Methods for face and neck lifts

• US 9,427,601 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• 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): HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/554,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• 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 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• 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 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• 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 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0082 Scanning transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/027 with multiple foci created simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue on a face and/or neck are described.

Claims

1. A method of lifting skin tissue, the method comprising:

positioning a portion of an ultrasound probe on a skin surface, the ultrasound probe comprising a movement mechanism and a therapy element,

wherein the movement mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe;

using the therapy element to treat a region of interest under the skin surface, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising at least one of the group consisting of;

a muscle, a muscular fascia, a fat tissue, and a superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue;

wherein the therapy element is coupled to the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe;

wherein the therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy to form a thermal focus with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at a fixed depth under the skin surface; and

activating the movement mechanism within the ultrasound probe to move the therapy element to form a plurality of the thermal foci at the fixed depth to treat at least the SMAS tissue in the region of interest,

wherein the plurality of thermal foci results in a tissue lift.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on at least one of the group consisting of:

a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on at least one of the group consisting of:

a preauricular region, a frontal region, and a mandibular region of a face.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on a wrinkle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning a portion of the ultrasound probe on the skin surface comprises positioning the portion of the ultrasound probe on at least one of the group consisting of:

a brow and a hair line of a face.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the treating of the region of interest results in any one or more of the group consisting of:

a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and an otoplasty.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

imaging the region of interest with an imaging element in the ultrasound probe,

wherein the imaging element is configured to image with an imaging frequency of between 2 kHz to 75 MHz and the therapy element is configured to treat with a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz, and

displaying the region of interest on a display system in electric communication with the imaging element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the imaging element and the therapy element are combined in a dual-mode imaging/therapy transducer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed depth of the focus is within a range of 3 mm to 9 mm from the skin surface, and wherein the temperature of the thermal focus is in the range of 60-90 degrees Celsius.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is electronically coupled to at least one of the group consisting of:

a battery, secure storage element, and a disposable tip.

11. A method of treating sagging skin, comprising:

providing a probe that emits ultrasound energy;

coupling the probe to a skin surface over a region comprising a subcutaneous tissue,

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

fat, muscle, muscular fascia, and connective tissue; and

delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy to at least the muscular fascia in the region of interest at a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz,

wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats at least the muscular fascia at a specific depth under the skin surface to reduce skin sagging.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling the probe to the skin surface comprises acoustically coupling the probe to at least one of the group consisting of:

a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy from a single therapy element in the probe.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising activating a motion mechanism to move the single therapy element to form a plurality of thermal foci along a line in the region to reduce skin sagging.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising imaging the tissue under the skin surface.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats the region of interest resulting in any one or more of the group consisting of:

a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and an otoplasty.

17. A method of lifting sagging skin, comprising:

identifying a region of sagging skin;

providing an ultrasonic probe that emits ultrasound energy;

coupling the ultrasonic probe to a skin surface in a region selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following;

a forehead, an eyelid, a nose, a cheek, an ear, a mouth, and a chin;

delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy at a treatment frequency of between 4 MHz and 15 MHz,

wherein the therapeutic ultrasound energy treats at least one of the group consisting of subcutaneous fat, muscle, cartilage, and connective tissue at a specific depth under the skin surface to lift the sagging skin.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy at a fixed depth up to 9 mm from the skin surface at a temperature in the range of 60-90 degrees Celsius.

19. The method of claim 17,

wherein delivering therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy from a single therapy element in the probe, and

further comprising activating a motion mechanism to move the single therapy element to form a plurality of thermal foci along a line in the region to reduce skin sagging.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising imaging the tissue under the skin surface.