Method for treating subcutaneous tissues

• US 8,348,867 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulthera Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Original Assignee: Cabochon Aesthetics, Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Inventors: Deem, Mark E., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Sutton, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherby, Ellsworth
• Application Number:
  US12/467,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 600/2, 600/101, 600/134, 600/560, 606/45, 601/2, 601/17
• US Class Current: 601/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0028 Disruption, e.g. by heat or ultrasounds, sonophysical or sonochemical activation, e.g. thermosensitive or heat-sensitive liposomes, disruption of calculi with a medicinal preparation and ultrasounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0039 using microbubbles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

An apparatus and method for treating subcutaneous tissues using acoustic waves in the range of low acoustic pressure ultrasound waves is disclosed. The method includes injections of enhancing agents, wherein disruption of subcutaneous tissues and subcutaneous cavitational bioeffects are produced by ultrasound waves having a power that will not produce tissue cavitation in the absence of the enhancing agents. The apparatus and method of use is useful for treatment of subcutaneous abnormalities including cellulite, lipomas, and tumors.

Claims

1. A method for selectively lysing subcutaneous structures to improve the appearance of cellulite, comprising:

percutaneously inserting into a treatment area located between 1 mm and 5 mm below a dermis a tubular member having a plurality of needles disposed in a central channel of the tubular member;

deploying the plurality of needles from a retracted position in the central channel to an extended position in which the needles protrude out from a distal end of the central channel in a fanned configuration; and

lysing at least a portion of a fibrous structure in the treatment area as the plurality of needles is deployed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fanned configuration is a circumferential orientation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fanned configuration is an orientation substantially parallel to the surface of the dermis.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning the plurality of needles parallel to the surface of the dermis;

rotating the plurality of needles about an axis of the tubular member to disrupt a portion of more than one fibrous structure; and

disrupting more than one fibrous structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning the plurality of needles parallel to the surface of the dermis;

retracting the plurality of needles to disrupt a portion of more than one fibrous structure; and

disrupting more than one fibrous structure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of needles are retracted upwardly toward the surface of the dermis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of needles comprises a lumen through which to provide a distribution of a solution, the method further comprising:

distributing a solution to the treatment area through the plurality of needles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one needle in the plurality of needles is configured to deliver an electrical energy, the method further comprising:

positioning the plurality of needles in the treatment area parallel to the surface of the dermis; and

delivering the electrical energy through the at least one needle to disrupt a tissue in the treatment area while leaving tissues outside the treatment area unaffected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the at least one needle is electrically insulated, and wherein the electrical energy is dispersed to the tissue over only a portion of the at least one needle.