Methods and systems for generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy

• US 8,715,186 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Barthe, Peter G., Makin, Inder Raj S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamprecht, Joel
• Application Number:
  US12/954,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/441, 601/2
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/48 Diagnostic techniques A61B8/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0039 using microbubbles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0043 intra-cavitary
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0056 Beam shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/006 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0065 Concave transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• 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

A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling.

Claims

1. A method of providing non-invasive ultrasound treatment, the method comprising:

coupling an acoustic source to a surface of skin;

providing a first acoustic energy into a region of interest below the surface;

creating thermal bubbles in an outer portion of the region of interest;

forming a boundary comprising the thermal bubbles in the outer portion of the region of interest, thereby surrounding an inner portion of the region of interest with the boundary;

providing a second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest; and

containing the second acoustic energy within the boundary, wherein the second acoustic energy stimulates a bio-effect in the inner portion of the region of interest.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reflecting a portion of the second acoustic energy off of at least one of the thermal bubbles in the boundary and directing a reflected portion of the second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising directing the portion of the second portion of the second acoustic energy away from tissue outside of the region of interest.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising protecting the tissue outside of the region of interest from the second acoustic energy.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, the tissue outside of the region of interest comprises an internal organ.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising scattering the reflected portion of the second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising concentrating the second acoustic energy into the inner portion of the region of interest.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bio-effect in the inner portion of the region of interest is reducing a volume of tissue.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising tightening a portion of the surface of the skin.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising ablating a portion of tissue in the inner portion of the region of interest.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second energy does not create cavitation in the inner portion of the region of interest.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bio-effect in the second inner portion of the region of interest is enhancing formation of collagen in the region of interest.

13. A method of cosmetic enhancement, the method comprising;

coupling at least one source to a region of interest;

directing a first energy from the at least one source into the region of interest;

creating a boundary comprising a plurality of thermal bubbles in a non-target region with the first energy, thereby surrounding a target region in the region of interest with the boundary; and

directing a second energy from the at least one source inside the boundary and into the target region in the region of interest;

wherein the second energy stimulates a bio-effect in at least a portion of the target region.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one source comprises an ultrasound source and a pulsed laser.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first energy is ultrasound energy and the second energy is photon-based energy.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first energy is ultrasound energy and the second energy is ultrasound energy.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second energy does not create cavitation in the inner portion of the target region.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising reflecting a portion of the second energy off of at least one of the thermal bubbles in the boundary and directing a reflected portion of the second energy into the target region.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising concentrating the second energy into the target region.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second energy ablates tissue in the target region.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the bio-effect in at least a portion of the target region is rejuvenating tissue in the target region.