Methods of using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions

Abstract

A method of thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound energy includes the steps of positioning an ultrasound emitting member, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member, focusing the ultrasound energy, ablating with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ultrasound emitting member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 629,194 filed Jul. 31, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 487,705 filed Jan. 19, 2000, now abandoned, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. [0002] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 487,708 filed Jan. 19, 2000, now abandoned and entitled Methods of Soft Palate Reduction By Thermal Ablation Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Ser. No. 09 / 487,707 filed Jan. 19, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,254 and entitled Methods of Tongue Reduction By Thermal Ablation Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Ser. No. 09 / 487,709 filed Jan. 19, 2000, now abandoned and entitled Methods of Tonsil Reduction By Thermal Ablation Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, Ser. No. 09 / 487,706 filed Jan. 19, 2000, now abandoned and entitled Methods of Turbinate Or O...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to utilize high intensity focused ultrasound to effect wrinkle reduction by increasing collagen levels in skin.

[0019] It is also an object of the present invention to use high intensity focused ultrasound to thermally stimulate collagen growth in skin without impairing the epidermis.

[0020] The present invention also has as an object to use high intensity focused ultrasound to thermally stimulate superficial layers of the dermis to increase collagen growth without damaging the epidermis.

[0023] It is another object of the present invention to use high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area in the skin to a predetermined depth so that deep layers of the skin are not damaged.

[0025] Some of the advantages of the present invention are that varying intensity levels of ultrasound energy can be delivered to the skin for varying periods of time depending on desired ablative effect, the duration of ultrasound energy delivery or application to the skin needed to accomplish a desired stimulation may be relatively brief depending on desired size for the lesions of the ablated tissue area and / or desired thermal effect on the tissue, the transducer or other member used to emit the ultrasound energy may be stationary or may be movable in order to scan a target area with focused ultrasound, a plurality of individual ablated tissue areas can be formed in the skin with the ablated tissue areas being separate and discontinuous or being contacting, abutting, contiguous or overlapping to form a single continuous ablated tissue area of desired size and / or shape, the ultrasound emitting member can remain stationary or can be moved along the skin to scan a target area with focused ultrasound, the transducer or other member may be designed with a focusing configuration designed to ensure that the lesions of the ablated tissue area have a desired cross-sectional size, begin a desired depth within the skin and have a desired depth, the superficial dermis is thermally damaged to stimulate collagen growth with minimal trauma and pain for the patient, the transducer or other member is positioned externally adjacent or in contact with an external surface of the skin or is acoustically coupled with the skin to form an internal ablated tissue area without damaging the external skin surface and, in particular, the epidermis, no external wound is presented since the epidermis is preserved, and an ablated tissue area of definitive size can be repeatedly and consistently produced.

[0026] These and other objects, advantages and benefits are realized with the present invention as generally characterized in a method of skin rejuvenation or wrinkle reduction by thermal stimulation using high intensity focused ultrasound wherein an ultrasound emitting member is positioned adjacent an external surface of the skin, and ultrasound energy is emitted from the ultrasound emitting member into the tissue of the skin. The Ultrasound energy is focused within the skin at a plurality of focusing zones disposed beneath the external skin surface and contained in a target area coincident with or containing the superficial dermis. The focusing zones are spaced from one another and, due to focusing of the ultrasound energy at the focusing zones, the ultrasound energy is of higher or greater intensity in the tissue at the focusing zones than in the tissue surrounding the focusing zones. The tissue of the skin is heated at the focusing zones by the focused ultrasound energy, thereby forming an ablated tissue area below the external skin surface containing unablated skin tissue and a plurality of lesions at the focusing zones, respectively, at which the tissue of the skin is ablated. Once an ablated tissue area of desired extent has been obtained in the skin, the ultrasound emitting member is removed. In reaction to the lesions, natural production of collagen in the dermis is stimulated. Collagen levels in the skin are thusly increased, resulting in a reduction of wrinkles and enhanced skin resilience for a more youthful appearance.

Problems solved by technology

Thermal effects include heating of the anatomical tissue; and, when the tissue is heated to a sufficiently high temperature, tissue damage such as coagulative necrosis is produced.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is highly vulnerable to deterioration due to natural aging and / or exposure to environmental conditions such as sun, wind, heat and cold.

Cosmetic surgery has numerous drawbacks including invasiveness, trauma, scarring, pain, significant recovery times and high financial cost.

Such non-surgical techniques typically destroy the epidermis, resulting in temporary and possibly permanent impairment of the skin.

For example, patients may be left with various pigmentation problems including blotchiness, a predominantly white complexion and / or the inability to tan.

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