# US 11,896,261 B2 · Devices and methods for ablation of the skin

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- Number: US 11,896,261 B2
- Document ID: US11896261B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/709,542
- Filed: 2022-03-31
- Published: 2023-02-16
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-14
- Assignees: Cytrellis Biosystems, Inc.
- Applicants: Cytrellis Biosystems, Inc.
- Inventors: Alec Ginggen; Douglas Levinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896261B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/3417: {Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating (syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00)}
- A61B 17/205: {Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices}
- A61B 17/545: {using a stream or spray of abrasive particles}
- A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments}
- A61B 17/3203: Fluid jet cutting instruments
- A61B 17/32053: {Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife (A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695)}
- A61B 17/3213: with detachable blades
- A61B 17/3478: {Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067)}
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B 18/203: {applying laser energy to the outside of the body}
- A61B 50/13: Trolleys{, e.g. carts}
- A61B 2017/0023: {disposable}
- A61B 2017/00402: {Piezo electric actuators}
- A61B 2017/00424: {ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist}
- A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00544: {pneumatically}
- A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated}
- A61B 2017/00747: {Dermatology}
- A61B 2017/00752: {Hair removal or transplantation}
- A61B 2017/00756: {Port wine stains}
- A61B 2017/00761: {Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue}
- A61B 2017/00769: {Tattoo removal}
- A61B 2017/00796: {Breast surgery}
- A61B 2017/320004: {abrasive}
- A61B 2017/32035: {with gas or air}
- A61B 2017/3437: {with means for removing or absorbing fluid, e.g. wicks or absorbent pads}
- A61B 2017/3454: {Details of tips}
- A61B 2018/1807: {using light other than laser radiation}
- A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system
- A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092})
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods for treating skin, such as skin tightening or for treating diseases, disorders, and conditions that would benefit from tissue area or volume reduction, skin restoration, skin tightening, skin lifting, and/or skin repositioning and/or for generally improving skin function or appearance (e.g., the removal of unwanted skin features or irregularities such as sebaceous glands, sweat glands, hair follicles, necrosis, and fibrosis). Such apparatuses, systems, kits, and methods comprise an apparatus having a handheld main body and a detachably attachable tip comprising one or more needles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for non-thermal tissue ablation comprising:
a) a main body configured for handheld operation;
b) a tip comprising a skin-penetrating component comprising one or more sharpened hollow coring needles, wherein said tip is detachably attached to said main body and wherein each of said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles is configured to produce a plurality of ablated tissue portions by penetrating into and retracting from skin; and
c) a translating mechanism disposed in the main body for driving said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles across a region of the skin in one or two directions that are orthogonal to a longitudinal movement of the hollow coring needles penetrating into the skin and retracting the hollow coring needles from the skin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles are configured to be in fluid communication with a pressure generating source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pressure generating source is capable of producing a pressure of about 0.1 kPa to about 6.0 kPa.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said pressure generating source produces vacuum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pressure generating source is separate from said apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sharpened hollow coring needles comprise two or more sharpened hollow coring needles arranged in a 1-dimensional array.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sharpened hollow coring needles comprise three or more sharpened hollow coring needles arranged in a 2-dimensional array.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more sharpened hollow coring needles comprise 1-100 sharpened hollow coring needles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more sharpened hollow coring needles comprise two or more sharpened hollow coring needles that are spaced about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm apart.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles are 19-26 gauge needles.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles are 22 or 24 gauge needles.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide an ablated tissue portion having a change in width as a function of depth.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the width to depth ratio of said ablated tissue portion is between about 1:0.3 and about 1:75.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles have a width at their widest points of about 0.01 mm to about 2 mm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to remove about 5% to about 70% of tissue within a treatment area.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to remove about 5% of tissue within a treatment area.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuation mechanism for driving penetration into skin by said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles, wherein said actuation mechanism is mechanically or electrically coupled to said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said actuation mechanism is configured to drive penetration into the skin by said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles to a depth of about 0.1 mm to about 15 mm.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said actuation mechanism is configured to drive penetration into the skin by said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles to a depth of about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said actuation mechanism is configured to drive penetration into the skin by said one or more sharpened hollow coring needles with a force of about 0.5 N to about 20 N per sharpened hollow coring needle.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a position detection mechanism.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir for collecting waste materials.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is coupled to a base unit.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said base unit comprises said reservoir.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said base unit comprises a pressure generating source.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said base unit comprises a user interface.