Devices and methods for percutaneous energy delivery

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for percutaneous energy delivery in an effective manner using one or more probes. Additional variations of the system include an array of probes configured to minimize the energy required to produce the desired effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treatment system for delivering energy from an energy supply to a target region beneath a tissue surface, the system comprising:
 an energy delivery device having a hand-piece and a tissue engaging surface, the tissue engaging surface configured to position the energy delivery device on the tissue surface;   a plurality of energy transfer probes, the plurality of energy transfer probes comprising a plurality of probe pairs, each probe pair comprising a first energy transfer probe and a second energy transfer probe, the first energy transfer probe and the second energy transfer probe of a probe pair each, respectively, comprising an active region and configured to:
 extend from the energy delivery device at an oblique angle relative to the tissue engaging surface; 
 penetrate the tissue surface; and 
 apply an energy through the active region of the energy transfer probe to the target region beneath the tissue surface; and 
   an independent proportional integral derivative (PID) controller configured to:
 monitor an initial impedance of the target region; and 
 regulate a control voltage (V) between the first energy transfer probe and the second energy transfer probe of the probe pair; 
   wherein regulation of the control voltage (V) by the PID controller involves at least the following equation: V=k p (T set −T measured )+k i ∫(T set −T measured )d t +k d ∂(T set −T measured )/∂t, where: k p , k i , and k d  are constants, T set  is a set point temperature, and T measured  is a measured temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one probe pair of the plurality of probe pairs comprises the first energy transfer probe oppositely polarized relative to the second energy transfer probe. 
     
     
         3 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one probe pair of the plurality of probe pairs is electrically isolated from all other probe pairs. 
     
     
         4 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery device also has a tissue stabilization plate adjacent to a side of the tissue engaging surface and extending past a side of the hand-piece, the tissue stabilization plate configured to tension and hold flat the tissue surface and reduce movement of the tissue surface when the energy delivery device is positioned on the tissue surface. 
     
     
         5 . The treatment system of  claim 4 , wherein the tissue stabilization plate comprises a window configured to:
 permit direct visualization of the plurality of probe pairs penetrating the skin surface when the energy delivery device is positioned on the tissue surface; and   outline the tissue surface directly above the target region.   
     
     
         6 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a cooling source communicatively coupled to the tissue stabilization plate such that the tissue stabilization plate is additionally configured to maintain a temperature at, below, or slightly above body temperature, the cooling source selected from a group consisting of a thermoelectric cooling device, a Peltier cooling device and a device having a phase change material that absorbs heat during the phase change. 
     
     
         7 . The treatment system of  claim 5 , wherein the tissue stabilization plate additionally comprises a suction lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The treatment system of  claim 5 , additionally comprising a display unit located on a portion of the energy delivery device, the display unit configured to display one or more parameters of at least one energy transfer probe. 
     
     
         9 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the active region of the first energy transfer probe of the probe pair comprises a sub-active region that is situated on a side of the first energy transfer probe proximal to the second energy transfer probe of the probe pair, the sub-active region having an impedance that varies along its length. 
     
     
         10 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , where at least one of the plurality of energy transfer probes comprises a sensor for measuring at least one tissue parameter selected from a group consisting of an electrical impedance, a phase angle of the electrical impedance, an acoustic impedance, a hydration measure, a moisture content measure, an electromagnetic reflectance measure, an electromagnetic absorption measure, a temperature measure, a movement measure, and an elasticity measure. 
     
     
         11 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising an energy supply unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of energy transfer probes, the energy supply unit comprising an RF energy supply unit, wherein the energy supply unit is configured to electrically isolate the RF energy source from all other energy sources. 
     
     
         12 . The treatment system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a temperature sensor communicatively coupled to at least one energy transfer probe of the plurality of energy transfer probes; and   at least one temperature controller communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to regulate the control voltage (V) between the first energy transfer probe and the second energy transfer probe of a probe pair.   
     
     
         13 . The treatment system according to  claim 1 ,
 additionally comprising at least one energy supply unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of energy transfer probes   wherein the active region of the first energy transfer probe of the probe pair is configured to measure a tissue parameter within the target region beneath the tissue surface;   wherein each individual probe pair of the plurality of probe pairs is configured to form a treatment circuit within the target region, the treatment circuit operative to produce a fractional lesion in the target region;   wherein the PID controller is, at least in part, configured to regulate the control voltage (V) such that:
 the energy from the energy supply unit is limited from passing from a treatment circuit; and 
 the fractional lesion is separated from any adjacent fractional lesions by a region of viable tissue. 
   
     
     
         14 . The treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein a range of pre-determined impedance values between the pair of energy transfer probes is 250 Ohm to 3000 Ohm. 
     
     
         15 . The treatment system according to  claim 12 , wherein each probe pair of the plurality of probe pairs has its own dedicated PID controller and its own dedicated temperature controller, the PID controller and the temperature controller of each probe pair electrically isolated from all other PID controllers and the temperature controllers.