Treatment of dermal glands by the application of non-thermal energy
Inventors
JAUREGUI JOHNSTON, Lauren M. • Ebbers, Edward A. • Danitz, David J. • Nuccitelli, Richard L. • Uecker, Darrin R. • Moss, Kevin L. • Hinman, Cameron D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12178496-B2
Publication Date
2024-12-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
Described herein are methods and apparatuses for reducing or eliminating skin glands (e.g., sebaceous, eccrine and apocrine) with an electric treatment. These apparatuses and methods may produce electroporation of cells by applying treatment dose having an energy density sufficient to eliminate or reduce the size of a target gland. Also described herein are methods for treating and/or preventing a disorder of a skin gland. For example, described herein are methods of treating sebaceous hyperplasia.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to non-thermal electrical pulses for selectively eliminating or reducing the size of a target gland within a subject’s skin. A pulse generator is configured to generate non-thermal electrical pulses having an amplitude of at least 0.1 kV and a duration of less than 1000 nanoseconds, and an applicator includes a treatment tip with a plurality of needle electrodes.
The treatment dose is defined by an energy density of 1.5 J/mm^3 or less and is applied to selectively and non-thermally disrupt nuclei, organelles or outer membranes of cells of the target gland. The disruption eliminates or reduces the target gland size while avoiding permanently damaging structures outside the target gland.
In the method aspect, a plurality of needle electrodes is positioned so that the target gland is between two or more electrodes, and pulsed electrical energy having the specified sub-microsecond pulse range, at least 0.1 kV amplitude, and less than 1000 nanoseconds duration is applied between the electrodes. The invention is tailored to selectively eliminate or reduce the size of skin glands, including sebaceous, eccrine, and apocrine glands, by non-thermal disruption of cellular structures.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identified are clm-00001, clm-00014, and clm-00015. Across these independent claims, there are three core inventive areas: generating non-thermal electrical pulses with specified amplitude and sub-1000-nanosecond duration, applying a limited-energy-density treatment dose via a needle-electrode applicator to selectively and non-thermally disrupt cellular structures within a target gland, and positioning electrodes such that the target gland is between electrodes while applying sub-microsecond pulsed electrical energy at an energy density of 1.5 J/mm^3 or less.
Non-thermal pulse generation with specified amplitude and duration
A pulse generator configured to generate non-thermal electrical pulses having an amplitude of at least 0.1 kV and a duration of less than 1000 nanoseconds.
Needle-electrode applicator with controlled treatment dose
An applicator comprising a treatment tip having a plurality of needle electrodes, and a controller coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply a treatment dose from the plurality of needle electrodes to eliminate or reduce a size of a target gland within a subject’s skin.
Selective non-thermal disruption defined by limited energy density
The treatment dose provides an energy density of 1.5 J/mm^3 or less sufficient to eliminate or reduce the size of the target gland by selectively and non-thermally disrupting nuclei, organelles or outer membranes of cells of the target gland without permanently damaging structures outside the target gland.
Electrode positioning between electrodes and sub-microsecond pulsed application
Positioning a plurality of needle electrodes so that a target gland in a region of a subject's skin is between two or more electrodes, and applying pulsed electrical energy having a pulse duration in sub-microsecond pulse range between the two or more electrodes, wherein the pulsed electrical energy has an amplitude of at least 0.1 kV and a duration of less than 1000 nanoseconds and provides an energy density of 1.5 J/mm^3 or less.
The independent claims collectively cover a system and a method that use non-thermal electrical pulses delivered through a plurality of needle electrodes, where a controller-regulated treatment dose is constrained to an energy density of 1.5 J/mm^3 or less. The key inventive requirement is selective and non-thermal disruption of nuclei, organelles, or outer membranes of cells within the target gland to eliminate or reduce gland size without permanently damaging structures outside the target gland.
Stated Advantages
Eliminate or reduce the size of a target gland by selectively and non-thermally disrupting nuclei, organelles or outer membranes of cells of the target gland.
Avoid permanently damaging structures outside the target gland.
Documented Applications
Treat skin conditions by targeting glands, including sebaceous, eccrine, or apocrine glands, with examples including acne, oily skin, sebaceous hyperplasia, rosacea, seborrhea and related disorders, and other gland-related diseases and tumors.
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