Device configured to be inserted between tissue to be treated and ultrasound device capable of treating tissue and system for treating tissue

Abstract

The application relates to a device configured to be inserted between a tissue to be treated and an ultrasound device capable of being used for treating the tissue and a system for treating the tissue. The apparatus includes at least one zone configured to be heated to a predetermined temperature range due to interaction with ultrasonic waves of a predetermined property. When the at least one region is positioned proximate to the tissue, the at least one region heats the skin tissue by thermal diffusion according to a heating profile defined by a temperature range and tissue depth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of beauty, and particularly relates to tissue treatment, such as skin tissue treatment for tightening and rejuvenation. The utility model more particularly relates to a device configured to be inserted between a tissue to be treated and an ultrasonic device capable of treating the tissue, and a system for treating the tissue. Background Art

[0002] Various technologies for non-invasive skin tissue treatment for cosmetic purposes are prevalent, such as those based on optical, radiofrequency and / or ultrasound technologies. The basic operating principles of the different technologies are similar and involve heating and destroying old skin tissue to stimulate and enable the body to produce healthy new skin tissue that will look better, younger and tighter.

[0003] Ultrasound-based treatments use the deposition of focused ultrasound energy just below the skin's surface to stimulate the body to produce new collagen, the natural protein that keeps skin looking youthful and wrinkle-free. Known focused ultrasound therapy techniques are often used to lift areas of the body such as the face, chin, neck and brow. Because ultrasound can also be used for imaging, the focused ultrasound energy can be targeted to the tissue layer where collagen is located. Utility Model Content

[0004] The subject matter disclosed in the present utility model provides an ultrasound-based tissue treatment technique utilizing standard ultrasound equipment, in contrast to focused ultrasound techniques, which require special designs of ultrasound equipment / transducers, which can become complex and expensive, and, in addition, require specialized personnel to operate them. In contrast, the devices disclosed herein are relatively simple to use and, therefore, can be used in a home-based environment.

[0005] As mentioned above, the basic purpose is to heat the tissue in order to damage the old collagen and elastin so that the healing process is initiated to produce new young collagen and elastin, which replace the old collagen and elastin. It is important that the heating of the tissue achieves the desired result by penetrating to the correct depth in the tissue and raising the temperature of the tissue to an effective and useful value / range.

[0006] Therefore, the subject matter disclosed in the present invention focuses on a device configured to be inserted between tissue to be treated and a typical ultrasound device that can be used to treat tissue, the device including at least one region, at least one region being heated to a certain temperature within a predetermined temperature range due to the interaction of ultrasound therewith, so that when the region is positioned near the tissue, the region heats the tissue in direct or indirect contact to a certain temperature range and penetrates to a specific tissue depth through thermal diffusion.

[0007] In some embodiments, the devices disclosed herein achieve graded (skin) tissue treatment by heating and injuring discrete portions of the (skin) tissue sufficient to initiate the healing process while preserving the remainder of the (skin) tissue.

[0008] In some embodiments, at least one region is made primarily of an echo-resistive material.

[0009] In some embodiments, at least one region extends over the entire cross-section (width and depth) of the active portion of the device. In some embodiments, at least one region extends along the entire height of the active portion of the device.

[0010] In some embodiments, the device comprises attachment means to attach it to an ultrasound device.In some embodiments, the device comprises attachment means to attach it to the (skin) tissue to be treated.

[0011] In some embodiments, at least one region is formed as a protrusion / ridge that faces the (skin) tissue and engages with the (skin) tissue during treatment, so that when the device is attached to the tissue, at least one region is completely surrounded by the tissue; this increases heat transfer and, due to the compression of the tissue layers, promotes heat transfer into deeper layers of the (skin) tissue whenever necessary. In some embodiments, at least one region may be able to be offset along a predetermined axis (e.g., perpendicular to the (skin) tissue surface) to achieve different degrees of engagement with the (skin) tissue.

