US 11,717,707 B2
System and method for noninvasive skin tightening
Michael H. Slayton, Phoenix, AZ (US); Peter G. Barthe, Phoenix, AZ (US); Inder Raj S. Makin, Mesa, AZ (US); and Brian D. O'Connor, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Guided Therapy Systems, LLC, Mesa, AZ (US)
Filed by Guided Therapy Systems, LLC, Mesa, AZ (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/555,251.
Application 17/555,251 is a continuation of application No. 17/209,912, filed on Mar. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,235,180.
Application 17/209,912 is a continuation of application No. 16/698,122, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, granted, now 10,960,236, issued on Mar. 30, 2021.
Application 16/698,122 is a continuation of application No. 15/958,939, filed on Apr. 20, 2018, granted, now 10,525,288, issued on Jan. 7, 2020.
Application 15/958,939 is a continuation of application No. 15/098,139, filed on Apr. 13, 2016, granted, now 9,974,982, issued on May 22, 2018.
Application 15/098,139 is a continuation of application No. 13/964,820, filed on Aug. 12, 2013, granted, now 9,320,537, issued on Apr. 26, 2016.
Application 13/964,820 is a continuation of application No. 12/028,636, filed on Feb. 8, 2008, granted, now 8,535,228, issued on Sep. 17, 2013.
Application 12/028,636 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/163,148, filed on Oct. 6, 2005, abandoned.
Application 11/163,148 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/163,151, filed on Oct. 6, 2005, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/616,754, filed on Oct. 6, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/616,755, filed on Oct. 6, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2022/0105364 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 7/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61H 23/02 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 7/02 (2013.01) [A61B 5/682 (2013.01); A61B 5/6842 (2013.01); A61B 8/08 (2013.01); A61B 8/0858 (2013.01); A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 8/4483 (2013.01); A61B 8/483 (2013.01); A61B 8/546 (2013.01); A61H 23/0245 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01); G01S 15/8909 (2013.01); A61B 8/4281 (2013.01); A61B 8/4455 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320069 (2017.08); A61H 2201/5007 (2013.01); A61H 2230/50 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0008 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0034 (2013.01); G01S 15/899 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for tightening tissue with an ultrasound treatment, the method comprising:
coupling at least one piezoelectric therapy transducer to a skin surface,
wherein the at least one piezoelectric therapy transducer is housed in an ultrasound probe connected via a cable with a connector to a control system,
wherein the control system is configured to operate the at least one piezoelectric therapy transducer at one or more energy levels,
cooling the skin surface with a cooling system acoustically coupled to the skin surface,
wherein the control system is configured to operate the cooling system to control the cooling the skin surface,
wherein the at least one piezoelectric therapy transducer is configured to treat a region of interest comprising any one of the group consisting of: a dermal tissue, a fascia tissue and a muscle tissue;
wherein the at least one piezoelectric therapy transducer comprises an array of piezoelectric therapy elements configured to direct ultrasound energy into the region of interest with a planar or defocused ultrasound beam to a depth of up to 5 mm from the skin surface;
wherein a collagen fiber is located in at least a portion of the fascia tissue in the region of interest; and
transmitting the ultrasound energy from the at least one piezoelectric therapy transducer into the collagen fiber at a frequency in a range of 4 MHz to 15 MHz, thereby
heating the collagen fiber in the region of interest in the at least a portion of the fascia tissue to a temperature in a range of 60° C. to 90° C. to cause shrinkage of the collagen fiber for tightening of the skin surface.