Methods Useful in Optimizing the Treatment of Neuropathies and Targeting Tissues with Cosmetic Botulinum Injections

Abstract

The present invention pertains to methods of determining where, on the skin, a diagnostic, therapeutic, or cosmetic agent is likely to be most effectively applied (e.g., injected), and to methods for monitoring a patient after such an agent has been administered. The monitoring can produce information useful in determining whether a diagnostic, therapeutic (e.g., surgical), or cosmetic regime should be initiated, continued, continued in a modified fashion, or terminated (e.g., for a brief or prolonged period of time). The methods can be repeated periodically and use a non-invasive, in vivo form of digital image speckle correlation (DISC) to track deformation of the skin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Application No. 61 / 482,057, which was filed May 3, 2011. The content of this earlier-filed provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH[0002]This invention was made with government support under grant number DMR0606387 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to both cosmetic treatments and to more serious conditions, including neuropathies (e.g., those caused by an acoustic neuroma) and stroke. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of optimizing where cosmetic agents such as botulinum toxin are best applied (e.g., injected); to methods of determining when and where treatment, including surgical intervention, for neuropathies should be undertaken; and to methods of evalu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is not limited to using a specific method called DISC analysis. It can be used with any technique that can calculate the strength and direction of muscle contraction. The invention can also use other imaging techniques, such as photographic analysis, which is cost-effective and easy to use. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a way to analyze muscle contraction in a sensitive and accurate way.

Problems solved by technology

Previously, many invasive techniques, which can be painful, have been used to see the effect of acoustic neuroma on nerve function.

While useful in determining patient satisfaction and self-image following treatment, these metrics fail to objectively quantify the direct effect of botulinum toxin on the facial musculature, nor do they allow us to predict a patient's response to treatment in a meaningful way.

Despite several validated questionnaires, including the Facial Line Outcome (FLO-11) questionnaire and the Self-Perception of Age (SPA) measure, there is a lack of an objective measurement tool to determine the degree or duration of the toxin's effects (or of any other cosmetic procedure, such as the injection of a filler material to the lips, chin, cheekbones, or forehead).

We expect a similar improvement in the standard of care for neuropathies, including acoustic neuromas, as it can be difficult at present to track the rate of change and determine when to intervene and / or the success of an intervention.

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