[0012] The subject matter disclosed in the present invention also focuses on a system for treating tissue, the system comprising: an ultrasound device configured and operable to generate ultrasound waves of predetermined properties; and a device configured to be inserted between tissue to be treated and the ultrasound device capable of treating the tissue, the device comprising at least one region, the at least one region being configured to be heated to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range due to interaction therewith with ultrasound waves of predetermined properties, so that when the region is positioned near the tissue, the region heats the tissue by thermal diffusion according to a heating profile characterized by the temperature range and tissue depth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] For a better understanding of the subject matter disclosed herein and in order to illustrate the manner in which it may be implemented in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention is shown;

[0015] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B Another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the device according to the present invention for hierarchical tissue treatment application is shown;

[0016] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B Shows FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B Non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the apparatus described in;

[0017] Figure 4 A non-limiting example of an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown having a processing area protruding downwardly from a bottom surface of the apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] refer to Figure 1 , which shows a non-limiting example of a side view of a device 100 according to a first non-limiting embodiment of the present invention in the form of a schematic block diagram. As shown, the device 100 is located between an ultrasound (US) device that generates a US beam / field 12 and a tissue 20, which is typically skin tissue, but other tissues can also be treated. The device 100 is configured to enhance the treatment of the tissue 20 by the US device 10. Specifically, the device 100 is configured to enhance the heating of the tissue 20 to treat various conditions of the tissue 20 from a cosmetic aspect, such as reducing wrinkles and tightening the skin.

[0019] The device 100 includes at least one region 120, and when subjected to a US beam / field having specific properties (such as frequency and intensity), the at least one region is heated to a certain temperature T1 within a predetermined temperature range due to interaction with the US beam / field, so that when the region 120 is positioned near the skin tissue 20, the region heats the skin tissue in direct or indirect contact to a temperature range T2 and down to a specific tissue depth D by thermal diffusion, and the temperature T2 and the depth D are configured for treating one or more conditions of the tissue 20. Therefore, the region 120 may be referred to as a treatment region of the device 100 herein.

[0020] The device 100 is configured to provide a predetermined heating profile characterized by temperature gradient and depth within the treated tissue 20 when the device 100 and the region 120 therein are subjected to a specific US beam having specific parameters, such as the frequency of each pulse, the intensity of each pulse, the US wavelength, the number of pulses in a train pulse, the pulse frequency in a train pulse, the number of pulses, continuous wave, etc.

[0021] At least one region 120 has a shape configured to provide the desired treatment to the treated tissue. In some embodiments, region 120 has a large contact surface with the tissue. In some embodiments, region 120 has a small / point contact surface with the tissue.

[0022] In some embodiments, region 120 extends over the entire cross-section (width and depth) of the active portion of the device, i.e., across the entire contact surface of the device with the tissue. In some embodiments, at least one region extends from the top surface to the bottom surface along the entire height of the active portion of the device.

[0023] In some embodiments, region 120 is made of an anti-echoic material. In other words, region 120 provides high resistance to the US beam passing therethrough, so it heats up according to a specific thermal gradient due to interaction with the US beam. Non-limiting examples of anti-echoic materials include glycerin and various mineral oils.

[0024] The echogenicity of region 120 affects the regional heating and thus the heating profile in the treated tissue. A higher echogenicity results in more heating of region 120 and the temperature of the contacted tissue will increase at the surface to a higher temperature and with a greater gradient and / or depth than when a lower echogenicity is utilized.

[0025] In the case where the region 120 does not cover the entire contact surface of the device 100 with the tissue 20 (i.e., the region covers a portion of the contact surface of the device with the tissue), the remaining portion of the device 100 is made of the echogenic material 140 that conducts US and is therefore not capable of controllably or excessively heating. The tissue in contact with the echogenic portion 140 of the device 100 will then not heat or heat to a lesser extent than the tissue that is subject to thermal diffusion caused by the heated region 120. Non-limiting examples of echogenic materials include water-based gels, such as ultrasound gel.

[0026] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the device 100 is made of a rigid material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the device 100 is made of a flexible material. In some embodiments, when the region 120 extends over the entire cross-section of the active portion (contact surface) of the device 100, the region 120 can be an anti-echoic gel stretched over the treated tissue. In some embodiments, air can be used instead of an echogenic material, for example, the device 100 has a hollow shape (e.g., a cylinder), wherein the outer wall forms the anti-echoic material, and the holes inside the wall form the echogenic material. In this example, the treatment area follows a closed route, such as a ring.

[0027] In some embodiments, the US heating properties of the treatment area 120 are adjustable. In one example, the area 120 is made of a material that is heated differently in response to different US beam properties (such as US wavelength, frequency, intensity, etc.). In another example, the area 120 is a compartment within the device 100 that can be filled with different anti-echo materials, such as anti-echo gel. In one example, the area 120 accepts a replaceable cartridge carrying different materials with different anti-echo properties. The area 140 can also be configured as a compartment / replaceable cartridge that accepts different liquid-based / gel-based materials.

