Method and system for noninvasive mastopexy

Abstract

Methods and systems for noninvasive mastopexy through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a deep tissue region, such as a region comprising muscular fascia and ligaments. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth from 1 mm to 4 cm with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue in the range of frequencies from 1 to 15 MHz. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for noninvasive mastopexy, the method comprising:
 coupling a probe to a treatment region of a breast, the treatment region including a Cooper's ligament;   determining a depth of the Cooper's ligament with respect to a skin surface;   configuring the probe with parameters based on the depth, the parameters including a spot size, a shape, and a volume; and   applying conformal ultrasound energy from the probe to generate one or more controlled thermal lesions on or about the Cooper's ligament, while sparing intervening tissue and posterior tissue from effects of the conformal ultrasound energy, at least a first lesion of the one or more lesions having the spot size, the shape, and the volume, the lesions facilitating the mastopexy, the intervening tissue being between the probe and the lesion, and the posterior tissue being posterior to the lesion with respect to the probe.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying radiofrequency energy to the treatment region simultaneously with the conformal ultrasound energy to heat the intervening tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising imaging the treatment region to confirm generation of the one or more lesions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the conformal ultrasound energy comprises engaging a motion mechanism of the probe to controllably create a plurality of the lesions while the probe is moving. 
     
     
         5 . A method for providing noninvasive ultrasound mastopexy treatment, the method comprising:
 a) targeting at least a portion of a treatment area in a breast and below a skin surface, the treatment area comprising a muscle and a ligament connected to a portion of breast tissue;   b) delivering ultrasound energy to the at least a portion of the treatment area at a specified depth below the skin surface; and   c) ablating at least a portion of the muscle and the ligament with the ultrasound energy, thereby lifting the breast, while sparing intervening tissue and posterior tissue from effects of the ultrasound energy, the intervening tissue being between the probe and the ablated portion, and the posterior tissue being posterior to the ablated portion with respect to the probe.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising applying radiofrequency energy to the treatment area at the skin surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein step c) includes:
 d) monitoring a tissue parameter of the treatment area;   e) adjusting a spatial or a temporal parameter of a probe that delivers the ultrasound energy based on the tissue parameter; and   f) repeating steps a)-e) until a treatment session is ended.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the tissue parameter is a temperature profile. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein step c) includes producing a lesion of a selected size, shape, or orientation using the ultrasound energy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the ultrasound energy is in a range of about 1 MHz to about 15 MHz. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ultrasound energy is in a range of about 2 MHz to about 8 MHz. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising applying the ultrasound energy to ablate a second ligament in the treatment area. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ligament is a Cooper's ligament. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing noninvasive mastopexy, the method comprising:
 a) delivering ultrasound energy from a transducer probe to a region of interest comprising a ligament in a breast;   b) ablating the ligament with the ultrasound energy; and   c) monitoring for a modified shape of the breast.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ligament is a Cooper's ligament. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step b) includes applying radiofrequency energy to the region of interest. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step c) includes:
 monitoring a tissue parameter of the region of interest; and   adjusting a spatial parameter or a temporal parameter of the probe based on the tissue parameter;   the method further comprising repeating steps a)-c) until a treatment session is ended.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the tissue parameter is a temperature profile. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step b) includes producing a lesion of a selected size, shape, or orientation using the ultrasound energy.