Methods of skin rejuvenation using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions
First Claim
1. A method of skin rejuvenation comprising the steps ofpositioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external tissue surface of the skin of a patient;
- emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the skin;
focusing the ultrasound energy simultaneously at a plurality of spaced focusing zones contained in a target area in the skin;
heating the skin at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area at the target area containing unablated tissue of the skin and a plurality of lesions at the focusing zones, respectively, at which the tissue of the skin is ablated; and
removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the external surface of the skin.
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Abstract
A method of skin rejuvenation by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound energy includes the steps of positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the skin, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the skin, focusing the ultrasound energy in the skin, ablating the skin with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area below the external surface of the skin containing unablated tissue of the skin and a plurality of lesions at which the tissue of the skin is ablated, and removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the external surface of the skin. The lesions cause collagen production by the skin to be stimulated. The lesions can begin and end at predetermined depths beneath the external surface of the skin so that the epidermis and the deep layer of the dermis are not damaged.
487 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of skin rejuvenation comprising the steps of
positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external tissue surface of the skin of a patient; -
emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the skin;
focusing the ultrasound energy simultaneously at a plurality of spaced focusing zones contained in a target area in the skin;
heating the skin at the focusing zones with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area at the target area containing unablated tissue of the skin and a plurality of lesions at the focusing zones, respectively, at which the tissue of the skin is ablated; and
removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the external surface of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of skin rejuvenation comprising the steps of
positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the skin; -
emitting ultrasound energy simultaneously from a plurality of ultrasound emitting elements of the ultrasound emitting member;
focusing the ultrasound energy in the skin below the external surface of the skin at a plurality of spaced focusing zones corresponding to the ultrasound emitting elements, respectively, while the ultrasound emitting member is maintained in one place adjacent the external surface of the skin;
ablating the skin with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area below the external surface of the skin containing unablated tissue of the skin and a plurality of lesions at the focusing zones, respectively, at which the tissue of the skin is ablated, the reaction to which is production of collagen by the dermis; and
removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the external surface of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of skin rejuvenation comprising the steps of
positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the skin of a patient; -
actuating selected ones of a plurality of ultrasound emitting elements of the ultrasound emitting member to emit ultrasound energy;
simultaneously emitting ultrasound energy from the selected ultrasound emitting elements into the skin;
focusing the ultrasound energy in the skin below the epidermis simultaneously at a plurality of spaced focusing zones corresponding to the selected ultrasound emitting elements, respectively;
ablating the skin with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area below the epidermis containing unablated tissue of the skin and a plurality of lesions at the focusing zones, respectively, at which the tissue of the skin is ablated; and
removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the external surface of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification