Method and system for treatment of sweat glands

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasound treatment of sweat glands are provided. An exemplary method and system for targeted treatment of sweat glands can be configured in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and / or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound through control of various spatial and temporal parameters. As a result, ablative energy can be deposited at the particular depth at which the aberrant sweat gland population is located below the skin surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 61 7,752, entitled “Method and System for Treatment of Sweat Glands”, and filed on Oct. 6, 2004.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention generally relates to a therapeutic ultrasound method and system, and more particularly, to a method and system for ultrasound treatment for superficial tissue containing sweat glands. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0003] The sweat glands in the body are of divided into apocrine and eccrine glands. Apocrine glands are similar to sebaceous glands, and are present mainly in the axillae. These glands, like sebaceous glands, secrete an oily proteinaceous product into the follicles. Bacterial digestion of apocrine sweat is largely responsible for underarm “body odor”. Similarly, eccrine sweat glands are present deep in the dermis in the palms, soles and armpits and are responsible for temperature regulation resulting from sweating. E...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the ultrasound transducer can be driven at a number of different frequency regimes such that the depth and shape of energy concentration can match the region of treatment. In addition, the ultrasound source or beam radiated from the transducer can be highly focused, weakly focused, or divergent, e

Problems solved by technology

Excessive activity of these glands also results in copious amounts of abnormal sweating (“hyperhidrosis”), primarily under autonomic neuronal control.

The effects with both these components however, are temporary and these chemicals are known to irritate the skin in a good percentage of users.

Further, there is currently a significant unmet need in managing the excessive sweating and concomitant issues with odor as a result of Hydradenitis suppurativa (irritable infected armpit).

This acne-like process in apocine follicles also causes hydradenitis suppurativa, which is often a devastating condition in which very painful cysts and scarring occurs repeatedly in the axillae.

Retinoid drug therapy works marginally but is associated with severe toxicity.

Some prescription formulations of antiperspirants can be used, but they are not particularly effective.

This technique however, is not known to be any more effective than the formulation.

This approach is fraught with its own drawbacks in terms of morbidity, scarring and cost.

However, this is a new approach yet to be completely validated.

This technique does not get rid of the odor associated with the condition.

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