Method and system for treating acne and sebaceous glands

Abstract

A method and system for ultrasound treatment of acne and sebaceous glands are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for targeted treatment of sebaceous glands in various manners, such as through use of therapy only, therapy and monitoring, imaging and therapy, or therapy, imaging, and monitoring, and/or through use of focused, unfocused, or defocused ultrasound at various spatial and temporal energy settings. An exemplary method and system can be configured to produce regions of heating and damage by destroying the function of sebaceous glands within a user-specified treatment layer depth associated with the glands to be treated. In addition, an exemplary method and system can be configured to produce regions of heating and damage within the treatment layer in spatially defined patterns, rather than heating and destroying the entire volume of the target layer of tissue. Further, an exemplary method and system can be configured to specifically aim such regions of heating and damage within the treatment layer, to occur at the same location as the secretory portion of sebaceous glands.

1 . An ultrasound treatment system configured for treatment of acne and sebaceous glands, said ultrasound treatment system comprising:
 a control system for facilitating control of the ultrasound treatment system; and   a probe system configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy to produce a treatment region for destroying the function of a sebaceous gland.   
   
   
       2 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said probe system is configured for destroying the function of said sebaceous gland within a specified treatment depth identified through localization of said sebaceous gland. 
   
   
       3 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said probe is configured to produce said treatment regions in spatially defined patterns to facilitate healing of tissue. 
   
   
       4 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 3 , wherein said spatially defined patterns comprise a discrete locus of spaced lesions comprising at least one of cross-stitch, cigar-shaped, ellipsoidal, mushroom-shaped and wedge-shaped lesions. 
   
   
       5 . The ultrasound treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein said control system comprises an imaging system configured for monitoring of said treatment region prior to, during and after delivery of ultrasound energy into said sebaceous gland. 
   
   
       6 . The ultrasound treatment system of  claim 5 , wherein said imaging system is configured to provide feedback to facilitate said targeted delivery. 
   
   
       7 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said display system comprises a display of images corresponding to a temperature profile of said treatment region. 
   
   
       8 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said probe system comprises an imaging and therapy transducer configured for targeted delivery of ablative ultrasound within said treatment region. 
   
   
       9 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 8 , wherein said imaging and therapy transducer comprise a combined transducer within an electronic array of transduction elements. 
   
   
       10 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 8 , wherein said imaging and therapy transducer comprises a single element array comprising a single transduction element and a plurality of masks configured for generating a plurality of ablative zones with each of said plurality of ablative zones providing at least one of focused, defocused and planar ultrasound energy distribution. 
   
   
       11 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said probe is configured for targeted delivery of ultrasound energy through adjustable control of spatial parameters and temporal parameters of said probe to generate conformal lesions of specifically targeted shapes, sizes and orientations. 
   
   
       12 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said treatment system comprises an imaging, therapy, and treatment monitoring system combined with auxiliary imaging and treatment monitoring apparatus and secondary therapy systems. 
   
   
       13 . The ultrasound treatment system according to  claim 12 , wherein said auxiliary imaging apparatus comprises at least one of a photographic instrument and an optical modality. 
   
   
       14 . A method for providing treatment of acne and sebaceous glands, said method comprising:
 localizing of at least one targeted region within a region of interest, said localizing configured for identifying at least one sebaceous gland;   targeting of delivery of ablative ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to said at least one sebaceous gland; and   monitoring of results of said targeted delivery within said at least one sebaceous gland during and after said targeted delivery to continue planning of treatment.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said localizing comprises imaging a region of interest to identify said at least one sebaceous gland. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , said targeting of delivery of ultrasound energy comprises destroying the function of said sebaceous gland within a specified treatment depth identified through localization of said sebaceous gland. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said targeting of delivery comprises adjustable control of spatial parameters and temporal parameters of said transducer probe to generate conformal lesions of specifically targeted shapes, sizes and orientations. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said targeting of delivery comprises producing said treatment regions in spatially defined patterns to facilitate healing of tissue. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein producing said spatially defined patterns comprises producing a discrete locus of spaced lesions comprising at least one of cross-stitch, cigar-shaped, or wedge-shaped lesions. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said monitoring of results comprises measurement of results of treatment of said at least one sebaceous gland as visualized during and after said target delivery of ablative ultrasound. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring the temperature profile of said targeted region. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said targeted delivery comprises producing of a matrix of spaced treatment spots comprising at least one of two-dimensional and three-dimensional matrix of lesions along a scanned pattern created by scanning of said transducer probe. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein producing said spatially defined patterns comprises producing a discrete locus of spaced conformal lesions based on control of spatial and temporal parameters. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said localizing comprises generating three-dimensional imaging information and said targeting comprises treating three-dimensional treatment region. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said targeting of delivery further comprises cooling through any tissue regions between and including skin and said at least one sebaceous gland to facilitate treatment.