Method and system for noninvasive mastopexy

• US 7,530,356 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Makin, Inder Raj S., Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HELMBOLDT, ALEX CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US11/163,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27, 606/41, 606 49- 50, 607/96, 607/115, 600/439, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00333 Breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8909 using a static transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00

Abstract

Methods and systems for noninvasive mastopexy through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a deep tissue region, such as a region comprising muscular fascia and ligaments. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 1 mm to 4 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 1 to 15 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

Claims

1. A method for noninvasive mastopexy, said method comprising:

selecting a probe configuration based on a spatial and a temporal parameter;

imaging with ultrasound a treatment region of a breast, said treatment region comprising a Cooper'"'"'s ligament;

verifying said temporal and said spatial parameters of said probe;

coupling of said probe to said treatment region; and

applying ultrasound energy from said probe to ablate a portion of said treatment region to facilitate mastopexy; and

modifying a shape of said breast.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of applying ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 1 MHz to about 15 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of applying ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 2 MHz to about 8 MHz.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of re-imaging said treatment region to confirm ablation of said portion of said treatment region.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying ultrasound energy from said probe to ablate a second portion of said treatment region.

6. A method for providing noninvasive mastopexy, said method comprising:

imaging with ultrasound a region of interest of a breast comprising a ligament;

delivering ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to said region of interest comprising said ligament;

ablating said ligament in said region of interest with said ultrasound energy; and

monitoring for a modified shape of said breast.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said ligament is a Cooper'"'"'s ligament.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of delivering ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 1 MHz to about 15 MHz.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of delivering ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 2 MHz to about 8 MHz.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of re-imaging said region of interest to confirm ablation of said ligament.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising applying ultrasound energy to ablate a second ligament in said region of interest.

12. A method for providing noninvasive ultrasound mastopexy treatment, the method comprising:

imaging a treatment area in a breast and below a skin surface, said treatment area comprising a muscle and a ligament connected to a portion of breast tissue;

targeting at least a portion of said treatment area;

delivering ultrasound energy to said at least a portion of said treatment area at specified depth below said skin surface;

coagulating at least a portion of said muscle and said ligament connected to said portion of breast tissue with said ultrasound energy and thereby lifting said breast.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of delivering ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 1 MHz to about 15 MHz.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of delivering ultrasound energy includes applying conformal ultrasound energy in the range of about 2 MHz to about 8 MHz.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of re-imaging said region of interest to confirm ablation of said ligament.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying ultrasound energy to coagulate a second ligament in said region of interest.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying ultrasound energy to coagulate a second portion of said muscle in said region of interest.