Systems and methods for creating an effect using microwave energy to specified tissue

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for creating an effect using microwave energy to specified tissue are disclosed herein. A system for the application of microwave energy to a tissue can include, in some embodiments, a signal generator adapted to generate a microwave signal having predetermined characteristics, an applicator connected to the generator and adapted to apply microwave energy to tissue, the applicator comprising one or more microwave antennas and a tissue interface, a vacuum source connected to the tissue interface, a cooling source connected to said tissue interface, and a controller adapted to control the signal generator, the vacuum source, and the coolant source. The tissue may include a first layer and a second layer, the second layer below the first layer, and the controller is configured such that the system delivers energy such that a peak power loss density profile is created in the second layer.

1 . A system for the application of microwave energy to a tissue, comprising:
 a signal generator adapted to generate a microwave signal having predetermined characteristics;   an applicator connected to the generator and adapted to apply microwave energy to tissue, the applicator comprising one or more microwave antennas and a tissue interface;   a vacuum source connected to the tissue interface;   a cooling source connected to said tissue interface; and   a controller adapted to control the signal generator, the vacuum source, and the coolant source.   
     
     
         2 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for delivering microwave energy to target tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a tissue interface;   a microwave energy delivery device;   a cooling element positioned between the tissue interface and the microwave energy device, the cooling element comprising a cooling plate positioned at the tissue interface; and   a cooling fluid positioned between the cooling element and the microwave delivery device, the cooling fluid having a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric constant of the cooling element.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for delivering microwave energy to a target region in tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a tissue interface having a tissue acquisition chamber;   a cooling element having a cooling plate; and   a microwave energy delivery device having a microwave antenna.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for delivering microwave energy to a target region in tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a vacuum chamber adapted to elevate tissue including the target region and bring the tissue into contact with a cooling plate, wherein the cooling plate is adapted to contact a skin surface above the target region, cool the skin surface, and physically separate the skin tissue from the microwave energy delivery device; and   a microwave antenna configured to deliver sufficient energy to the target region to create a thermal effect.   
     
     
         10 . A system for coupling microwave energy into tissue, the system comprising:
 a microwave antenna;   a fluid chamber positioned between the microwave antenna and the tissue; and   a cooling plate positioned between the cooling chamber and the tissue.   
     
     
         11 . A method of creating a tissue effect in a target tissue layer, comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and a first tissue layer through a skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics, wherein the first tissue layer is above the target tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a surface of the skin; and   generating a power loss density profile, wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         12 . A method of creating a lesion in a target tissue layer in the absence of cooling, wherein the target tissue layer is below a first tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and a first tissue layer through a skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics, wherein the first tissue layer is above the target tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a surface of the skin; and   generating a power loss density profile, wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         13 . A method of generating heat in a target tissue layer wherein the heat is sufficient to create a lesion in or proximate to the target tissue layer, wherein the target tissue layer is below a first tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and the first tissue layer through the skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics; and   generating a power loss density profile wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         14 . A method of generating heat in a target tissue layer in the absence of cooling wherein the heat is sufficient to create a tissue effect in or proximate to the target tissue layer, wherein the target tissue layer is below a first tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and the first tissue layer through the skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics; and   generating a power loss density profile wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         15 . A method of generating a temperature profile in tissue wherein the temperature profile has a peak in a target tissue layer, wherein the target tissue layer is below a first tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and the first tissue layer through the skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics; and   generating a power loss density profile wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         16 . A method of generating a temperature profile in tissue in the absence of cooling wherein the temperature profile has a peak in a target tissue layer, wherein the target tissue layer is below a first tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent to a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and the first tissue layer through the skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics; and   generating a power loss density profile wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         17 . A method of creating a lesion in a first layer of tissue, the first layer having an upper portion adjacent an external surface of the skin and a lower portion adjacent a second layer of the skin, the method comprising the steps of:
 exposing the external surface of the skin to microwave energy having a predetermined power, frequency, and electric field orientation;   generating an energy density profile having a peak in the lower portion of the first layer; and   continuing to expose the external surface of the skin to the microwave energy for a time sufficient to create a lesion, wherein the lesion begins in the peak energy density region.   
     
     
         18 . A method of creating a lesion in the skin wherein the skin has at least an external surface, a first layer below the external surface and a second layer, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a device adapted to radiate electromagnetic energy adjacent the external surface;   radiating electromagnetic energy from the device, the microwave energy having an electric field component which is substantially parallel to a region of the external surface; and   generating a standing wave pattern in the first layer, the standing wave pattern having a constructive interference peak in the first layer, wherein a distance from the constructive interference peak to the skin surface is greater than a distance from the constructive interference peak to an interface between the first layer and the second layer.   
     
