Methods and apparatus for reducing sweat production

• US 9,149,331 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: miraDry, Inc. (Sientra Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Miramar Labs, Inc. (Sientra Incorporated)
• Inventors: Deem, Mark E., Gifford, Hanson, Kim, Steven, Salamin, Alexey
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US12/450,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• Field of Search: 606/10, 606/1, 606/41, 604/141
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/06 caused by chemical reaction , e.g. moxaburners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00613 : Irreversible electroporation reversible electroporation A61N1/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 : Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00785 : Reflected power
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 : using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0281 : using a tortuous path, e.g. formed by fins or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1823 : Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/183 : characterised by the type of antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 : using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/406 : using implantable thermoseeds or injected particles for localized hyperthermia preparations of seeds and particles A61K41/0052
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 : Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 : infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 : Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 : Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/02 : using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for reducing sweat production via, for example, the removal, disablement, and incapacitation of sweat glands in the epidermis, dermis and subdermal tissue regions of a patient. In one embodiment, a method of treating a patient is provided which involves identifying a patient having a condition of excessive sweating, positioning an energy delivery device proximate to a skin tissue of the patient and delivering energy to sweat glands to halt secretion of sweat. The energy delivery device may include microwave delivery devices, RF delivery devices, and cryogenic therapy devices. Some embodiments may include using a cooling element for avoiding destruction of non-target tissue and/or a suction device to localize treatment at specific portions of the skin fold.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a sweat gland of a patient comprising:

a microwave generator;

a grasping mechanism configured to grasp an area of skin tissue to form a skin fold having a first side and a second side;

a cooling element configured to apply protective cooling to at least a portion of the area of skin tissue; and

first and second microwave antennas coupled to the microwave generator and associated with the grasping mechanism such that, when the skin fold is formed, the first microwave antenna is positioned on the first side of the skin fold and the second microwave antenna is positioned on the second side of the skin fold, wherein the first and second microwave antennas are configured to deliver microwave energy through the cooling element to the area of skin tissue to at least partially destroy or disable at least one sweat gland within the area of skin tissue.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element adapted to be positioned proximate to the skin fold when skin tissue is positioned in the grasping mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element comprises a first cooling element adapted to be positioned proximate the first side of the skin fold and a second cooling element adapted to be positioned proximate to the second side of the skin fold when skin tissue is positioned in the grasping mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grasping mechanism comprises a suction mechanism configured to provide suction to the skin tissue when the skin tissue is positioned in the grasping mechanism.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the suction mechanism is configured to provide suction to the skin tissue to position the skin tissue in the grasping mechanism.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the area of skin tissue comprises at least a portion of the axilla.

7. A method of treating a patient comprising:

identifying an area of skin tissue comprising a layer of sweat glands, wherein the area of skin tissue produces sweat;

grasping the area of skin tissue to form a skin fold, the skin fold comprising a first side and a second side, wherein, when folded the layer of sweat glands corresponding to the first side is proximally adjacent to the layer of sweat glands corresponding to the second side such that the layers comprise a treatment zone;

applying protective cooling with a cooling element to at least a portion of the area of skin tissue; and

positioning microwave antennas on the first and second sides of the skin fold and delivering microwave energy with the microwave antennas through the cooling element to the treatment zone to yield a treatment effect, said treatment effect reducing the amount of sweating from the area of skin tissue.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying protective cooling to at least a portion of the area of skin tissue further comprises positioning the cooling element proximate the skin fold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein positioning the cooling element proximate the skin fold further comprises positioning a first cooling element proximate the first side of the skin fold and a second cooling element proximate the second side of the skin fold.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein grasping the area of skin tissue to form the skin fold further comprises providing suction to the area of skin tissue.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing suction to the area of skin tissue further comprises maintaining suction to the area of skin tissue during the treatment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the skin area of skin tissue is an area of the axilla.