Systems and methods for ultrasound assisted lipolysis
First Claim
1. A system for destroying tissue within a subcutaneous tissue region, comprising:
- a transducer device comprising an emission surface for emitting acoustic energy and defining a longitudinal axis, the transducer device configured for focusing the acoustic energy at a substantially linear focal zone that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis in the subcutaneous tissue region;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer device for providing drive signals to the transducer device whereby the transducer device may emit acoustic energy from the emission surface; and
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling the drive signals delivered by the drive circuitry such that the acoustic energy emitted by the transducer device has sufficient intensity to cause cavitation and destroy cells within the focal zone, the controller configured for controlling the drive circuitry such that the transducer has a duty cycle of about twenty percent (20%) or less to minimize heating within the focal zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cells are destroyed within a subcutaneous tissue region using a transducer disposed externally adjacent to a patient'"'"'s skin. The transducer emits acoustic energy that is focused at a linear focal zone within the tissue region, the acoustic energy having sufficient intensity to rupture cells within the focal zone while minimizing heating. The transducer may include one or more transducer elements having a partial cylindrical shape, a single planar transducer element coupled to an acoustic lens, or a plurality of linear transducer elements disposed adjacent one another in an arcuate or planar configuration. The transducer may include detectors for sensing cavitation occurring with the focal zone, which is correlated to the extent of cell destruction. A frame may be provided for controlling movement of the transducer along the patient'"'"'s skin, e.g., in response to the extent of cell destruction caused by the transducer.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for destroying tissue within a subcutaneous tissue region, comprising:
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a transducer device comprising an emission surface for emitting acoustic energy and defining a longitudinal axis, the transducer device configured for focusing the acoustic energy at a substantially linear focal zone that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis in the subcutaneous tissue region;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer device for providing drive signals to the transducer device whereby the transducer device may emit acoustic energy from the emission surface; and
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling the drive signals delivered by the drive circuitry such that the acoustic energy emitted by the transducer device has sufficient intensity to cause cavitation and destroy cells within the focal zone, the controller configured for controlling the drive circuitry such that the transducer has a duty cycle of about twenty percent (20%) or less to minimize heating within the focal zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
the transducer comprises a plurality of linear transducer elements disposed adjacent one another and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transducer;
the drive circuitry is configured for providing respective drive signals to each of the linear transducer elements; and
the controller is configured for controlling a phase of the respective drive signals to adjust a focal distance from the emission surface to the focal zone.
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8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a plurality of elongate linear transducer elements disposed adjacent one another in a substantially planar configuration.
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9. The system of claim 8, wherein the drive circuitry is configured for providing respective drive signals to each of the linear transducer elements, and wherein the controller is configured for controlling a phase of the respective drive signals to adjust a focal distance from the emission surface to the focal zone.
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10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer device comprises a plurality of transducers disposed adjacent to one another, the transducers configured for generating respective substantially linear focal zones that extend generally parallel to one another.
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11. The system of claim 10, wherein a first of the plurality of transducers has a first focal distance and wherein a second of the plurality of transducers has a second focal distance that is different than the first focal distance.
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12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a frame to which the transducer device is mounted, the transducer device being movable along the frame for moving the focal zone to successive tissue regions.
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13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the drive circuitry such that the transducer has a duty cycle of about ten percent (10%) or less.
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14. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the drive circuitry such that the transducer has a duty cycle of about one percent (1%) or less.
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15. The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer device comprises a plurality of transducer elements defining respective portions of an arc projected generally onto a plane.
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16. A method for destroying cells within a subcutaneous tissue region located beneath a patient'"'"'s skin, comprising:
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disposing a transducer defining a longitudinal axis externally adjacent to the patient'"'"'s skin; and
driving the transducer with drive signals using a relatively low duty cycle such that the transducer emits acoustic energy, while focusing the acoustic energy from the transducer at a substantially linear focal zone extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis within the tissue region, the acoustic energy having sufficient intensity to cavitate cells within the focal zone while substantially minimizing heating of tissue within the focal zone. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for treating tissue within a subcutaneous tissue region, comprising:
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a transducer device comprising a plurality of transducer elements defining respective portions of an arc projected generally onto a plane, thereby providing an emission surface extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transducer device, the emission surface configured for emitting acoustic energy at a substantially linear focal zone extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer device for providing drive signals to the transducer device whereby the transducer device may emit acoustic energy from the emission surface; and
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling the drive signals delivered by the drive circuitry to focus the acoustic energy at the substantially linear focal zone. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for destroying cells within a subcutaneous tissue region, comprising:
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a transducer device comprising an emission surface for emitting acoustic energy, the transducer device configured for focusing the acoustic energy at a substantially linear focal zone within the subcutaneous tissue region;
drive circuitry coupled to the transducer device for providing drive signals to the transducer device whereby the transducer device emits acoustic energy from the emission surface;
a controller coupled to the drive circuitry, the controller configured for controlling the drive signals delivered by the drive circuitry such that the acoustic energy emitted by the transducer device has sufficient intensity to cause cavitation and destroy cells within the focal zone;
a cavitation detector mounted in a predetermined arrangement with the transducer device such that the cavitation detector is oriented towards the focal zone, the detector configured for sensing cavitation within the focal zone; and
a monitoring system coupled to the cavitation detector, the monitoring system configured for correlating cavitation signals generated by the cavitation detector to determine an extent of cell destruction occurring within the focal zone. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for destroying cells within a subcutaneous tissue region using a transducer mounted to a frame, the method comprising:
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disposing the frame in close proximity to an external surface of a patient with the transducer oriented towards the subcutaneous tissue region;
driving the transducer with drive signals such that the transducer emits acoustic energy while focusing the acoustic energy from the transducer at a substantially linear focal zone within the tissue region, thereby causing cavitation and destroying cells within the focal zone;
monitoring cavitation within the focal zone;
correlating the cavitation within the focal zone with an extent of cell destruction within the focal zone; and
automatically moving the transducer along the frame to a new location along the external surface of the patient when a predetermined level of cell destruction within the focal zone is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification