Energy-based tissue tightening

• US 8,690,778 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• 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., O'Connor, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/924,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 600/411, 600/437, 600/439, 600/445, 600/459
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/085 for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules
• 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 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• 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

Systems and methods for noninvasive tissue tightening are disclosed. Thermal treatment of tissues such as superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue, muscle, adipose tissue, dermal tissue, and combinations thereof are described. In one aspect, a system is configured for treating tissue through delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, temperature, and energy level to achieve a desired cosmetic effect.

Claims

1. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:

using an ultrasound probe to deliver ultrasound energy from a therapy element housed within the ultrasound probe to a region of interest at a depth under a skin surface,

wherein the region of interest comprises a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue and at least one of a muscle, an adipose tissue, and a dermis tissue, and

moving the therapy element within the ultrasound probe for creating thermal foci along a line at the depth under the skin surface,

wherein the creation of the thermal foci causes shrinkage of a plurality of collagen fibers in the SMAS for tightening of the skin surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising imaging the region of interest with an ultrasound imaging element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the imaging element is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci along the line.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the thermal foci is within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm from the skin surface.

6. The method according to claim 1,

providing an imaging element to image the region of interest at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 4 MHz to 15 MHz,

wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci, and

wherein the temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of the tissue is 60°

C. to 90°

C.

7. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising:

using an ultrasound probe to deliver ultrasound energy from a therapy element housed within the ultrasound probe to a region of interest at a depth under a skin surface,

wherein the region of interest comprises a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue and at least two of a dermis, a muscle, and an adipose tissue, and

moving the therapy element within the ultrasound probe for creating thermal foci along a line at the depth under the skin surface,

wherein the creation of the thermal foci causes shrinkage of a plurality of collagen fibers in the SMAS for tightening of the skin surface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising imaging the region of interest with an ultrasound imaging element.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the imaging element is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci along the line.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the depth of the thermal foci is within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm from the skin surface.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing an imaging element to image the region of interest at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 75 MHz,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 4 MHz to 15 MHz,

wherein the moving the therapy element comprises moving a motion mechanism coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci, and

wherein the temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of the tissue is 60°

C. to 90°

C.

13. A method for tissue shrinkage, the method comprising:

providing an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound therapy element housed within the probe, and an imaging element, the ultrasound system configured for;

(i) imaging, with the imaging element, a region of interest under the skin surface, wherein the region of interest comprises a tissue;

(ii) treating, with the therapy element, the tissue,

wherein the tissue comprises a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue and at least one of a muscle, an adipose tissue, and a dermis tissue,

wherein the therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to cause shrinkage of a plurality of collagen fibers in the SMAS at a depth under the skin surface; and

(iii) moving the therapy element, with a motion mechanism, to form a plurality of thermal foci at the depth to cause the shrinkage.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the imaging element is an ultrasound imaging element that is housed within the probe.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the therapy element is configured to deliver the energy within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm below the skin surface.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the shrinkage of the tissue causes a tightening of the tissue that leads to any one of a face lift, a treatment of laxity, and a treatment of sagging in the skin surface.

17. The method of claim 13,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 4 MHz to 15 MHz,

wherein the motion mechanism is coupled to the therapy element to facilitate the placement of the thermal foci, and

wherein the imaging element is an ultrasound imaging element that is housed within the probe.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the therapy element is configured to heat the tissue to 60°

C. to 90°

C.