APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE BODY CONTOURING
Methods and devices for applying high intensity focused ultrasound to modulate collagen in animal tissue (such as to disrupt collagen fibrils in a mammal, such as a human), particularly to enhance the aesthetic appearance of skin, and/or to otherwise improve skin conditions.
1 . A method of non-invasively disrupting collagen fibrils in animal tissue, the method comprising:
presenting of a HIFU apparatus on a skin surface of a patient;
coupling said HIFU apparatus to said skin surface to maximize energy coupling from said HIFU apparatus through said skin surface;
activating said HIFU apparatus to deposit an average fluence (EF) value of at least 35 J/cm 2 such that collagen fibrils below the dermis of the patient are at least 30% disrupted.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the average EF value is at least 100 J/cm 2 .
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the average EF value is at least 174 J/cm 2 .
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the average EF value is at least 265 J/cm 2 .
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said animal tissue comprises human adipose tissue.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said animal tissue comprises human subcutaneous tissue.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said fluence is deposited between the dermis and campers fascia of the patient.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the animal tissue is in a human patient (i.e., the method is applied in vivo).
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving said energy applicator over the skin surface while depositing said fluence.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collagen fibrils are at least 50% disrupted.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collagen fibrils are at least 65% disrupted.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collagen fibrils are at least 75% disrupted.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collagen fibrils are at least 80% disrupted.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising denaturing one or more collagen fibrils as a result of depositing said fluence.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising destroying one or more adipose cells when said HIFU apparatus is activated.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising massaging the area treated by said deposit of fluence.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising regularly messaging said treatment area until a wound healing process for the disrupted fibrils is substantially complete.
18 . A method of non-invasively contracting collagen fibrils in animal tissue, the method comprising:
presenting of a HIFU apparatus on a skin surface of a patient;
coupling said HIFU apparatus to said skin surface to maximize energy coupling from said HIFU apparatus through said skin surface;
activating said HIFU apparatus to deposit an average fluence (EF) value of at least 35 J/cm 2 such that collagen fibrils below a dermis of the patient are reduced at least 30% in length.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the average EF value is at least 100 J/cm 2 .
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the average EF value is at least 174 J/cm 2 .
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the average EF value is at least 265 J/cm 2 .
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said animal tissue comprises human adipose tissue.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said animal tissue comprises human subcutaneous tissue.
24 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said animal tissue comprises human tissue between the dermis and campers fascia of the human.
25 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising moving said energy applicator over the skin surface.
26 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the collagen fibrils are reduced at least 40% in length.
27 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the collagen fibrils are reduced at least 50% in length.
28 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising disrupting one or more collagen fibrils when said HIFU apparatus is activated.
29 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising destroying one or more adipose cells when said HIFU apparatus is activated.
30 . A method of measuring skin tone improvement, the method comprising:
locating a region of human tissue beneath a skin surface;
determining an initial condition for said skin surface;
injuring said region of human tissue using a HIFU apparatus such that a volume of disrupted adipose cells and denatured and/or disrupted collagen fibrils are produced;
allowing said injured region of human tissue to resolve; and
determining one or more post operative condition(s) for said skin surface after the injury to said region of human tissue has been created.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein determining at least one of said post operative conditions occurs after the injury to the region of tissue has naturally resolved.
32 . A device for non-invasively disrupting collagen fibrils in animal tissue, the device comprising:
a HIFU apparatus designed to be coupled to a skin surface of a patient; and
a computer system configured to activate said HIFU apparatus, when the HIFU apparatus is against the skin of a patient, to:
deposit an average fluence (EF) value of at least 35 J/cm 2 so as to disrupt collagen fibrils; and
focus a focal point of fluence from the HIFU apparatus below the dermis of the patient.
33 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the average EF value is at least 100 J/cm 2 .
34 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the average EF value is at least 174 J/cm 2 .
35 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the average EF value is at least 265 J/cm 2 .
36 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the focal point is directed between the dermis and campers fascia of the patient.
37 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the HIFU apparatus and the computer system are designed such that the HIFU apparatus is movable over the skin surface while depositing said fluence.
38 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the fluence is sufficient such that the collagen fibrils are at least 50% disrupted.
39 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the fluence is sufficient such that the collagen fibrils are at least 65% disrupted.
40 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the fluence is sufficient such that the collagen fibrils are at least 75% disrupted.
41 . The device of claim 32 , wherein the fluence is sufficient such that the collagen fibrils are at least 80% disrupted.
42 . A device for non-invasively contracting collagen fibrils in animal tissue, the device comprising:
a HIFU apparatus designed to be coupled to a skin surface of a patient;
a computer system configured to activate said HIFU apparatus, when the HIFU apparatus is against the skin of a patient, to:
deposit an average fluence (EF) value of at least 35 J/cm 2 so as to reduce collagen fibrils at least 30% in length; and
focus a focal point of fluence from the HIFU apparatus below the dermis of the patient.
43 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the average EF value is at least 100 J/cm 2 .
44 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the average EF value is at least 174 J/cm 2 .
45 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the average EF value is at least 265 J/cm 2 .
46 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the HIFU apparatus and the computer system are designed such that the HIFU apparatus is movable over the skin surface while depositing said fluence.
47 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the fluence is sufficient such that the collagen fibrils are reduced at least 40% in length.
48 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the fluence is sufficient such that the collagen fibrils are reduced at least 50% in length.
49 . The device of claim 42 , wherein the focal point is directed between the dermis and campers fascia of the patient.