System and Method for Ultra-High Frequency Ultrasound Treatment
A noninvasive ultra-high frequency ultrasound treatment method and system are provided. An exemplary method 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.
1 . A method for providing treatment to a patient, the method comprising:
coupling an ultrasound transducer to a skin surface of a patient;
emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer into a superficial region of interest below the skin surface of the patient, the superficial region of interest consisting of a subcutaneous layer of skin;
ablating tissue in a portion of the region of interest;
creating a lesion in the tissue at a depth in a range of 0.1 μm to 100 μm below the skin surface; and
sparing tissue at the depth of greater than 100 μm below the skin surface from damage from the ablating tissue.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subcutaneous layer of skin comprises an epidermis layer.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising
imaging at least a portion of the superficial region of interest; and
displaying the at least a portion of the superficial region of interest.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of 80 W/cm 2 to 100 W/cm 2 .
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of 15 W/cm 2 to 500 W/cm 2 .
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of about 500 W/cm 2 at a depth of about 0.1 μm below the skin surface.
7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of about 15 W/cm 2 at a depth of about 100 μm below the skin surface.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a frequency range from about 20 MHz to about 500 MHz.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a frequency range from about 10 MHz to about 30 MHz.
10 . A method for treating a melanoma a patient's skin, the method comprising:
coupling an ultrasound transducer to a skin surface of the patient;
emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer within a frequency range from about 10 MHz to about 30 MHz into a region of interest comprising superficial tissue in at a depth in a range of 0.1 μm to 100 μm below the skin surface;
ablating superficial tissue in a portion of the region of interest;
creating a lesion in the superficial tissue;
treating a melanoma in the region of interest; and
leaving tissue below the region of interest unaffected.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising
imaging at least a portion of the melanoma in the region of interest; and
displaying an image of the portion of the melanoma.
12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of 80 W/cm 2 to 100 W/cm 2 .
13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of 15 W/cm 2 to 500 W/cm 2 .
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of about 500 W/cm 2 at a depth of about 0.1 μm below the skin surface.
15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the emitting energy from the ultrasound transducer is in a power range of about 15 W/cm 2 at a depth of about 100 μm below the skin surface.
16 . A method for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient, the method comprising:
operating a transducer to emit acoustical energy within a frequency range from about 750 mHz to about 500 MHz;
coupling the transducer to a region of interest consisting of a superficial region and a subcutaneous region;
focusing a first acoustical energy to a first depth in the region of interest;
ablating a portion of superficial tissue in the superficial region;
creating a first lesion in the superficial tissue;
focusing a second acoustical energy to a second depth in the region of interest;
ablating a portion of subcutaneous tissue in the subcutaneous region;
creating a second lesion in the subcutaneous tissue; and
leaving tissue below the region of interest unaffected.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the superficial region is at a depth in a range of 0.1 μm to 100 μm below a skin surface and the subcutaneous region is at a depth in a range of 100 μm to 3 mm below the skin surface.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first acoustical energy and the second acoustical energy is within the frequency range from about 10 MHz to about 30 MHz.
19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first acoustical energy and the second acoustical energy is in a power range of 15 W/cm 2 to 500 W/cm 2 .
29 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising treating a melanoma in at least a portion of the region of interest.