System and method for providing treatment feedback for a thermal treatment device

Abstract

A system and method for providing treatment feedback for a thermal treatment device ( 100 ) is provided. In certain embodiments, a thermal transmitter ( 120 ) is configured to apply an amount of thermal energy ( 104 ) to a target site ( 106 ), the thermal energy having a selected frequency and a selected power level for penetration to a depth beneath the surface of the skin. A thermal imager ( 140 ) is also provided, the thermal imager ( 140 ) being configured to capture thermal data and thermal images of the target site. The device may further provide a thermal display ( 160 ) configured to display the thermal images and thermal data, providing feedback to a user ( 201 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal treatment system, comprising:
 a thermal transmitter configured to apply an amount of thermal energy to a target site, the thermal energy having a selected frequency or wavelength, a selected power level, and a direction;   a thermal imager configured to capture thermal data and thermal images of the target site; and   a thermal display configured to display the thermal data and the thermal images.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface allowing a selection of a routine for the application of thermal treatment to the target site, the routine comprising instructions for the application of the thermal energy;   at least one processor configured to process the thermal images and thermal data according to the selected routine; and   a controller configured to indicate on the display a required adjustment to the selected frequency or wavelength and the selected power level of the thermal transmitter, or command an adjustment to the selected frequency or wavelength and the selected power level of the thermal transmitter, based on the thermal data and the thermal images, according to the selected routine.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit the thermal energy to the target site at a depth below the surface of the skin; and 
 a mechanical drive configured to receive commands from a controller to adjust the direction of the applied thermal energy. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an infrared transmitter configured to transmit the thermal energy to the target site at a depth below the surface of the skin; and 
 a mechanical drive configured to receive commands from a controller to adjust the direction of the applied thermal energy. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a memory configured to store information related to the execution of the selected routine, accessible by the processor, the thermal transmitter, and the thermal imager, the memory further comprising at least one database for storing a plurality of routines. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless communication link operationally connecting the thermal transmitter, the thermal imager, and the thermal display. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the display configured to display the thermal images and a gradient map, the gradient map configured to depict a plurality of temperatures of the tissue at the target site, at a selected depth below the surface of the skin. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , the thermal imager configured to provide thermal data at a position in the tissue anywhere in the range from the surface of the skin to 15,000 micrometers below the surface of the skin. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the thermal transmitter further configured to transmit thermal energy to a selected depth anywhere in the range of zero to 15,000 micrometers below the surface of the skin at the target site. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , the thermal transmitter further configured to heat the tissue beneath the target site to a temperature anywhere in the range from 35 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal transmitter, the thermal imager, and the thermal display are configured in a unitary handheld unit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , the unitary handheld unit comprising a link powering the unitary handheld unit, the link further configured to provide communication with at least one external processor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal transmitter may further be configured to cryogenically cool the tissue at the target site to a temperature range anywhere from 10 degrees Celsius to negative 20 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal display is configured to display at least one of the thermal images, the thermal data, and the gradient map, the gradient map indicating graphical depiction of the temperatures of the tissue at the target site at the selected depth. 
     
     
         15 . A method for applying thermal treatment, comprising:
 providing a target site on a patient, the target site comprising tissue having certain characteristics;   positioning a thermal transmitter, the thermal transmitter configured to transmit thermal energy toward the target site;   applying the thermal energy to the target site according to a thermal treatment routine, the thermal energy having a selected frequency or wavelength, a selected power level, and a direction;   capturing thermal data and thermal images of the target site with a thermal imager, the thermal data and thermal images corresponding to a tissue temperature at the target site; and   displaying the thermal data and the thermal image of the target site on a thermal display.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 selecting the thermal treatment routine according to the characteristics;   monitoring the thermal images and the thermal data for an optimum tissue temperature; and   adjusting the selected frequency or wavelength, the selected power level, or the direction, according to the monitoring and the selected routine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying the thermal energy to the tissue at the target site at a selected depth anywhere in the range of zero to 15,000 micrometers below the surface of the skin at the target site. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising storing information related to the execution of the selected routine in a memory accessible by the processor, the thermal transmitter, and the thermal imager, the memory further comprising at least one database for storing a plurality of routines. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 wirelessly communicating the thermal data and the thermal images from the thermal imager to the thermal display; and   wirelessly communicating a plurality of control signals from a controller to the thermal transmitter and the thermal imager.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising displaying the thermal data and the thermal images on a gradient map, the gradient map configured to depict a plurality of temperatures of the tissue at the target site the a selected depth beneath the surface of the skin. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , the thermal imager configured to provide thermal data at a position within the tissue anywhere in a range from a surface of the skin to 15,000 micrometers below the surface of the skin. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , the thermal transmitter being configured to transmit thermal energy to a selected depth anywhere in a range from a surface of the skin to 15,000 micrometers below the surface of the skin at the target site. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , the thermal transmitter further configured to heat the tissue at the target site to a temperature anywhere in a range of from 35 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , the thermal transmitter further configured to cryogenically cool the tissue at the target site to a temperature anywhere in a range of from 10 degrees Celsius to negative 20 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the thermal display is configured to display at least one of the thermal images, the thermal data, and the gradient map, the gradient map indicating graphical depiction of the temperatures of the tissue at the target site at the selected depth. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for thermal treatment comprising:
 means for selecting a thermal heating routine;   means for heating a target site;   means for sensing thermal emittance of the target site;   means for providing feedback to a user; and   means for adjusting the application of the thermal energy according to the feedback and the thermal heating routine.   
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory, computer readable medium that when executed by a processor is configured to:
 position a thermal transmitter, the thermal transmitter configured to transmit thermal energy toward a selected target site on a patient;   apply the thermal energy to the target site according to a thermal treatment routine, the thermal energy having a selected frequency, a selected power level, and a direction;   capture thermal data and thermal images of the target site with a thermal imager, the thermal data and thermal images corresponding to a skin temperature at the target site;   display the thermal data and the thermal image of the target site on a thermal display; and   adjust at least one of the selected frequency, the selected power level, and the direction, according the thermal treatment routine.