affecting the surface or epidermis layer of the skin. The pulses cause changes in the dermis layer of the skin that result in enhanced smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, the acoustic pulses are applied to the dermis layer at an amplitude and for a period of time sufficient to induce production of new connective tissue that reduces or eliminate of skin wrinkles.
332 Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A method of rejuvenating skin, the method comprising applying an acoustic pulse to a dermis layer below a surface of a region of skin with sufficient intensity and duration, and inducing a shock wave response in the dermis layer and consequent formation of new connective tissue to cause a change in the dermis layer of the skin that results in greater smoothness at the surface of the skin.
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11. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for transmitting acoustic waves into a dermis region of skin in response to signals from a driver; and
a control device constructed and arranged to control the generator to induce shock waves in the dermis layer and the formation of new connective tissue. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of of skin; and
a controller for driving the acoustic wave generator to deliver pulsed acoustic wave energy at a sufficient amplitude and frequency to induce a shock wave type response in the dermis layer. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of a region of skin; and
a controller for driving the acoustic wave generator to deliver pulsed acoustic wave energy, the pulses ranging from about 10 nanoseconds to about 200 microseconds in duration, each pulse delivering energy in the range of about 500 W/cm2 to about 1500 W/cm2 at a target site in the dermis layer to induce a shock wave type response in the dermis layer.
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23. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of skin;
a controller for driving the acoustic wave generator to deliver pulsed acoustic wave energy at a sufficient amplitude and frequency to induce a shock wave type response in the dermis layer; and
a linear focusing element for focusing the acoustic energy into a line such that an elongated region of the dermis layer is exposed to the acoustic wave energy. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of skin;
a controller for driving the acoustic wave generator to deliver pulsed acoustic wave energy at a sufficient amplitude and frequency to induce a shock wave type response in the dermis layer; and
a focusing element for focusing the acoustic energy into the dermis layer, the focusing element having a numerical aperture ranging from about 0.1 to about 0.95. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of skin;
a linear focusing element for focusing the acoustic energy into a line such that an elongated region of the dermis layer is exposed to the acoustic wave energy to induce a shock wave type response in the dermis layer; and
a scanner for scanning the line through an area within the dermis layer.
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31. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic wave generator for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of of skin; and
a controller for driving the acoustic wave generator to deliver pulsed acoustic wave energy at sufficient amplitude to induce a shock wave response in the dermis layer; and
at least one feedback sensor for sensing the effect of the delivered energy and providing a signal to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for rejuvenating skin, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for delivering acoustic wave energy into a dermis layer of skin; and
an acoustical waveguide disposed at a surface of the transducer, the waveguide having a thickness that defines a depth focus of the ultrasound energy in the skin;
wherein the waveguide is further arranged to apply ultrasound shock waves along a longitudinally extended area.- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification