Treatment of tissue by the application of energy
Inventors
Danitz, David J. • Hinman, Cameron D. • Ebbers, Edward • Nuccitelli, Richard L. • Moss, Kevin L. • Uecker, Darrin R.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11590345-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-28
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 treats a region of tissue using pulsed electrical treatment, in particular non-thermal nanosecond pulsed electric fields, to selectively de-nucleate cells while minimizing inflammation. The treatment is configured to produce tissue formation of a necrotic crust that is removable to expose new tissue, including new epidermis formation.
The core technique divides the pulsed electrical treatment into a first portion and a second portion. An applicator tip having a plurality of electrodes in a pattern is applied to the tissue in a first orientation for the first portion, and then the same region is treated again for the second portion in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation.
Rotation of the electrode pattern is achieved by rotating the pattern about a midline through a center of the pattern of electrodes relative to the handpiece, including by physically rotating a patterned multi-electrode applicator partway through treatment. Rotation is also described as being achieved through switching and electrode subset control, including active subset switching or a mechanism that retracts and extends movable electrode subsets.
Claims Coverage
The document includes four independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive coverage centers on applying a pulsed electrical treatment in first and second portions while rotating a patterned electrode arrangement, with claim-dependent limitations governing how rotation is produced and how electrode subsets deliver the first and second portions.
Rotatable patterned electrode applicator tip with first and second treatment portions
A system with a pulse generator, an applicator tip removably coupled to a handpiece and carrying a plurality of electrodes in a pattern, where the pattern is configured to rotate about a midline through a center of the pattern of electrodes and relative to the handpiece; and a controller configured to apply a first portion of a pulsed electrical treatment to a region through the plurality of electrodes with the pattern contacting the region in a first orientation, and apply a second portion to the region with the pattern contacting the region in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation.
Retracting and extending movable needle electrodes to rotate electrode pattern
A system with a pulse generator, an applicator tip with a plurality of electrodes in a pattern, including a subset of stationary needle electrodes and a subset of movable needle electrodes disposed between the stationary needle electrodes, configured to retract and extend relative to an end of the applicator tip; and a controller configured to apply a first portion of a pulsed electrical treatment to a region with the pattern contacting the region in a first orientation and apply a second portion with the pattern contacting the region in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation, wherein the pattern of electrodes is configured to rotate relative to the handpiece by retracting or extending the subset of movable needle electrodes.
Stationary tip with electrode subsets delivering first and second rotated orientations
A system with a pulse generator, an applicator tip removably coupled to a handpiece and carrying a plurality of electrodes in a pattern, where the pattern is configured to rotate relative to the handpiece; and a controller configured to apply a first portion of a pulsed electrical treatment to a region with the pattern contacting the region in a first orientation and apply a second portion to the region with the pattern contacting the region in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation, wherein the applicator tip is configured to remain in the same position relative to the tissue while a first sub-set of electrodes delivers the first portion and while a second sub-set of electrodes delivers the second portion.
Second treatment portion delivered through different electrodes than first portion
A system with a pulse generator, an applicator tip removably coupled to a handpiece and carrying a plurality of electrodes in a pattern, where the pattern is configured to rotate relative to the handpiece; and a controller configured to apply a first portion of a pulsed electrical treatment to a region through the plurality of electrodes with the pattern contacting the region in a first orientation, and apply a second portion to the region with the pattern contacting the region in a second orientation rotated relative to the first orientation, wherein the second portion is applied through different electrodes than the first portion.
Across the independent claims, the document provides claim coverage for delivering pulsed electrical treatment to a tissue region in two portions using a patterned electrode arrangement that rotates between the portions. The independent claims further cover rotation via a rotating patterned applicator tip, rotation via retracting and extending movable electrode subsets, rotation while the applicator tip remains stationary using different electrode subsets, and delivering the second portion through different electrodes than the first portion.
Stated Advantages
Minimizing inflammation while selectively de-nucleating cells.
Producing tissue formation of a necrotic crust that is removable to expose new tissue, including new epidermis formation.
Reducing scarring/discoloration.
Preserving and/or enabling recovery of elastin.
Supporting melanocyte recovery.
Enabling similar lesion sizes with fewer pulses in skin and non-skin tissues.
Documented Applications
Treating skin disorders using non-thermal nanosecond pulsed electric fields, including lesion targets such as seborrheic keratosis, keloids, molluscum contagiosum, actinic keratosis, warts, and melanoma.
Treating non-skin tissue examples including kidney and liver.
Interested in licensing this patent?