Method and apparatus for modifying skin surface and soft tissue structure

• US 6,425,912 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thermage Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thermage Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Knowlton, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US08/942,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 606/2, 606/3-19, 606/32-34, 606/37-41, 606/42, 606/49-51, 607/2, 607/43, 607/50, 607/52, 607/62, 607/96-111, 607/114, 607/115, 607/145, 607/154
• US Class Current: 607/101
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/22 Face shaping devices, e.g. chin straps; Wrinkle removers, e.g. stretching the skin skin stretchers for shaving A45D27/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00488 Esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00523 Treatment of incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/28 Apparatus for applying thermoelectric currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 Radiators for near-field treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that modifies a skin surface or a soft tissue. The apparatus includes a skin surface conforming member and a hydration delivery device coupled to the conforming member. The hydration delivery device delivers a hydration agent to the skin surface. An energy delivery device is coupled to the conforming member and provides a controlled delivery of energy to the skin surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for modifying a skin surface or a soft tissue structure underlying a skin surface, comprising:

a template including a chamber having a porous membrane that has a skin interface surface which is conformable to the skin surface overlaying the soft tissue structure;

a hydration delivery device coupled to the chamber and configured to deliver a hydration agent through the pores of the membrane to the skin surface; and

an energy delivery device positioned in the interior of the chamber of the template, producing and providing a controlled delivery of energy to the skin surface and the tissue structure underneath to modify the skin surface or the tissue structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a hydration sensor coupled to the template.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydration delivery device includes a hydraulic pressure source.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic pressure source is a mechanical source.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hydration delivery device is driven by an electrical force.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hydration delivery device is driven by a thermal energy.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hydration delivery device is driven by a chemical reaction.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the chemical reaction includes reaction with ethylene glycol.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic pressure source is driven by a diff-usion gradient.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic pressure source is a compression source.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the template has a mechanical force application surface on which a mechanical force is applied to compress the soft tissue structure underlying the skin surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a feedback control device coupled to the template.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a surface pressure sensor coupled to the template.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a hydraulic pressure sensor coupled to the template.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance sensor coupled to the template.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a surface temperature sensor coupled to the template.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to the skin surface not exceeding 1000 joules/cm2 during a single treatment session.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to the skin surface not exceeding 600 joules/cm2 during a single treatment session.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to the skin surface not exceeding 200 joules/cm2 during a single treatment session.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled dose rate of energy to the skin surface not exceeding 6 joules/sec/cm2.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled dose rate energy to the skin surface not exceeding 2 joules/sec/cm2.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to a skin surface to operate in an mpedance range at the skin surface of 70 ohms cm2 measured at a frequency of 88 Hz to 40 Kohms cm2 measured at a frequency of 10 KHz.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery means provides a controlled delivery of energy to operate in a range of thermal conductivity at a skin surface of 0.21 to 0.60 k.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to operate in a range of compression force applied to the soft tissue structure not exceeding 400 mmHg.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to operate in a range of compression force applied to the soft tissue structure not exceeding 300 mmHg.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to operate in a range of compression force applied to the soft tissue structure not exceeding 200 mmHg.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device provides a controlled delivery of energy to operate in a range of compression force applied to the soft tissue structure not exceeding 100 mmHg.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver thermal energy.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the energy delivery device comprises one or more resistive heating members.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver RF energy.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the energy delivery device comprises one or more RF electrodes.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver ultrasound energy.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, herein the energy delivery device comprises one or more ultrasound transducers.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver microwave energy.