Band transducer ultrasound therapy

Abstract

Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and/or imaging system and method can include use of transducer to create a linear thermal treatment zone at a focal depth to form a band shaped treatment area. The system can include one or more ultrasound transducers, a cylindrical transduction element, an imaging element, a hand wand, a removable transducer module, a control module, and/or graphical user interface. In some embodiments, a coated transducer may be used to provide more consistent treatment in cosmetic procedures, including brow lifts, fat reduction, sweat reduction, and treatment of the décolletage. Skin tightening, lifting and amelioration of wrinkles and stretch marks are provided. Treatment may include heating of tissue for a duration to deactivate a percentage of cells in the treatment region.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 981,660 filed Apr. 18, 2014, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference, herein.FIELD[0002]Several embodiments of the present invention generally relate to noninvasive, semi-invasive, and / or invasive energy-based treatments to achieve cosmetic and / or medical effects. For example, some embodiments generally relate to devices, systems and methods with linear, curved, planar, and / or three-dimensional ultrasound treatment focus zones for performing various treatment procedures safely and effectively. Various embodiments of a treatment system can improve cosmetic results and patient outcomes through reduced treatment time and / or reduced treatment energy, which can increase comfort and cosmetic outcomes. In various embodiments, ultrasound transducers have treatment focus zones in the form of one or more lines, belts, bands, and / or planes.DESCRIPTION...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Although energy-based treatments have been disclosed for cosmetic and medical purposes, no procedures are known to Applicant, other that Applicant's own work, that successfully achieve an aesthetic tissue heating and / or treatment effect using targeted and precise ultrasound to cause a visible and effective cosmetic results via a thermal pathway by using band shaped treatment focus zone techniques to expand the area and volume of tissue treated at a specific, targeted area. Treatment can include heating, coagulation, and / or ablation (including, for example, hyperthermia, thermal dosimetry, apoptosis, and lysis). In various embodiments, band treatment provides improved thermal heating and treatment of tissue compared to diathermy or general bulk heating techniques. In various embodiments, band treatment provides the capability of heating and / or treating tissue at specific depth ranges without affecting proximal tissues. In general, diathermy and bulk heating techniques usually involve heating a skin surface and conducting the heat through the skin surface and all underlying tissue to reach a tissue at a target depth below the skin surface. In various embodiments, band treatment provides targeted heating and treatment at a specific, prescribed depth range below the skin surface without heating the skin surface and / or intermediary tissue between the skin surface and the target tissue. This offset band treatment reduces damage and associated pain at the skin surface, and treats tissue only at the prescribed, targeted tissue depth. Thus, embodiments of the present invention can be used to treat tissue in a specific range of depths below the skin surface without heating the skin surface. In some embodiments, band treatment can also be used to prepare tissue at target depths for a second, ultrasound treatment by pre-heating the target tissue to an elevated temperature so the secondary treatment can be performed with reduced time and / or energy and increased comfort.

Problems solved by technology

Patients not only have to endure weeks of recovery time, but also are frequently required to undergo risky anesthetic procedures for aesthetic treatments.

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