     
         19 . A method of creating a temperature gradient in the skin wherein the skin has at least an external surface, a first layer below the external surface and a second layer, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a device adapted to radiate electromagnetic energy adjacent the external surface;   radiating electromagnetic energy from the device, the microwave energy having an electric field component which is substantially parallel to a region of the external surface; and   generating a standing wave pattern in the first layer, the standing wave pattern having a constructive interference peak in the first layer, wherein a distance from the constructive interference peak to the skin surface is greater than a distance from the constructive interference peak to an interface between the first layer and the second layer.   
     
     
         20 . A method of creating a lesion in a dermal layer of the skin, the dermal layer having an upper portion adjacent an external surface of the skin and a lower portion adjacent a subdermal layer of the skin, the method comprising the steps of:
 exposing the external surface to microwave energy having a predetermined power, frequency, and electric field orientation;   generating a peak energy density region in the lower portion of the dermal layer; and   continuing to radiate the skin with the microwave energy for a time sufficient to create a lesion, wherein the lesion begins in the peak energy density region.   
     
     
         21 . A method of creating a lesion in a dermal layer of the skin wherein the skin has at least a dermal layer and a subdermal layer, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a device adapted to radiate microwave energy adjacent an external surface of the skin; and   radiating microwave energy having an electric field component which is substantially parallel to a region of the external surface of the skin above the dermal layer, wherein the microwave energy has a frequency which generates a standing wave pattern in the dermal layer, the standing wave pattern having a constructive interference peak in the dermal layer proximal to an interface between the dermal layer and the subdermal layer.   
     
     
         22 . A method of creating a lesion in a dermal layer of the skin wherein the skin has at least a dermal layer and a subdermal layer, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a device adapted to radiate microwave energy adjacent an external surface of the skin;   radiating microwave energy having an electric field component which is substantially parallel to a region of the external surface of the skin above the dermal layer, wherein the microwave energy has a frequency which generates a standing wave pattern in the dermal layer, the standing wave pattern having a constructive interference peak in the dermal layer proximal to an interface between the dermal layer and the subdermal layer; and   heating the lower portion of the dermal region using the radiated microwave energy to create the lesion.   
     
     
         23 . A method of heating a tissue structure located in or near a target tissue layer, wherein the target tissue layer is below a first tissue layer, the first tissue layer being adjacent a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the target tissue layer and the first tissue layer through the skin surface with electromagnetic energy having predetermined frequency and electric field characteristics; and   generating a power loss density profile wherein the power loss density profile has a peak power loss density in a region of the target tissue layer.   
     
     
         24 . A method of raising the temperature of at least a portion of a tissue structure located below an interface between a dermal layer and subdermal layer in skin, the dermal layer having an upper portion adjacent an external surface of the skin and a lower portion adjacent a subdermal region of the skin, the method comprising the steps of:
 radiating the skin with microwave energy having a predetermined power, frequency and e-field orientation;   generating a peak energy density region in the lower portion of the dermal layer;   initiating a lesion in the peak energy density region by dielectric heating of tissue in the peak energy density region;   enlarging the lesion, wherein the lesion is enlarged, at least in part, by conduction of heat from the peak energy density region to surrounding tissue;   removing heat from the skin surface and at least a portion of the upper portion of the dermal layer; and   continuing to radiate the skin with the microwave energy for a time sufficient to extend the lesion past the interface and into the subdermal layer.   
     
     
         25 . A method of raising the temperature of at least a portion of a tissue structure located below an interface between a dermal layer and a subdermal layer of skin, wherein the dermal layer has an upper portion adjacent an external surface of the skin and a lower portion adjacent a subdermal region of the skin, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a device adapted to radiate microwave energy adjacent the external surface of the skin;   radiating microwave energy having an electric field component which is substantially parallel to a region of the external surface above the dermal layer, wherein the microwave energy has a frequency which generates a standing wave pattern in the dermal layer, the standing wave pattern having a constructive interference peak in the lower portion of the dermal layer;   creating a lesion in the lower portion of the dermal region by heating tissue in the lower portion of the dermal region using the radiated microwave energy;   removing heat from the skin surface and at least a portion of the upper portion of the dermal layer to prevent the lesion from spreading into the upper portion of the dermal layer; and   ceasing the radiating after a first predetermined time, the predetermined time being sufficient to raise the temperature of the tissue structure.   
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling the application of microwave energy to tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating a microwave signal having predetermined characteristics;   applying the microwave energy to tissue, through a microwave antenna and a tissue interface operably connected to the microwave antenna;   supplying a vacuum pressure to the tissue interface; and   supplying cooling fluid to the tissue interface.   
     
     
         27 . A method of positioning tissue prior to treating the tissue using radiated electromagnetic energy, the method comprising:
 positioning a tissue interface adjacent a skin surface;   engaging the skin surface in a tissue chamber of the tissue interface;   substantially separating a layer comprising at least one layer of the skin from a muscle layer below the skin; and   holding the skin surface in the tissue chamber.