Methods for treatment of sweat glands
First Claim
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1. A non-invasive method for treating sweat glands to reduce sweat, said method comprising:
- acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe to a skin surface,wherein said ultrasound probe comprises an ultrasound imaging element and an ultrasound therapy element;
using the ultrasound imaging element to image a region of interest under said skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises a sweat gland;
wherein the sweat gland is displayed on a display system, said display system being electronically connected to said ultrasound imaging element;
using a motion mechanism to move the ultrasound therapy element to create a plurality of thermal lesions to thermally ablate said sweat gland in said region of interest to reduce sweat,wherein said ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver ultrasound energy at a depth of about 1 to about 7 mm below the skin surface.
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Abstract
A method and system for ultrasound treatment of sweat glands are provided. An exemplary method and system for targeted treatment of sweat glands can be configured in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound through control of various spatial and temporal parameters. As a result, ablative energy can be deposited at the particular depth at which the aberrant sweat gland population is located below the skin surface.
593 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-invasive method for treating sweat glands to reduce sweat, said method comprising:
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acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe to a skin surface, wherein said ultrasound probe comprises an ultrasound imaging element and an ultrasound therapy element; using the ultrasound imaging element to image a region of interest under said skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises a sweat gland; wherein the sweat gland is displayed on a display system, said display system being electronically connected to said ultrasound imaging element; using a motion mechanism to move the ultrasound therapy element to create a plurality of thermal lesions to thermally ablate said sweat gland in said region of interest to reduce sweat, wherein said ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver ultrasound energy at a depth of about 1 to about 7 mm below the skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing treatment for reducing sweat gland activity, said method comprising:
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targeting therapeutic acoustic waves, via an ultrasound treatment element housed within an ultrasound probe, through a skin surface to treat a sweat gland under said skin surface; moving an automated motion mechanism for controllably creating a plurality of thermal lesions along a line at a depth of about 1 to about 7 mm below the skin surface, wherein the automated motion mechanism comprises at least one of the group consisting of an accelerometer, encoder and a position/orientation device; wherein the automated motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe; wherein the plurality of thermal lesions reduces activity in the sweat gland to reduce sweat production by said sweat gland. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for reducing sweat, said method comprising:
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coupling an ultrasound probe to a skin surface proximate to at least one sweat gland; wherein said ultrasound probe comprises an ultrasound therapy element; selecting an ultrasound probe configuration based on at least one of a spatial parameter and a temporal parameter; verifying said at least one of a spatial parameter and a temporal parameter of said probe; and using a motion mechanism to move the ultrasound therapy element to create a plurality of thermal lesions to reduce sweat production in said at least one sweat gland. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification