Patent ID: 8366622
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: A61B,A61H,A61N,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method of treating the skin, the method comprising: acoustically coupling an ultrasound probe system to a skin surface, the ultrasound probe system comprising an ultrasound imaging element, an ultrasound therapy element, and a motion mechanism; wherein the motion mechanism is controlled by a control system in communication with the ultrasound probe; using the ultrasound imaging element to image a region of interest under said skin surface at a fixed depth, the region of interest comprising a tissue comprising a portion of at least one of muscular fascia and SMAS tissue; wherein the region of interest at said fixed depth is displayed on a display system, said display system being electronically connected to said ultrasound imaging element; using the ultrasound therapy element to treat said region of interest; wherein the ultrasound therapy element is coupled to the motion mechanism within the probe; wherein the ultrasound therapy element is configured for targeted delivery of ablative ultrasound energy to form a thermal lesion with at least a temperature sufficient to treat at least a portion of the tissue at the fixed depth of up to about 9 mm from the skin surface; and activating the motion mechanism within the probe to move the ultrasound therapy element to form a plurality of said thermal lesions along a line at the fixed depth into said tissue to cause any one of the group consisting of ablation, deactivation, and shrinkage of at least a portion of the tissue, wherein the plurality of thermal lesions facilitates a tightening of the tissue that leads to any one of a face lift, a treatment of laxity, and a treatment of sagging in said skin surface.