Ultrasound treatment of varicose veins
First Claim
1. A method for treating a varicose vein underlying a portion of skin on the body of a patient comprising the steps of:
- (a) presenting a source of focused ultrasonic vibrational energy;
then (b) placing the source of ultrasonic vibrational energy in vibrational communication with the portion of skin overlying the varicose vein;
then (c) focusing at least a portion of the ultrasonic vibrational energy produced by the source of ultrasonic vibrational energy to impinge upon target tissue overlying the varicose vein and disposed between the overlying skin and the varicose vein wherein the target tissue does not comprise the varicose vein;
then (d) continuing step (c) until sufficient target tissue is damaged to induce the formation of a layer of fibrous tissue between the varicose vein and the portion of skin overlying the varicose vein without causing substantial damage to tissue comprising the varicose vein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the non-invasive treatment of varicose veins. The vibrational energy in acoustic waves emanating from one or more source of ultrasonic energy is focused beneath the skin to cause localized heating and tissue disruption and/or destruction in and around the varicosed segment of the vein, particularly the venous endothelium. The localized tissue destruction is followed by localized fibrosis in and around the dilated portion of the varicosed vessel. The ultrasound-induced fibrosis includes thickening and loss of elasticity of the vascular wall. If a sufficiently high dosage of ultrasound energy is delivered to the vein, the varicosed portion of the vessel will be obliterated, providing a therapeutic result similar to that obtained by injection sclerotherapy or vein stripping. Alternatively, focused ultrasound may be used to induce fibrosis in the tissue overlying the varicosed vessel thereby providing a relatively inelastic barrier which resists unsightly deformation of the skin overlying the varicose vein due to venous dilation.
157 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for treating a varicose vein underlying a portion of skin on the body of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) presenting a source of focused ultrasonic vibrational energy;
then(b) placing the source of ultrasonic vibrational energy in vibrational communication with the portion of skin overlying the varicose vein;
then(c) focusing at least a portion of the ultrasonic vibrational energy produced by the source of ultrasonic vibrational energy to impinge upon target tissue overlying the varicose vein and disposed between the overlying skin and the varicose vein wherein the target tissue does not comprise the varicose vein;
then(d) continuing step (c) until sufficient target tissue is damaged to induce the formation of a layer of fibrous tissue between the varicose vein and the portion of skin overlying the varicose vein without causing substantial damage to tissue comprising the varicose vein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification