Ultrasound probe for treating skin laxity

• US 10,010,724 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2017
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• 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:
  US15/821,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20180085607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 223 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6842 by marking the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4209 by using holders, e.g. positioning frames
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 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 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• 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 2007/027 : with multiple foci created simultaneously
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8909 : using a static transducer configuration

Abstract

A probe for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.

Claims

1. An ultrasound probe for treatment of skin laxity, the ultrasound probe comprising:

a housing, wherein inside the housing comprises a motion mechanism and an ultrasound transducer,

wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a single active focused piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element,

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

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

wherein the depth is a single, fixed depth below the skin surface to treat the tissue,

wherein the tissue comprises any of the group consisting of;

an epidermal tissue, a superficial dermal tissue, a mid-dermal tissue, a deep dermal tissue, a muscle tissue, and an adipose tissue,

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

wherein a portion of the housing is configured for acoustic coupling to the skin surface;

wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to tighten at least a portion of the tissue at the depth under the skin surface,

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

wherein the motion mechanism is configured to operate with an encoder,

wherein the motion mechanism is configured to move the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of thermal lesions at the depth for tightening at least a portion of the tissue for reducing skin laxity.

2. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is disposable,

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

C.,

wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz.

3. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, further comprising a piezoelectric ultrasound imaging element co-housed with the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element.

4. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is reusable, wherein the housing is configured for connection to a control system,

wherein the control system comprises a microprocessor and a communication device,

wherein the ultrasound transducer is electrically connected to the control system via a cable.

5. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, further comprising an EEPROM to store and record probe identification and usage history,

wherein the ultrasound therapy 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 proximate a wrinkle,

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

6. The ultrasound probe of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured to connect to a control system and a power supply,

wherein the control system is connected to the motion mechanism, the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element, and a power supply,

wherein the power supply is connected to the control system,

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 the depth under the skin surface,

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.

7. An ultrasound probe for treatment of skin laxity, the ultrasound probe comprising:

an ultrasound transducer within a housing, the ultrasound transducer being configured for delivery of an ultrasound therapy energy at a temperature sufficient to heat at least a portion of a tissue at a depth under a skin surface,

wherein the tissue comprises any one or more of the group consisting of;

an epidermal tissue, a superficial dermal tissue, a mid-dermal tissue, a deep dermal tissue, a muscle tissue, and an adipose tissue;

wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a single active piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element,

wherein the single active piezoelectric 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 at a depth below a skin surface,

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

wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured for delivery of the ultrasound therapy energy at the temperature sufficient to heat the at least a portion of the tissue at the depth under the skin surface,

wherein the ultrasound transducer forms a plurality of thermal lesions at the depth for reducing the appearance of skin laxity.

8. The ultrasound probe of claim 7, further comprising a storage system comprising probe identification and probe usage history, wherein the region of interest comprises the tissue, wherein the skin surface comprises a wrinkle, and wherein the plurality of thermal lesions tightens the tissue.

9. The ultrasound probe of claim 7, further comprising a piezoelectric ultrasound imaging element co-housed with the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element, wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element delivers the ultrasound therapy energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 50 MHz.

10. The ultrasound probe of claim 7, wherein the ultrasound probe is reusable, wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured for communication with a control system, wherein the ultrasound transducer is connected to the control system via a cable, and wherein the control system comprises:

a communication device;

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

11. The ultrasound probe of claim 7,

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

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

C.,

wherein the ultrasound probe is disposable,

and wherein the ultrasound probe comprises a storage system for transducer usage history and calibration.

12. An ultrasound probe for treatment of skin laxity, the ultrasound probe comprising:

a housing and an ultrasound transducer, wherein the ultrasound transducer is inside the housing,

wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises a single active focused piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element,

wherein the piezoelectric 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 at a depth below a skin surface,

wherein the depth is up to 5 mm below the skin surface,

wherein the tissue comprises any of the group consisting of;

an epidermal tissue, a superficial dermal tissue, a mid-dermal tissue, a deep dermal tissue, an adipose tissue, and a muscle tissue,

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

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

wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element forms a plurality of thermal lesions at the depth for tightening the tissue for reducing skin laxity.

13. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising a control system and a power supply;

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

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

wherein the skin surface comprises a wrinkle.

14. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising an acoustic coupler between the ultrasound transducer and the skin surface, wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 25 MHz.

15. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, wherein the ultrasound probe is disposable, wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured to increase the temperature of the tissue in a region of interest to greater than 60°

C.

16. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising a storage system and a piezoelectric ultrasound imaging element, wherein the storage system records probe usage history, and wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound imaging element is co-housed with the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element in the housing.

17. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system is configured to monitor a treatment parameter, wherein the treatment parameter measured comprises a temperature of the tissue below the skin surface.

18. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising a motion mechanism configured to operate with an encoder, wherein the motion mechanism is configured for movement of the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of thermal lesions at the depth in the region of interest.

19. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising a motion mechanism configured to operate with an encoder, wherein the motion mechanism is configured for any one of the group consisting of linear, rotational, and variable movement of the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element.

20. The ultrasound probe of claim 12, further comprising a motion mechanism configured to operate with an encoder for monitoring a position of the ultrasound therapy element,

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

wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the ultrasound therapy energy at the depth below the skin surface.