# US 10,864,385 B2 · Rejuvenating skin by heating tissue for cosmetic treatment of the face and body

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- Number: US 10,864,385 B2
- Document ID: US10864385B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/409,678
- Filed: 2019-05-10
- Published: 2019-08-29
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2004-09-24
- Assignees: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC
- Applicants: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC
- Inventors: Peter G. Barthe; Michael H. Slayton; Inder Raj S. Makin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864385B2

## CPC

- A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia
- A61B 5/7405: {using sound}
- A61B 8/08: Clinical applications (A61B8/02, A61B8/04, A61B8/06 take precedence)
- A61B 8/0833: {involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures}
- A61B 8/0858: {involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces}
- A61B 8/13: Tomography (A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence)
- A61B 8/14: Echotomography
- A61B 8/4209: {by using holders, e.g. positioning frames}
- A61B 8/4236: {characterised by adhesive patches}
- A61B 8/4272: {involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue}
- A61B 8/4281: {characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue}
- A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe}
- A61B 8/4461: {Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe}
- A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer}
- A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements}
- A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest}
- A61B 8/469: {for selection of a region of interest}
- A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound}
- A61B 2562/046: in a matrix array
- A61N 2007/0008: {Destruction of fat cells}
- A61N 2007/0034: {Skin treatment}
- A61N 2007/0052: {using the same transducer for therapy and imaging}
- A61N 2007/006: {Lenses}
- A61N 2007/0065: {Concave transducers}
- A61N 2007/0078: {with multiple treatment transducers}
- A61N 2007/0082: {Scanning transducers}
- A61N 2007/0095: {by modifying an excitation signal}
- A61N 2007/027: {with multiple foci created simultaneously}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Lifting sagging tissue on a face, neck, and/or body are described. Treatment with heat is provided in several embodiments.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of rejuvenating an appearance of skin, comprising:
placing an ultrasonic probe on a skin surface, the skin surface comprising an epidermis tissue over a target tissue comprising at least one of the group consisting of: a dermis, a fascia tissue, an adipose tissue, and a muscle tissue;
directing focused therapeutic ultrasound energy from the ultrasonic probe, through the epidermis tissue to the target tissue comprising at least one of the group consisting of: a dermis tissue, a fascia tissue, an adipose tissue, and a muscle tissue;
thereby treating at least one of the fascia tissue and the muscle tissue in the target tissue at a depth under the skin surface to rejuvenate the skin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic probe further comprises an imaging element to image the target tissue at the depth under the skin surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the directing focused therapeutic ultrasound energy to the target tissue is for a heating effect.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1,
wherein delivering the focused therapeutic ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy from a single piezoelectrically active transduction element,
wherein the single piezoelectrically active transduction element is selected from the group consisting of: a piezoelectric ceramic, lithium niobate, lead titanate, barium titanate, and lead metaniobate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the focused therapeutic ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 2 MHz to 12 MHz.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the focused therapeutic ultrasound energy thermally treats the target tissue to change the appearance of a wrinkle on the skin surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the focused therapeutic ultrasound energy is configured for producing a tissue effect, wherein the tissue effect is any one or more of the group consisting of: ablative and diathermic tissue effects.

### Claim 8

A method of non-invasive skin rejuvenation, comprising:
acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe on a skin surface proximate a region comprising a target tissue comprising a superficial muscular aponeurotic system (“SMAS”);
delivering focused ultrasound energy to heat the target tissue at at least one depth under the skin surface to rejuvenate skin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising imaging the target tissue under the skin surface with a piezoelectric imaging transduction element in the probe electrically connected to a display.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one depth is up to 15 mm under the skin surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the target tissue further comprises one or more of the group consisting: collagen, fat, and skin.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising a pretreatment heating effect comprises a diffused heating effect.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the focused ultrasound energy thermally treats a wrinkle on the skin surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the focused ultrasound energy has a frequency in a range of 2 MHz to 12 MHz.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the focused ultrasound energy has a frequency of 7 MHz.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the focused ultrasound energy has a frequency of 10 MHz.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the focused ultrasound energy is configured for a tissue effect, wherein the tissue effect is one or more of the group consisting of: thermal and non-thermal streaming, cavitational, ablative, and diathermic tissue effects.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the focused ultrasound energy has an ablative tissue effect.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein delivering the focused ultrasound energy comprises delivering ultrasound energy from a transduction element in the ultrasound probe, wherein the transduction element comprises a piezoelectrically active material.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the piezoelectrically active material is selected from the group consisting of: a piezoelectric ceramic, lithium niobate, lead titanate, barium titanate, and lead metaniobate.