US6438424B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for tissue remodeling
Assignee: Solta Medical Inc
•
Filing: 1998-01-05
•
Granted: 2002-08-20
•
Expires: 2018-01-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus to modify a skin surface or a soft tissue structure underlying the skin surface includes a template with a mechanical force application surface and a receiving opening to receive a body structure. The mechanical force application surface is configured to receive the body structure and apply pressure to the soft tissue structure. An energy delivery device is coupled to the template. The energy delivery device is configured to deliver sufficient energy to the template to form a template energy delivery surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward W. Knowlton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/1206; A61B18/14; A61B90/00; A61B90/02; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/20; A61N1/28; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61N2/00; A61N2/002; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/0616; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/901; G06F16/9017; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/0047; A61B2018/00482; A61B2018/00488; A61B2018/00505; A61B2018/00523; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/0066; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/12; A61N2005/0635; A61N2005/0643; A61N2005/0645; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/06; G10L15/063; G10L2015/0631
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for remodeling collagen matrix in a collagen containing tissue site beneath an epidermis skin surface, comprising: a semi-solid template that is thermally conductive, the template having a tissue contacting surface that is conformable to the three-dimensional contour of the tissue site; a handle coupled to the template; and an energy delivery device for delivering energy to the selected collagen-containing tissue site, wherein the energy delivery device is incorporated into the template and configured to deliver the energy through the template to the selected collagen-containing tissue site by contacting the epidermis skin surface of the tissue site with the tissue contacting surface of the template.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for remodeling collagen matrix in a collagen containing tissue site beneath an epidermis skin surface, comprising: a semi-solid template that is thermally conductive, the template having a tissue contacting surface that is conformable to the three-dimensional contour of the tissue site; a handle coupled to the template; and an energy delivery device for delivering energy to the selected collagen-containing tissue site, wherein the energy delivery device is incorporated into the template and configured to deliver the energy through the template to the selected collagen-containing tissue site by contacting the epidermis skin surface of the tissue site with the tissue contacting surface of the template.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver energy selected from the group consisting of resistive heating, RF, microwave, frictional heating, and ultrasound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device includes one or more thermal coils.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver radio frequency energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device includes one or more RF electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the template is made of material that is capable of transmitting electromagnetic energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for receiving and releasing an energy conduction material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the energy conduction material is an electrolytic solution or gel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claims 1 , wherein the semi-solid template is made of soft plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the energy delivery device is coupled to an RF energy source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a sensor coupled to the energy delivery device for monitoring temperature or impedance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising: a feedback control system coupled to the sensor.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of treating a skin surface overlying a collagen containing tissue site, the skin surface having elastosis, comprising: identifying a person suspected of having a skin surface with elastosis; applying to the skin surface a semi-solid template that is thermally conductive, the template having a tissue contacting surface and a non-tissue contact surface; applying external mechanical force to the non-tissue contact surface of the template such that the template conforms to the three-dimensional contour of the skin surface; applying a cooling medium to the skin surface, such that cell necrosis in the skin surface is substantially reduced; and delivering a sufficient amount of energy to the tissue site through an energy delivery device incorporated into the template, such that the elastosis of the skin surface of the tissue site is reduced.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of treating a skin surface overlying a collagen containing tissue site, the skin surface having elastosis, comprising: identifying a person suspected of having a skin surface with elastosis; applying to the skin surface a semi-solid template that is thermally conductive, the template having a tissue contacting surface and a non-tissue contact surface; applying external mechanical force to the non-tissue contact surface of the template such that the template conforms to the three-dimensional contour of the skin surface; applying a cooling medium to the skin surface, such that cell necrosis in the skin surface is substantially reduced; and delivering a sufficient amount of energy to the tissue site through an energy delivery device incorporated into the template, such that the elastosis of the skin surface of the tissue site is reduced.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein delivering a sufficient amount energy includes controlling the amount of energy delivered such that the average temperature of the collagen containing tissue site does not exceed 80 degrees C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein delivering a sufficient amount energy includes controlling the amount of energy delivered such that the average temperature of the collagen containing tissue site does not exceed 70 degrees C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising applying electrolytic media to the skin surface prior to the step of delivery a sufficient amount energy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the electrolytic media includes applying an electrolytic solution to the skin surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the electrolytic media includes applying an electrolytic gel to the skin surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing a temperature of the skin surface during delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing a temperature of the skin surface after delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing a temperature of a tissue underlying the skin surface during the delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing a temperature of a tissue underlying the skin surface after delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing an impedance of the skin surface during delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing an impedance of the skin surface after delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing an impedance of a tissue underlying the skin surface during the delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: sensing an impedance of a tissue underlying the skin surface after delivery of the energy to the skin surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 , where the collagen-containing tissue site is selected from the group consisting of a subdermal layer, a deep dermal layer, and a subcutaneous layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE1949534A1
Cited
US3831604A
Cited
US4074718A
Cited
US4164226A
Cited
US4140130A
Cited
USRE32849E
Cited
US4346715A
Cited
US4290435A
Cited
US4343301A
Cited
US4375220A
Cited
US4381007A
Cited
DE3121683A1
Cited
US4441486A
Cited
US4676258A
Cited
US4545368A
Cited
US4887614A
Cited
US4556070A
Cited
US4944302A
Cited
US5304169A
Cited
US5374265A
Cited
US4889122A
Cited
US4709701A
Cited
FR2609245A1
Cited
US4962761A
Cited
US5003991A
Cited
US5133351A
Cited
US4957480A
Cited
US5143063A
Cited
US4881543A
Cited
US4976709A
Cited
US4974587A
Cited
US5282797A
Cited
US5186181A
Cited
US5315994A
Cited
WO1992019414A1
Cited
US5190517A
Cited
EP0519415A1
Cited
US5370642A
Cited
US5697281A
Cited
US5249575A
Cited
US5681282A
Cited
US5366443A
Cited
US5683366A
Cited
US5697536A
Cited
WO1993013816A1
Cited
US5697882A
Cited
US5697909A
Cited
US5230334A
Cited
US5423807A
Cited
US5342357A
Cited
US5437662A
Cited
US5334193A
Cited
US5348554A
Cited
US5423811A
Cited
NZ266678A
Cited
WO1994026228A1
Cited
US5496312A
Cited
US5462521A
Cited
US5507790A
Cited
US5464436A
Cited
US5569242A
Cited
US5458596A
Cited
US5692058A
Cited
WO1996027240A1
Cited
WO1996027327A1
Cited
WO1996032051A1
Cited
WO1996034568A1
Cited
WO1996039914A1
Cited
US5693045A
Cited
WO1997018765A1
Cited
WO1997018768A1
Cited
WO1998003117A1
Cited
WO1998003220A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-19 | 2014-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |