Method and system for treating stretch marks

• US 7,615,016 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• 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): Le; Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): FONTENOT, NIGEL RAI
• Application Number:
  US11/163,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 601 2- 4, 604/22, 600/439, 600/427
• US Class Current: 601/3
• 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 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• 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: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2207/00 Anti-cellulite devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0056 Beam shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• 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: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating stretch marks 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 shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis and a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 0 mm to 1 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 2 to 50 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 treating stretch marks, said method comprising:

imaging a treatment region comprising at least one stretch mark;

selecting a probe configuration based on at least one of a spatial parameter and a temporal parameter based on the imaging of the at least one stretch mark;

verifying said at least one of a spatial parameter and a temporal parameter of said probe;

confirming acoustic coupling of said probe to said treatment region comprising at least one stretch mark; and

applying ultrasound energy using the selected probe configuration to ablate a portion of said treatment region comprising at least one stretch mark to facilitate treatment of said at least one stretch mark.

2. 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 50 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 25 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 monitoring results of said applying ultrasound energy to ablate a portion of said treatment region comprising at least one stretch mark.

6. A method for providing treatment of stretch marks, said method comprising:

localizing a targeted region comprising at least one of an epidermis, a dermis, a deep dermis, and a fibrous fascia within a region of interest;

identifying at least one stretch mark in said targeted region;

targeting delivery of ablative ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to said at least one stretch mark in said targeted region; and

monitoring results of said targeted delivery within said at least one stretch mark in said targeted region during and after said targeted delivery to continue planning of treatment.

7. A method of providing a treatment for at least one stretch mark by a reduction in appearance of the at least one stretch mark in a skin surface, the method comprising:

imaging a treatment area below a skin surface, said treatment area comprising at least a portion of at least one stretch mark;

identifying said at least a portion of said at least one stretch mark in said treatment area;

delivering ultrasound energy to said at least a portion of said at least one stretch mark;

coagulating tissue in said at least a portion of said at least one stretch mark;

monitoring said at least one stretch mark for a reduction in appearance of said at least one stretch mark in said skin surface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said delivering ultrasound energy to said at least a portion of said at least one stretch mark further comprises adjustably controlling of at least one spatial parameter and at least one temporal parameter of an ultrasound energy source to generate a conformal lesion of a specifically targeted shape, size and orientation.

9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising generating three-dimensional imaging information of said at least one stretch mark.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising forming a lesion in said at least a portion of said at least one stretch mark.