Medical device and method for treating skin disease

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating skin disease are disclosed. Heat is applied at a controlled temperature, for a predetermined period of time, to a skin lesion associated with a skin disease according to embodiments. The temperature used, according to embodiments, is in a range between about 46-62° C., and controlled within a narrow tolerance depending upon the nature of the skin treatment.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a heater adapted to heat a skin surface;    a temperature controller that regulates the heater to a selected effective temperature that has been selected to effectively treat a specific skin condition afflicting the skin area;    a power source providing energy to operate the heater; and    a housing having a contact end, the heater positioned within the contact end, the temperature controller located within the housing, and the power source means connected to or in the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the selected effective temperature is in a range of about 49 to 62° C.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising signaling means to indicate that the heater has reached the selected effective temperature.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as in  claim 3 , further comprising a selector adapted to permit a user to choose a second selected effective temperature that is selected to treat the specific skin condition for a different skin location or a different type of patient.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a skin contact surface disposed at the contact end, and heated by the heater; and a temperature sensor disposed proximate the skin contact surface to provide feedback to the temperature controller to maintain the skin contact surface at the selected effective temperature within a tolerance of about ±1° C.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the specific skin condition comprises a skin itch and disease selected from the group consisting of acne, herpes, rash, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, systemic skin itch, hives, poison ivy, poison oak, and insect bites.  
   
   
       7 . A device comprising: 
 a heating element;    a heat transfer surface heated by the heating element; and    a control system to regulate the temperature of the heat transfer surface at a preset temperature to treat a specific skin condition.    
   
   
       8 . The device as in  claim 7 , wherein the specific skin condition is acne.  
   
   
       9 . The device as in  claim 7 , wherein the preset temperature is in a range of about 46 to 62° C., and the control system is configured to maintain the heating element at the preset temperature within a tolerance of about ±1° C.  
   
   
       10 . The device as in  claim 7 , further comprising an energy source for the heating element.  
   
   
       11 . The device as in  claim 7 , further comprising a user interface comprising a power control switch and at least one of a visual indicator and an audio indicator.  
   
   
       12 . The device as in  claim 7 , wherein the heat transfer surface and the heating element are one integral unit.  
   
   
       13 . The device as in  claim 7 , further comprising a material covering the heat transfer surface that allows a desired amount of heat to pass to a skin surface in contact with the material.  
   
   
       14 . The device as in  claim 7 , wherein the control system comprises a temperature detector disposed at or near the heat transfer surface to monitor the temperature of the heat transfer surface.  
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 applying a skin contact surface of an apparatus to a skin area afflicted with a specific skin problem to deliver a therapeutically effective quantity of heat energy to the skin contact surface, such that the skin area in contact with the skin contact surface is raised to, and maintained at, a predetermined temperature selected to treat the specific skin problem; and    maintaining the skin area at the predetermined temperature for a period of time to treat the specific skin problem.    
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the period of time is greater than 15 seconds.  
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined temperature is in a range of about 46 to 62° C. and the skin area is maintained at the predetermined temperature within a tolerance of about ±1° C.  
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a skin temperature of the skin area and controlling delivery of the therapeutically effective quantity of heat energy to the skin contact surface to maintain the skin area at about the predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the skin problem is selected from the group consisting of acne, herpes, rash, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, systemic skin itch, hives, poison ivy, poison oak, and insect bites.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a temperature selector that enables selection by a user of an effective therapeutic temperature from two or more preset therapeutic temperatures, each preset therapeutic temperature providing a therapeutically effective treatment for treating a specific skin condition; and    a heat application surface configured to be heated to the effective therapeutic temperature selected by the user and to be placed against a skin area for treatment of the specific skin condition.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein each of the two or more preset temperatures has been predetermined to treat one of two or more specific skin conditions.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein each of the two or more preset temperatures has been preset to treat a different location of the skin area on a patient's body.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein each of the two or more preset temperatures has been preset to treat a different type of patient.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the two or more preset therapeutic temperatures are within a range of about 46 to 62° C.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , further comprising a temperature controller configured to maintain the heat application surface at the effective therapeutic temperature within a tolerance of about ±1° C.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as in  claim 20 , wherein the heat application surface is adapted to provide sufficient thermal transfer capacity and to provide sufficient thermal contact with the skin area so that from the time that contact is established between the heat application surface at the effective therapeutic temperature and the skin area, the skin area temperature reaches the effective therapeutic temperature within about three seconds.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a contact end;    a heat source to heat a skin area in contact with the contact end, the heat source being controlled to deliver one or more pulses of heat to the skin area to heat the skin area to an effective temperature for treating a specific skin condition on the skin area; and    a power source providing energy to operate the heat source.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the heat source raises the median temperature of the skin area to within a range of about 46 to 62° C.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a temperature sensor adapted to control the temperature of the heat source and located proximate to the contact end. 
 The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the contact end comprises a grid that provides variable points of higher and lower temperature.