| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080214966 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NONINVASIVE FACE LIFTS AND DEEP TISSUE TIGHTENING - A method and system for noninvasive face lifts and deep tissue tightening are disclosed. An exemplary method and treatment system are configured for the imaging, monitoring, and thermal injury to treat the SMAS region. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the exemplary method and system are configured for treating the SMAS region by first, imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area and surrounding structures, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, timing, and energy level to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, and third to monitor the treatment area before, during, and after therapy to plan and assess the results and/or provide feedback. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080221491 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMBINED ENERGY THERAPY PROFILE - A method and system for treating tissue with a combined therapy profile is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, ultrasound energy is used to treat numerous depths of tissue within a region of interest and the spatial and temporal properties of the ultrasound energy are varied for more effective treatment. The method and system of the present invention are configured to treat all of the tissue from the surface on down and not spare intervening tissue. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080275342 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ULTRASOUND TREATMENT WITH A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL TRANSDUCER - A method and system for ultrasound treatment utilizing a multi-directional transducer to facilitate treatment, such as therapy and/or imaging or other tissue parameter monitoring, in two or more directions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a multi-directional transducer comprises at least two transduction elements configured to provide for ultrasound energy, such as radiation, acoustical energy, heat energy, imaging, positional information and/or tissue parameter monitoring signals in two or more directions. The transduction elements can comprise various materials for providing ultrasound energy or radiation, such as piezoelectric materials, with and without matching layers. In addition, the transduction elements can be configured for substantially uniform, focused and/or defocused radiation patterns, as well as for single, multiple-element and/or multiple-element array configurations. In addition, an exemplary multi-directional transducer can comprise multiple elements, either side by side, stacked or in an array. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080281237 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COUPLING AND FOCUSING ACOUSTIC ENERGY USING A COUPLER MEMBER - An exemplary system for coupling acoustic energy using an encapsulated coupler member comprises a display or indicator, a control system, a probe, and a coupler member. This invention provides a coupler member adjustably configured to perform at least one of (i) providing a standoff, (ii) focusing or defocusing energy, and (iii) coupling energy. An exemplary gel coupler member is configured to hold the shape of a lens geometry. In one aspect of the present invention, gel coupler member comprises water, glycerol, and polyvinyl alcohol, and exhibits an increased desiccation time and shelf life when compared to the prior art. The probe can comprise various probe and/or transducer configurations. In an exemplary embodiment, the probe delivers focused, unfocused, and/or defocused ultrasound energy to the region of interest. Imaging and/or monitoring may alternatively be coupled and/or co-housed with an ultrasound system contemplated by the present invention. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080281255 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MODULATING MEDICANTS USING ACOUSTIC ENERGY - This invention provides methods and systems uniquely capable of enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness through the use of energy to predictably disrupt membranes and mechanically and thermally modulate cells and tissues. In exemplary embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein are capable of modulating multiple layers of tissue. In an exemplary embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy (e.g., ultrasound). In other exemplary embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents, or various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling. Medicants can be first introduced to the region of interest by diffusion, circulation, and/or injection. An exemplary system for enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness comprises a control system, a probe, and a display or indicator system. Imaging and/or monitoring may alternatively be coupled and/or co-housed with an ultrasound system contemplated by the present invention. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080287837 | ULTRASOUND MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound medical system includes an interstitial end effector. The interstitial end effector is interstitially insertable into patient tissue, includes at least one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, and includes at least one end-effector-tissue-track ablation device. One method for ultrasonically treating a lesion in a patient includes the steps of obtaining the interstitial end effector and inserting it into the patient creating a tissue track which is surrounded by patient tissue and which ends at the distal end of the inserted interstitial end effector. Other steps include ultrasonically ablating the lesion using the at-least-one medical-treatment ultrasound transducer, using the at-least-one end-effector-tissue-track ablation device to ablate the patient tissue surrounding the tissue track along substantially the entire tissue track, and withdrawing the end effector from the patient. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080294073 | METHOD AND SYSEM FOR NON-ABLATIVE ACNE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION - A method and system for non-ablative acne treatment and prevention is disclosed. The method utilizes ultrasound energy which is targeted at a region of interest to treat existing acne and prevent future acne from forming. The application of ultrasound energy causes numerous physiological effects that treat acne. Some of these physiological effects comprise reducing sebum, increasing perfusion at the region of interest, denaturing proteins at the region of interest, creating an uninhabitable environment at the region of interest, initiating programmed cell death at the region of interest and the initiation of mechanical effects at the region of interest. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090198156 | ULTRASOUND MEDICAL TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound medical treatment system includes an ultrasound medical treatment transducer and a controller. Methods of the invention so control the medical treatment transducer. In one arrangement, the controller movingly controls the medical treatment transducer to emit ultrasound to thermally ablate patient tissue: 1) for a plurality of predetermined time intervals each associated with the medical treatment transducer movingly disposed at a different one of an equal number of predetermined positions, wherein a next-in-time time interval is associated with a position which is spatially non-adjacent to a position associated with a present-in-time time interval; or 2) for a predetermined time interval during which the transducer is continuously moved. In another arrangement, the transducer has an array of transducer elements and the controller activates different non-overlapping groups or different overlapping groups of transducer elements at different times. