Systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy. In one embodiment of the invention a medical device and associated apparatus and procedures are used to treat dermatological conditions using microwave energy.
1. A disposable medical apparatus for use with an applicator which radiates microwave energy, said disposable medical apparatus comprising:
a tissue chamber at a distal end of said disposable medical apparatus, a distal end of said tissue chamber being adapted to form a vacuum seal when positioned against skin;
an applicator chamber at a proximal end of said disposable member;
a flexible film forming a tissue bio-barrier, said tissue bio-barrier separating said tissue chamber and said applicator chamber, said tissue bio-barrier being a material which is substantially transparent to microwave energy, and substantially impermeable to air and biological fluids;
a filter forming an applicator bio-barrier separating air in said tissue chamber from air in said applicator chamber, said applicator bio-barrier being substantially permeable to air but substantially impermeable to biological fluids;
a vacuum circuit connecting said tissue chamber and said applicator chamber, wherein said applicator bio-barrier is positioned in said vacuum circuit; and
a vacuum seal at a proximal end of said applicator chamber, said vacuum seal being positioned to seal said applicator chamber when said applicator is positioned in said applicator chamber.
2. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said tissue bio-barrier does not perturb microwave fields passing through said tissue bio-barrier.
3. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said tissue bio-barrier is substantially lossless at a frequency of interest.
4. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said frequency of interest is between approximately 5 GHz and 6.5 GHz.
5. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said tissue bio-barrier has a Young's modulus of between approximately 0.1 GPa and 1.5 GPa.
6. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said vacuum circuit provides a substantially free flow of air from said applicator chamber to said tissue chamber.
7. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said tissue bio-barrier is less than approximately 0.001 inches thick.
8. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue bio-barrier comprises a dielectric material.
9. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said vacuum circuit is adapted to split vacuum pressure between said tissue chamber and said actuator chamber.
10. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said vacuum seal comprises a gasket around said applicator chamber.
11. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said filter comprises a hydrophobic membrane filter.
12. A disposable medical apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tissue chamber further comprises a flexible member positioned at a distal end thereof.