Method and system for treating stretch marks

• US 9,440,096 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Original Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems Llc
• Inventors: Barthe, Peter G., Slayton, Michael H., Makin, Inder Raj S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Bo J
• Application Number:
  US14/554,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2207/00 Anti-cellulite devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0052 using the same transducer for therapy and imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0056 Beam shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0073 using multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8909 : using a static transducer configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis and a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 0 mm to 1 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 2 to 50 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

Claims

1. An ultrasound treatment system for treating skin tissue, the system comprising:

a control system;

a display; and

an ultrasound probe comprising an ultrasound imaging element, a motion mechanism, and an ultrasound therapy component,

wherein the ultrasound therapy component consists of a single, spherically-focused ultrasound therapy element,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to provide a single mechanical focus,

wherein the single mechanical focus is configured to provide ultrasound therapy energy in the form of a single thermal focus in a tissue below a skin surface,

wherein the single thermal focus is formed without electronic focusing and without a lens,

wherein the ultrasound probe is configured for acoustic coupling to the skin surface,

wherein the ultrasound probe is configured for delivery of an ultrasound energy to heat the tissue below the skin surface to a temperature of greater than 60 degrees Celsius,

wherein the tissue comprises at least a portion of a dermis and a fascia,

wherein the control system comprises a processor and power supply;

wherein the ultrasound imaging element is in communication with the display,

wherein the ultrasound imaging element is configured for imaging a region of interest under the skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises the tissue,

wherein the display is configured to display an image of the region of interest,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is in communication with the control system,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to denature at least a portion of the tissue in the region of interest,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is connected to a portion of the motion mechanism,

wherein the motion mechanism is in communication with the control system,

wherein the motion mechanism moves the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of thermal lesions for treating the tissue.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the energy at a depth below the skin surface, wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an acoustic coupler between the ultrasound probe and the skin surface,

wherein the acoustic coupler comprises at least one of the group consisting of water, fluid, gel, and a solid,

wherein the skin surface comprises a scar.

4. The system of claim 1,

wherein the motion mechanism comprises an encoder,

wherein the ultrasound probe is connected to the control system via a cable,

wherein the imaging transducer and the therapy transducer are co-housed within the ultrasound probe.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the ultrasound imaging element and the ultrasound therapy element are in a combined transducer,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the energy at a depth below the skin surface,

wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface,

wherein the skin surface comprises a scar,

wherein the scar is a stretch mark.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the ultrasound imaging element is separate from, and co-housed with, the ultrasound therapy element in the probe,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the energy at a depth below the skin surface, wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface.

7. The system of claim 1,

wherein the motion mechanism is a linear motion mechanism for linear movement of the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of thermal lesions along a line at a depth in the region of interest, wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface.

8. The system of claim 1,

wherein the motion mechanism is configured for any one of the group consisting of linear, rotational, and variable movement of the ultrasound therapy element.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein the motion mechanism comprises an encoder for monitoring a position of the ultrasound therapy element on the motion mechanism in a housing of the probe,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the energy at a depth below the skin surface, wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface.

10. An ultrasound treatment system for treating skin tissue, the system comprising:

an ultrasound probe and a control system;

wherein the ultrasound probe comprises an ultrasound therapy component and a motion mechanism,

wherein the ultrasound therapy component consists of a single, spherically-focused ultrasound therapy element,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to provide a single mechanical focus,

wherein the single mechanical focus is configured to provide ultrasound therapy energy in the form of a single thermal focus in a tissue below a skin surface,

wherein the single thermal focus is formed without electronic focusing and without a lens,

wherein the ultrasound probe is configured for acoustic coupling to the skin surface,

wherein the ultrasound probe is configured for delivery of an ultrasound energy to heat the tissue below the skin surface to a temperature of greater than 60 degrees Celsius,

wherein the tissue comprises at least a portion of a dermis and a fascia,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is in communication with the control system,

wherein the motion mechanism is in communication with the control system,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is connected to a portion of the motion mechanism,

wherein the motion mechanism moves the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of thermal lesions at the depth for reducing the appearance of a stretch mark.

11. The system of claim 10, the ultrasound therapy element delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz .

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system comprises:

a communication device;

a motion mechanism control;

a processor, software, an input device, and a power supply.

13. The system of claim 10,

wherein the ultrasound probe is connected to the control system via a cable,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz,

wherein the skin surface comprises a scar,

wherein the scar comprises the stretch mark,

wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface.

14. The system of claim 10,

wherein the ultrasound probe comprises a housing containing an ultrasound imaging element,

wherein the ultrasound imaging element is configured for imaging a region of interest under the skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises the tissue.

15. An ultrasound treatment system for treating skin tissue, the system comprising:

an ultrasound probe configured for acoustic coupling to a skin surface,

wherein the ultrasound probe comprises an ultrasound therapy component, an ultrasound imaging element, and a motion mechanism,

wherein the ultrasound therapy component consists of a single, spherically-focused ultrasound therapy element,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of a tissue, wherein the tissue comprises a dermis tissue and a fascia tissue;

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to provide a single mechanical focus,

wherein the single mechanical focus is configured to provide ultrasound therapy energy in the form of a single thermal focus in the tissue,

wherein the single thermal focus is formed without electronic focusing and without a lens,

wherein the ultrasound imaging element is configured for imaging a region of interest, wherein the region of interest comprises the tissue,

a control system connected to the motion mechanism and the ultrasound therapy element;

a display configured to display an image of the region of interest;

an input device connected to the control system; and

a power supply connected to the control system;

wherein the ultrasound imaging element is connected to the display and the control system,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is connected to the motion mechanism,

wherein the motion mechanism moves the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of thermal lesions in the tissue.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the imaging element is configured for imaging at a frequency range of 2 MHz to 25 MHz,

wherein the imaging element and the ultrasound therapy element are co-housed within the ultrasound probe,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to increase the temperature of the tissue in the region of interest to greater than 60°

C.

17. The system of claim 15,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the energy at a depth below the skin surface,

wherein the skin surface comprises a scar,

wherein the depth is up to 10 mm below the skin surface.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the control system comprises a processor, software, and a communication device, wherein the ultrasound probe is connected to the control system via a cable.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the motion mechanism comprises an encoder and the ultrasound energy is configured to deliver an energy level for causing at least one of shrinking collagen and denaturing the tissue in the region of interest.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the control system comprises a spatial control and a temporal control,

wherein the spatial control and the temporal control are configured for controlling the delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to cause denaturation of at least the portion of the tissue at a depth under the skin surface,

wherein the skin surface comprises a scar,

wherein the scar comprises a stretch mark,

wherein the spatial control and the temporal control are configured for controlling the delivery of energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz.