US 11,724,133 B2
Ultrasound probe for treatment of skin
Peter G. Barthe, Phoenix, AZ (US); Michael H. Slayton, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Inder Raj S. Makin, Mesa, AZ (US)
Assigned to Guided Therapy Systems, LLC, Mesa, AZ (US)
Filed by Guided Therapy Systems, LLC, Mesa, AZ (US)
Filed on Oct. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/495,741.
Application 17/495,741 is a continuation of application No. 16/797,387, filed on Feb. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,167,155.
Application 16/797,387 is a continuation of application No. 16/284,920, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, granted, now 10,610,706, issued on Apr. 7, 2020.
Application 16/284,920 is a continuation of application No. 15/996,263, filed on Jun. 1, 2018, granted, now 10,252,086, issued on Apr. 9, 2019.
Application 15/996,263 is a continuation of application No. 15/829,182, filed on Dec. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,010,726, issued on Jul. 3, 2018.
Application 15/829,182 is a continuation of application No. 15/625,818, filed on Jun. 16, 2017, granted, now 9,833,640, issued on Dec. 5, 2017.
Application 15/625,818 is a continuation of application No. 15/260,825, filed on Sep. 9, 2016, granted, now 9,694,212, issued on Jul. 4, 2017.
Application 15/260,825 is a continuation of application No. 14/554,668, filed on Nov. 26, 2014, granted, now 9,440,096, issued on Sep. 13, 2016.
Application 14/554,668 is a continuation of application No. 12/574,512, filed on Oct. 6, 2009, granted, now 8,915,870, issued on Dec. 23, 2014.
Application 12/574,512 is a continuation of application No. 11/163,178, filed on Oct. 7, 2005, granted, now 7,615,016, issued on Nov. 10, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/617,338, filed on Oct. 7, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2022/0023671 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 7/02 (2006.01); A61B 8/14 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61H 23/02 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 7/02 (2013.01) [A61B 8/0858 (2013.01); A61B 8/14 (2013.01); A61B 8/429 (2013.01); A61B 8/4281 (2013.01); A61B 8/4444 (2013.01); A61B 8/4483 (2013.01); A61B 8/461 (2013.01); A61B 8/483 (2013.01); A61B 8/5223 (2013.01); A61B 8/54 (2013.01); A61H 23/0245 (2013.01); G01S 15/8909 (2013.01); A61B 8/4455 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0214 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5064 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5082 (2013.01); A61H 2207/00 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0008 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0034 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0052 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0056 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0073 (2013.01); A61N 2007/0078 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasound probe, comprising:
a housing comprising a piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element and a cooling system,
wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured to direct ultrasound energy without a lens to a tissue below a skin surface,
wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is positioned in the housing, wherein the housing is configured for acoustic coupling to the skin surface, wherein the housing is connected via a cable with a connector to a control system,
wherein the control system is configured to operate the piezoelectric therapy transducer at one or more energy levels,
wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element is configured for delivery of the ultrasound energy to heat the tissue below the skin surface to a temperature of greater than 60 degrees Celsius,
wherein the tissue comprises at least a portion of a dermis tissue and a muscular fascia tissue,
wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element delivers the ultrasound energy at a frequency between 2 MHz to 25 MHz,
wherein the piezoelectric ultrasound therapy element forms a thermal lesion for treating the tissue at the portion of the dermis tissue and the muscular fascia tissue,
wherein the cooling system is configured to cool the skin surface at the housing configured for acoustic coupling to the skin surface,
wherein the control system is configured to operate the cooling system to control the cooling the skin surface.