[0028] In some embodiments, the device 100 includes an attachment means to attach it to the US device 10. In some embodiments, the device 100 includes an attachment means to attach it to the skin tissue to be treated. For example, the device 100 may have an adhesive surface to attach it to the skin surface.

[0029] The US device 10 may include one or more US transducers that generate US beams. In some embodiments, the device 100 includes one or more treatment regions 120 that are respectively coupled to the one or more US transducers. In some embodiments, a single treatment region 120 is coupled to multiple US transducers. In some embodiments, multiple treatment regions 120 are coupled to a single US transducer.

[0030] refer to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2B , which shows a non-limiting example of a device 100A according to a non-limiting embodiment of the subject matter disclosed in the present utility model. In the example shown, the device 100A includes a plurality of regions configured similarly to the region 120 and one or more regions configured similarly to the region 140. Figure 2A , a bottom view of the device 100A is shown and illustrates an array of nine treatment regions 120A1 to 120C3 distributed on a bottom surface of the device 100A that is placed in contact with the treated tissue and separated by regions 140A extending therebetween. The configuration enables multiple treatment points in the tissue. In other words, the device 120A enables graded skin tissue treatment by heating discrete portions of the skin tissue sufficient to initiate the healing process while preserving the remaining portions of the skin tissue located therebetween, such as Figure 2B , which depicts a side view of the device 100A and the corresponding heated tissue portions 22A1 to 22C1 within the tissue 20A. It should be understood that in another structural embodiment of the device, the treatment regions 120A1 to 120C3 and the separate non-treatment region 140A can be interchanged. It should also be noted that when the device includes multiple treatment regions, the latter can be configured with different materials having different anti-echo properties, thereby treating corresponding different tissue portions differently.

[0031] refer to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B , which shows different non-limiting shapes of the device 100, the processing region 120, and the separated echo regions.

[0032] exist Figure 3A , the bottom view of the device 100B has a circular shape, which shows the contact surface of the device 100B. The contact surface includes several rings of treatment areas 120B separated by echo areas 140B. In a specific configuration, in a plane parallel to the tissue surface, a cross-section of the treated tissue will be two rings, one ring inside the other and separated by a third ring.

[0033] exist Figure 3B , the bottom view of the device 100C has a grid shape, which shows the contact surface of the device 100C. As shown, three horizontal strips 120CH are crossed with two vertical strips 120CV. The horizontal strips and the vertical strips are made of anti-echo material and are separated by an echo area or air.

[0034] It should be understood that many other shapes for the device may be introduced. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B Two shapes are shown that can be used with a US device for fractional treatment of the skin.

[0035] refer to Figure 4 , which shows another non-limiting example of a device 100D according to some non-limiting embodiments of the subject matter disclosed in the utility model. As shown in the side view, the device 100D includes two treatment areas 120D, which are separated by the remaining non-treatment area 140D of the device. In this example, the treatment area 120D protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the device 100D, and forms a protrusion / protuberance facing the treated tissue and engaging with the skin tissue during treatment. This achieves a better connection between the area 120D and the tissue 20D at a specific point. In addition, due to the larger contact surface and the compression of the tissue layer, the configuration can increase the area around the treatment area of ​​the treated tissue, and can promote heat transfer to the tissue. In some embodiments, the area 120D can be offset along a predetermined axis (e.g., perpendicular to the skin tissue surface) to achieve different degrees of downward protrusion and variable engagement with the tissue. It should also be understood that different areas 120D can be differently protruded to adapt to the contours of the treated tissue and body parts.

Claims

1. A device configured to be inserted between tissue to be treated and an ultrasound device capable of treating said tissue, It is characterized in that The device includes at least one region configured to be heated to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range as a result of interaction therewith with ultrasound waves of a predetermined nature, such that when the region is positioned adjacent to the tissue, the region heats the tissue by thermal diffusion according to a heating profile characterized by the temperature range and tissue depth.

2. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that A plurality of said regions are included spaced apart above a bottom surface of said device so as to enable graded treatment of said tissue when heated by said ultrasound waves.

3. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The at least one region is in the form of fixed or replaceable compartments configured to be filled with different materials having different heating responses to the ultrasound waves, thereby achieving correspondingly different heating profiles of the tissue.

4. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The at least one region protrudes downwardly from the bottom surface of the device, thereby enabling better engagement with the tissue and deeper heating of the tissue.

5. The device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The at least one region is comprised of one or more anti-echoic materials.

6. A system for processing tissue, It is characterized in that include: an ultrasound device configured and operable to generate ultrasonic waves of a predetermined nature; and The device according to claim 1.

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