System and method for fat and cellulite reduction

• US 9,283,410 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Bo J
• Application Number:
  US14/550,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and 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: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• 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 15/8906 Short-range imaging systems; Acoustic microscope systems using pulse-echo techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8936 using transducers mounted for mechanical movement in three dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. An embodiment delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, thereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. An embodiment can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

Claims

1. An ultrasound system for treatment of cellulite, the system comprising:

a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system is configured to monitor a treatment parameter, wherein the treatment parameter measured comprises a temperature of a tissue below a skin surface,

a control system, wherein the control system maintains the temperature of the tissue below the skin surface based on the measured temperature,

an ultrasound probe, wherein the ultrasound probe comprises a housing,

wherein the housing contains a temperature monitoring sensor, an ultrasound imaging element, an ultrasound therapy element, and a motion mechanism,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 10 MHz; and

a display;

wherein the temperature monitoring sensor is connected to the display and the control system,

wherein the display is configured to display the measured temperature of the tissue below the skin surface,

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

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 tissue comprises a plurality of fat lobuli that protrude into a dermis layer to create the appearance of cellulite,

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

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

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

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to coagulate at least a portion of the plurality of fat lobuli at a depth under the skin surface,

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

wherein the motion mechanism is connected to the control system,

wherein the motion mechanism comprises an encoder configured to measure the position of the motion mechanism in the housing,

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

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is a single element,

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

wherein the ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with a dimension of between 100 microns to 55 mm in the region of interest.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a spatial control and a temporal control, the spatial control and the temporal control controlling the delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to cause coagulation of at least the portion of the plurality of fat lobuli at the depth under the skin surface, wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered with a treatment power of between 20 W and 200 W.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system comprises:

a processor;

software;

an input device;

a power supply; and

a communication device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user control switch to activate the ultrasound therapy element and wherein the ultrasound energy increases the speed at which fat metabolizes according to the Arrhenius Law:

Y=A·

e<sup>−

B/T</sup>, where Y is the yield of metabolic reaction, A and B are constants, and T is the temperature in degrees Kelvin.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the ultrasound energy at an energy level for causing at least one of ablating tissue, stretching fibrous bonds, or stimulating evacuation of fat decay products in the region of interest.

7. An ultrasound treatment system for treatment of cellulite, the system comprising:

a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system is configured to monitor a treatment parameter, wherein the treatment parameter measured comprises a temperature of a tissue below a skin surface,

an ultrasound probe comprising a temperature monitoring sensor, an ultrasound imaging element, an ultrasound therapy element, and a motion mechanism, wherein a portion of the ultrasound probe is configured for acoustic coupling to a skin surface,

a control system comprising a processor and power supply, wherein the control system maintains the temperature of the tissue below the surface based on the measured temperature; and

a display,

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 a tissue, wherein the tissue comprises a plurality of fat lobuli that protrude into a dermis layer to create the appearance of cellulite,

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 coagulate at least a portion of the plurality of fat lobuli at a depth under the skin surface,

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 foci at the depth for coagulating fat thereby reducing the appearance of cellulite.

8. The system of claim 7,

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 therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 10 MHz,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered with a treatment power of between 20 W and 200 W,

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

wherein the ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with a dimension of between 100 microns to 55 mm in the region of interest.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the therapy element is one of the group consisting of a spherically focused single element and a cylindrically focused single element.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a user control switch to activate the ultrasound therapy element and wherein the ultrasound energy increases the speed at which fat metabolizes according to the Arrhenius Law:

Y=A·

e<sup>−

B/T</sup>, where Y is the yield of metabolic reaction, A and B are constants, and T is the temperature in degrees Kelvin.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising an acoustic coupler between the ultrasound probe and the skin surface.

12. The system of claim 7, 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 the depth in the region of interest.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the ultrasound imaging element and the ultrasound therapy element are in a combined transducer.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the ultrasound imaging element is separate from, and co-housed with, the ultrasound therapy element in the probe.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the motion mechanism is configured for any one of the group consisting of linear, rotational, and variable movement of the ultrasound therapy element.

16. An ultrasound system for the treatment of cellulite, the system comprising:

a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system is configured to monitor a treatment parameter, wherein the treatment parameter measured comprises a temperature of a tissue below a skin surface,

an ultrasound probe; and

a control system;

wherein the ultrasound probe comprises a temperature monitoring sensor, an ultrasound therapy element, and a motion mechanism, wherein a portion of the ultrasound probe is configured for acoustic coupling to a skin surface,

wherein the temperature monitoring sensor is connected to the control system,

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 configured for delivery of energy at a temperature sufficient to coagulate at least a portion of the plurality of fat lobuli at a depth under the skin surface, wherein the fat lobuli protrude into a dermis layer to create the appearance of cellulite,

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 cellulite.

17. The system of claim 16,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 2 MHz to 10 MHz,

wherein the ultrasound energy is delivered with a treatment power of between 20 W and 200 W,

wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured to deliver the energy up to 3.5 cm below the skin surface,

wherein the ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with a dimension of between 100 microns to 55 mm in the region of interest.

18. The system of claim 16,

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 a tissue, wherein the tissue comprises the plurality of fat lobuli.

19. The system of claim 16,

wherein the therapy element is a single element that delivers ultrasound energy at a frequency of between 750 kHz to 10 MHz, and

wherein the ultrasound energy increases the speed at which fat metabolizes according to the Arrhenius Law:

Y=A·

e<sup>−

B/T</sup>, where Y is the yield of metabolic reaction, A and B are constants, and T is the temperature in degrees Kelvin.

20. The system of claim 16,

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

wherein the control system comprises:

a processor, software, an input device, a power supply, a communication device; and

a motion mechanism control.