METHODS FOR TREATING SKIN LAXITY

• US 20140148834A1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Published: 05/29/2014
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,039,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• 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 method and system for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Methods and systems 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. The exemplary treatment method and system can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal components of tissue.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of treating skin laxity, comprising:

delivering ultrasound energy with an ultrasound transducer through a skin surface to cause thermal injury to a combination of any of an epidermal, a superficial dermal, a mid-dermal, a deep dermal, adipose, and a muscle tissue; and

using a motion mechanism to move the ultrasound transducer within a probe to form a plurality of thermal foci along a line in the combination of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue,

wherein the ultrasound transducer is coupled to the motion mechanism within the probe,

thereby treating skin laxity in the skin surface.

3. The method according to claim 2,

wherein the motion mechanism comprises an encoder and control system, and

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 25 MHz and at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue to greater than 60°

C.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient for causing at least one of shrinkage or denaturation of tissue in the portion of a treatment area comprising any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising imaging the combination of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, adipose, and the muscle tissue with an imaging transducer within the probe.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the imaging transducer and the ultrasound transducer are co-housed within the probe.

7. The method according to claim 2,

further comprising imaging in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 75 MHz with an imaging transducer any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue,

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

wherein the step of delivering ultrasound energy with the ultrasound transducer through a skin surface to cause thermal injury to a combination of any of an epidermal, a superficial dermal, a mid-dermal, a deep dermal, an adipose, and a muscle tissue comprises causing thermal injury to at least the deep dermal and the adipose tissue,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 25 MHz, and

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of at least one of the deep dermal and the adipose tissue to greater than 60°

C.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue to greater than 60°

C.

9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising imaging in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 75 MHz with an imaging transducer any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue, wherein the with an imaging transducer and the ultrasound transducer are co-housed within the probe.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered to a depth of 5 mm below the skin surface.

11. A method of delivering ultrasound energy for reducing laxity in skin, comprising:

delivering ultrasound energy from an ultrasound source to a first target in a combination of any of an epidermal, a superficial dermal, a mid-dermal, a deep dermal, an adipose, and a muscle tissue at a depth below a skin surface;

moving the ultrasound source with a motion mechanism,

delivering ultrasound energy from the ultrasound source to a second target in the combination of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue below the wrinkled skin surface to create a plurality of thermal foci below the skin surface, thereby shrinking a volume of tissue to rejuvenate the laxity in the skin surface.

12. The method according to claim 11,

further comprising imaging, with an imaging element in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 75 MHz any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue,

wherein the ultrasound source is a therapy element;

and

wherein the therapy element and the imaging element are co-housed within a single transducer.

13. The method according to claim 11,

further comprising imaging in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 75 MHz any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue,

wherein the step of delivering ultrasound energy to the first target further comprises causing at least one of shrinkage or denaturation of a combination of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle,

wherein the ultrasound source is a transducer that comprises both a therapy element and an imaging element.

14. The method according to claim 11,

further comprising imaging in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 75 MHz any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue,

wherein the step of delivering ultrasound energy to the first target is at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of any of the adipose and the muscle tissue to greater than 60°

C., and

wherein the delivering ultrasound energy further comprises ablating a combination of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle.

15. A method for non-invasive treatment for skin laxity, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound probe, a therapy element in the probe, and an imaging element, the ultrasound system configured for;

(i) imaging, with the imaging element, a region of interest under a skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises a combination of any of an epidermal, a superficial dermal, a mid-dermal, a deep dermal, an adipose, and a muscle tissue;

(ii) treating, with the therapy element, skin laxity in the skin surface,

wherein the therapy element is configured for delivery of ultrasound energy to cause thermal injury to at least the adipose and the muscle tissue; and

(iii) moving the therapy element, with a motion mechanism, to form a plurality of thermal lesions to reduce skin laxity in the skin surface.

16. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the motion mechanism comprises an encoder and control system, and

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 25 MHz and at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue to greater than 60°

C.

17. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient for causing at least one of shrinkage or denaturation of tissue in the portion of a treatment area comprising any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the imaging element and the therapy element are co-housed within the ultrasound probe.

19. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the imaging is at a frequency range of 2 MHz to 75 MHz,

wherein the imaging element and the therapy element are co-housed within a transducer,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered in a frequency range of 2 MHz to 25 MHz, and

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of at least one of the deep dermal and the adipose tissue to greater than 60°

C.

20. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of any of the epidermal, the superficial dermal, the mid-dermal, the deep dermal, the adipose, and the muscle tissue to greater than 60°

C.,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered to a depth of 5 mm below the skin surface.

21. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered at an energy level sufficient to raise a temperature of the portion of any of the adipose and the muscle tissue to greater than 60°

C.,

wherein the imaging element and the therapy element are co-housed within a transducer.