Treatment of sub-dermal regions for cosmetic effects
First Claim
1. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:
- acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe system to a skin surface, the ultrasound probe system comprising an ultrasound imaging element, an ultrasound therapy element, and a motion mechanism;
wherein the motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe;
using the ultrasound imaging element to image a region of interest under said skin surface at a fixed depth, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising a portion of at least one of muscular fascia and SMAS tissue;
wherein the region of interest at said fixed depth is displayed on a display system, said display system being electronically connected to said ultrasound imaging element;
using the ultrasound therapy element to treat said region of interest;
wherein the ultrasound therapy element is coupled to the motion mechanism within the probe;
wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ablative ultrasound energy to form a thermal lesion with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at the fixed depth of up to about 9 mm from the skin surface; and
activating the motion mechanism within the probe to move the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of said thermal lesions along a line at the fixed depth into said tissue to cause any one of the group consisting of ablation, deactivation, and shrinkage of at least a portion of the tissue,wherein the plurality of thermal lesions facilitates a tightening of the tissue that leads to any one of a face lift, a treatment of laxity, and a treatment of sagging in said skin surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for noninvasive face lifts and deep tissue tightening are disclosed. An exemplary method and treatment system are configured for the imaging, monitoring, and thermal injury to treat the SMAS region. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary method and system are configured for treating the SMAS region by first, imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area and surrounding structures, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, timing, and energy level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, and third to monitor the treatment area before, during, and after therapy to plan and assess the results and/or provide feedback.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:
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acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe system to a skin surface, the ultrasound probe system comprising an ultrasound imaging element, an ultrasound therapy element, and a motion mechanism; wherein the motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe; using the ultrasound imaging element to image a region of interest under said skin surface at a fixed depth, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising a portion of at least one of muscular fascia and SMAS tissue; wherein the region of interest at said fixed depth is displayed on a display system, said display system being electronically connected to said ultrasound imaging element; using the ultrasound therapy element to treat said region of interest; wherein the ultrasound therapy element is coupled to the motion mechanism within the probe; wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ablative ultrasound energy to form a thermal lesion with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at the fixed depth of up to about 9 mm from the skin surface; and activating the motion mechanism within the probe to move the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of said thermal lesions along a line at the fixed depth into said tissue to cause any one of the group consisting of ablation, deactivation, and shrinkage of at least a portion of the tissue, wherein the plurality of thermal lesions facilitates a tightening of the tissue that leads to any one of a face lift, a treatment of laxity, and a treatment of sagging in said skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of treating the skin, comprising:
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emitting imaging acoustic waves from an ultrasound imaging element housed within an ultrasound probe, through a skin surface to image a region of interest under said skin surface; emitting ultrasound energy from a therapy element housed within the ultrasound probe to said region of interest at a depth under said skin surface in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, the region of interest comprising a portion of at least one of muscular fascia and SMAS tissue, wherein said emitting ultrasound energy ablates a portion of said region of interest under said skin surface to facilitate a tightening of the skin surface; and moving a motion mechanism operably connected to the therapy element within the ultrasound probe for controllably creating a plurality of thermal lesions along a line at depth in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm under said skin surface, wherein the motion mechanism comprises at least one of the group consisting of an accelerometer, encoder and a position/orientation device; wherein the motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating the skin, comprising:
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targeting imaging acoustic waves from an ultrasound imaging element through a skin surface to image a treatment region comprising a portion of at least one of SMAS tissue and muscular fascia, focusing therapeutic ultrasound energy from a therapy element to said treatment region comprising said portion of at least one of SMAS tissue and muscular fascia at a fixed depth in the range of up to about 9 mm below said skin surface, wherein said therapeutic ultrasound energy ablates a portion of said treatment region to facilitate tissue tightening at the treatment region, wherein the imaging element and the therapy element are housed within an ultrasound probe; and moving a motion mechanism operably connected to the therapy element for controllably creating a plurality of thermal lesions along a line at said fixed depth at the treatment region, wherein the motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe, wherein said control system controls at least one of a spatial parameter and a temporal parameter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification