Treatment of tissue by the application of energy
Inventors
Ebbers, Edward • Danitz, David J. • Nuccitelli, Richard L. • Uecker, Darrin R. • Hinman, Cameron D. • Moss, Kevin L.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11311721-B2
Publication Date
2022-04-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for treating a tissue with an electric treatment by rotating a pattern of electrodes partway through a treatment is disclosed. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses to treat tissue, including treating skin disorders, by selectively de-nucleating epidermal cells without provoking a significant inflammatory response, e.g., without increasing the density of leukocytes in the treated skin, and without affecting the non-cellular components of the dermis.
Core Innovation
The invention provides non-transitory computer-controlled operation of a system that applies pulsed electrical energy from a plurality of electrodes to a region of tissue. The treatment is divided into a first portion and a second portion that are delivered through a pattern of electrodes contacting the region of the tissue in different orientations, with the second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation.
The system includes a movable arm and an applicator operatively coupled to the movable arm. The movable arm is moved to place the applicator in contact with the region of tissue, then the first portion is applied using an electrode pattern contacting the tissue in a first orientation, followed by application of the second portion using the electrode pattern contacting the tissue in a second orientation rotated relative to the first. In a navigation-based configuration, imaging data is received by a navigation interface and used to control the movable arm so that the applicator maintains position and the second portion is applied to the same region of the tissue.
The disclosed approach is directed to selectively de-nucleate epidermal cells described as “ghost cells” while minimizing an inflammatory response and sparing dermal non-cellular components. The disclosure describes treatment outcomes such as necrotic crust formation, new epidermis exposure, rapid melanocyte recovery, elastin restoration, and minimal leukocyte density and inflammatory marker levels.
The electrode pattern rotation and portioned treatment are described as reducing required pulses or energy for similar lesion treatment, with support described for skin disorders and lesions and also for non-skin tissues.
Claims Coverage
The partial document provides two independent claims. Both independent claims center on portioning a pulsed electrical treatment into first and second portions while rotating an electrode pattern relative to a first orientation for application to the same tissue region, with one claim adding imaging-data-based navigation control for maintaining applicator position.
Portioned pulsed electrical treatment with rotated electrode orientation
A system comprising a movable arm, an applicator operatively coupled to the movable arm, the applicator configured to apply pulsed electrical energy from a plurality of electrodes, and one or more processors comprising non-transitory instructions for moving the movable arm to place the applicator in contact with a region of tissue, applying a first portion of the pulsed electrical treatment through a pattern of electrodes contacting the region of the tissue in a first orientation, and applying a second portion through the pattern of electrodes contacting the region of the tissue in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation.
Imaging-data-controlled maintaining same tissue region during rotated second portion
A system comprising a movable arm, a navigation interface configured to receive imaging data, an applicator operatively coupled to the movable arm, the applicator configured to apply pulsed electrical energy from a plurality of electrodes, and one or more processors comprising non-transitory instructions for moving the movable arm to place the applicator in contact with a region of tissue, applying a first portion of the pulsed electrical treatment through a pattern of electrodes contacting the region of the tissue in a first orientation, applying a second portion through the pattern of electrodes contacting the region of the tissue in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation, and controlling the movable arm based at least in part on the imaging data received by the navigation interface to maintain a position of the applicator so that the second portion is applied to the same region of the tissue.
Across the independent claims, the core claimed coverage is directed to applying pulsed electrical energy in two portions using an electrode pattern in a first orientation followed by the same electrode pattern in a second orientation rotated relative to the first, with positioning maintained by navigation controlled using imaging data in one independent claim.
Stated Advantages
Minimized inflammatory response.
Sparing dermal non-cellular components.
Selective de-nucleation of epidermal cells described as “ghost cells”.
Reduced required pulses or energy for similar lesion size, as described in the disclosure.
Documented Applications
Treatment of skin disorders and lesions, including seborrheic keratosis, keloids, molluscum contagiosum, warts, melasma, actinic keratosis, and port-wine stain.
Use for non-skin tissues such as kidney/liver, as described in the disclosure.
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