Method for treating skin and underlying tissue

• US 7,189,230 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1996
• 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): Peffley; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/447,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 34, 606/41, 606 48- 50, 607 98-104
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00488 Esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• 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 2007/0021 : Female breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 : with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 : without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• 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: A61M 2205/3606 : cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• 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 1/32 : alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 : Applicators worn by the patient

Abstract

A method for treating a tissue site couples an energy delivery surface of an electromagnetic energy delivery device with a skin surface. An underlying tissue area beneath the skin surface is created. The cooling creates a reverse thermal gradient, where a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the underlying tissue area. Energy is delivered from the energy delivery device to the underlying tissue area. The energy delivery modifies the underlying tissue area and decreases irregularities of the skin surface.

Claims

1. A method for treating a tissue site underlying a skin surface, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with the skin surface;

cooling the tissue site to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and decrease irregularities of the skin surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the RF energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the tissue site is modified to form scar collagen.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue site is collagen tissue.

6. A method for treating collagen containing tissue underlying a skin surface with an RF energy delivery device, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of the RF energy delivery device with the skin surface;

creating a reverse thermal gradient through the skin surface while heating the collagen containing tissue in which a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the collagen containing tissue; and

non-ablatively delivering a sufficient amount of RF energy to the collagen containing tissue to create scar collagen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

8. A method of treating acne scars at a skin epidermis surface with an RF energy source, the method comprising:

producing RF energy from the RF energy source;

non-ablatively delivering the RF energy from the RF energy source through the skin epidermis surface to a collagen containing tissue site underlying the skin epidermis surface for a sufficient time to form scar collagen; and

modifying the skin epidermis surface with the scar collagen to treat the acne scars.

9. A method for treating acne scars at a skin surface with an underlying collagen containing tissue, the method comprising:

coupling an RF energy delivery device surface with the skin surface for non-ablatively delivering RF energy to the collagen containing tissue;

creating a reverse thermal gradient through the skin surface to sufficiently heat the collagen containing tissue in which a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the collagen containing tissue;

creating scar collagen when the collagen containing tissue is heated; and

modifying the skin surface with the scar collagen to reduce the acne scars at the skin surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the RF energy delivery device surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the RF energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

11. A method of treating a skin surface having scars with an RF energy source with an energy delivery surface, the method comprising:

coupling the energy delivery surface with the skin surface;

producing RF energy from the RF energy source;

creating a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of collagen containing tissue underlying the skin surface; and

non-ablatively delivering the RF energy through the skin surface to the collagen containing tissue and forming scar collagen in at least a portion of the collagen containing tissue to modify the scars.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

13. A method of reducing the activity of sebaceous glands in a tissue site using an RF energy source, the method comprising:

producing RF energy from the RF energy source;

non-ablatively delivering the RF energy through a skin epidermis surface to the tissue site for a time sufficient to thermally injure the sebaceous glands; and

reducing the activity of the sebaceous glands in the tissue site.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the underlying tissue site contains collagen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

17. A method of reducing the size of a sebaceous gland in a tissue site using an RF energy source, the method comprising:

producing RF energy from the RF energy source;

non-ablatively delivering the RF energy from the RF energy source through a skin epidermis surface to the tissue site for a time sufficient to thermally injure the sebaceous gland; and

reducing the size of the sebaceous gland in the tissue site with the thermal injury.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the underlying tissue site contains collagen.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at tissue site to form scar collagen.

20. The method of 18, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

21. A method of treating skin pores using an RF energy source, the method comprising:

producing RF energy from the RF energy source; and

non-ablatively delivering the RF energy from the RF energy source through a skin epidermis surface to a collagen containing tissue site underlying the skin epidermis surface for a time sufficient to treat the skin pores.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the collagen containing tissue site to form scar collagen.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the collagen containing tissue site.

24. A method of reducing the activity of a sebaceous gland, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the underlying tissue area; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce the activity of the sebaceous gland in the tissue site.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the underlying tissue area contains collagen.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the collagen containing tissue site to form scar collagen.

28. The method of claim 26, delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the collagen containing tissue site.

29. A method of reducing the size of a sebaceous gland, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce the size of the sebaceous gland in the tissue site.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the underlying tissue area contains collagen.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

34. A method of treating skin pores, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and treat the skin pores.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

39. A method of treating clogged skin pores, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and treat the clogged skin pores.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the underlying tissue site contains collagen.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

44. A method of treating acne, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce the activity of at least a portion of the sebaceous glands in the tissue site for treating the acne.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

49. A method of treating acne, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce the size of at least a portion of the sebaceous glands in the tissue site for treating the acne.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

54. A method of treating acne, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce the size of skin pores for treating the acne.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

57. The method of claim 56, delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

59. A method of treating hyperhydrosis, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce the amount of sweat produced by sweat glands in the tissue site.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

64. A method of treating hyperhydrosis, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and reduce a size of sweat glands in the tissue site.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

69. A method of reducing hair growth, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and hair follicles to reduce the growth of hair in the hair follicles.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

74. A method of inducing the growth of hair, the method comprising:

coupling an energy delivery surface of an RF energy delivery device with a skin surface;

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to modify the tissue site and hair follicles to stimulate the growth of hair from the hair follicles.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the energy delivery surface is coupled to the skin surface by positioning the energy delivery surface on the skin surface.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the tissue site contains collagen.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site to form scar collagen.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein delivering the RF energy further comprises:

modifying the collagen at the tissue site.

79. A method for treating a tissue site with an energy delivery device coupled to an energy delivery device source, the method comprising:

cooling a tissue site underlying the skin surface to create a reverse thermal gradient in which a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the tissue site; and

non-ablatively delivering RF energy from the RF energy delivery device to the tissue site to create a tissue effect.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is dermal remodeling.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is dermal tightening.

82. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is wrinkle reduction.

83. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is elastosis reduction.

84. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is scar modification.

85. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is sebaceous gland removal or deactivation.

86. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is a reduction of sebaceous gland activity.

87. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is hair follicle modification.

88. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is adipose tissue remodeling or removal.

89. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is modification of skin irregularities.

90. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is a creation of scar or nascent collagen.

91. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is treatment of skin pores.

92. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is a modification of fat tissue.

93. The method of claim 79, wherein the tissue effect is a modification of muscle tissue.