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090216159 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMBINED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT - A non-invasive method and system for combined ultrasound treatment are provided. An exemplary combined ultrasound treatment system comprises a transducer configured to deliver ultrasound energy to provide two or more energy effects to a region of interest. The energy effects facilitate the initiation of one or more responses in the region of interest. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a transducer is configured to deliver energy over varying temporal and/or spatial distributions in order to provide energy effects and initiate responses in a region of interest. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090253988 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NONINVASIVE MASTOPEXY - Methods and systems for noninvasive mastopexy through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a deep tissue region, such as a region comprising muscular fascia and ligaments. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 1 mm to 4 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 1 to 15 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20100011236 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING COMPUTER PERIPHERAL SAFETY - A method and system for enhancing computer peripheral safety is provided. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the exemplary method and system are configured to monitor and/or isolate alternating current (A.C.) supplies with and/or from any peripheral subsystems or devices. An exemplary method and system comprises an A.C. supply, a host computer system, and a peripheral subsystem or device connected to the host computer system, such as an ultrasound imaging and/or therapy peripheral, and an isolation subsystem configured for monitoring and/or isolating the A.C. supply from the peripheral subsystem or device. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an isolation subsystem comprises application software and associated modules and functions that when executed continuously monitors and/or polls the host computer's hardware and/or operating system for the presence of an isolated source, such as a battery, or an unisolated power source, such as through a battery charger and/or other connection path to the A.C. main supply. In accordance with other exemplary embodiments, an isolation subsystem can comprises a wireless or other safe/isolated electrical link for connecting a patient contact device, and/or a verification link or other verification mechanisms configured between an isolation transformer and host computer to monitor or observe usage to power the host computer and peripheral subsystem. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100022922 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING STRETCH MARKS - Methods and systems for treating stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis and a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 0 mm to 1 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 2 to 50 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100160782 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FAT REDUCTION AND/OR CELLULITE TREATMENT - A method can include targeting a region of interest below a surface of skin, which contains fat lobuli and delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest. The ultrasound energy generates a conformal lesion with said ultrasound energy on a surface of a fat lobuli. The lesion creates an opening in the surface of the fat lobuli, which allows the draining of a fluid out of the fat lobuli and through the opening. In addition, by applying ultrasound energy to fat cells to increase the temperature to between 43 degrees and 49 degrees, cell apoptosis can be realized, thereby resulting in reduction of fat. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100241035 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY ULTRASOUND TREATMENT - A non-invasive ultra-high frequency ultrasound treatment method and system are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a high-frequency ultrasound transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient such that the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of the patient can be treated. An exemplary high-frequency ultrasound transducer system comprises a control system and a transducer configured to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. The high-frequency ultrasound transducer may be configured to operate at higher frequencies and controlled power levels to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. For example, higher frequencies within the range from approximately 20 MHz to 500 MHz or more may be utilized. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100280420 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE DEPTH ULTRASOUND TREATMENT - A non-invasive variable depth ultrasound treatment method and system comprises a variable depth transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient. An exemplary variable depth transducer system can comprise a transducer configured to provide treatment to more than one region of interest, such as between a deep treatment region of interest and a superficial region of interest, and/or a subcutaneous region of interest. The variable depth transducer can comprise a transduction element having a piezoelectrically active layer, matching layers and/or other materials for generating radiation or acoustical energy. The variable depth transducer may be configured to operate at moderate frequencies within the range from approximately 750 kHz to 20 MHz or more. In addition, the transduction element may be configured with a variable depth device comprising one or more materials configured to allow for control and focusing/defocusing of the acoustic energy to more than one region of interest. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100312150 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT USING ULTRASOUND - A system and method for medical treatment of tissue using ultrasound. The system comprises a probe having an array of transducer elements, an ultrasound waveform generator adapted to generate at least one electrical ultrasound signal, and a plurality of phase controls, each coupled to the ultrasound waveform generator and adapted to generate from the electrical ultrasound signal a phase-shifted drive signal that is coupled to an associated transducer element. The drive signal is effective to control grating lobe foci emitted by the array. The method employs the system. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110040184 | METHOD FOR MONITORING OF MEDICAL TREATMENT USING PULSE-ECHO ULTRASOUND - A method for ultrasound imaging of anatomical tissue. A first signal is received from a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from a location in the anatomical tissue during a first time period. A second signal is received from a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected from the location in the anatomical tissue during a later second time period, following a discrete medical treatment. The second signal is subtracted from the first signal to form a difference signal. The difference signal may be scaled, spatially filtered, then used to generate an indication, the indication showing the effect of the medical treatment in the location in the anatomical tissue. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110112405 | Hand Wand for Ultrasonic Cosmetic Treatment and Imaging - Embodiments of the invention provide a dermatological cosmetic treatment and imaging system and method. In some embodiments, the system ( | 05-12-2011 |
