Reflective ultrasound technology for dermatological treatments

Abstract

Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and imaging system and method can include use of transducer and a reflective surface to simultaneously produce multiple cosmetic treatment zones in tissue. The system can include a hand wand, a removable transducer module, a control module, a graphical user interface and/or a parabolic reflector. In some embodiments, the cosmetic treatment system may be used in cosmetic procedures, including brow lifts, fat reduction, sweat reduction, and treatment of the décolletage. Skin tightening, lifting and amelioration of wrinkles and stretch marks are provided.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An aesthetic treatment probe to produce multiple cosmetic treatment zones for use in cosmetic treatment, comprising:
 an ultrasound transducer comprising a flat portion and a concave portion;   a reflective surface; and   a movement mechanism configured to direct ultrasonic treatment in at least one sequence of individual thermal cosmetic treatment zones;   wherein the ultrasound transducer is configured to apply ultrasonic therapy to tissue at least at a cosmetic treatment zone at a first depth with the concave portion,   wherein the flat portion of the ultrasound transducer is configured to apply ultrasound energy to a reflection point on the reflective surface,   wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect energy from the reflection point to apply ultrasonic therapy to tissue at least at cosmetic treatment zone at a second depth.   
     
     
         3 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the first depth and the second depth are located at different depths below a single region of a skin surface to increase the overall volume of tissue treated below the skin surface, thereby providing an enhanced overall cosmetic result. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the reflective surface is a parabolic reflector. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the reflective surface comprises an absorber configured to reduce the amount of re-radiation of ultrasound energy that is transmitted into the reflective surface. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a membrane and a reflective surface cavity, the reflective surface cavity comprising a coupling medium configured for transmission of the ultrasound energy between the transducer, reflective surface, and the membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the transducer comprises a flat portion configured to direct energy to the reflective surface to focus ultrasound energy to the second depth in tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the transducer comprises a concave portion configured to focus ultrasound energy to the first depth in tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the transducer comprises a concave portion configured to direct energy to the reflective surface to focus ultrasound energy to the second depth in tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 2 , wherein the treatment function is at least one of a face lift, a brow lift, a chin lift, an eye treatment, a wrinkle reduction, a scar reduction, a burn treatment, a tattoo removal, a skin tightening, a vein removal, a vein reduction, a treatment on a sweat gland, a treatment of hyperhidrosis, a sun spot removal, a fat treatment, a vaginal rejuvenation, and an acne treatment. 
     
     
         11 . An ultrasound treatment probe comprising:
 an ultrasonic probe comprising:   a first ultrasound transducer configured for ultrasonic treatment;   a second ultrasound transducer configured for ultrasonic treatment;   a first reflective surface inside the ultrasonic probe,   a second reflective surface inside the ultrasonic probe,   wherein the first reflective surface is acoustically coupled to the first ultrasound transducer;   wherein the second reflective surface is acoustically coupled to the second ultrasound transducer;   a movement mechanism inside the ultrasonic probe, wherein the movement mechanism is operable to move the first ultrasound transducer within the ultrasonic probe; and   wherein at least one of the first and the second ultrasound transducers is configured to apply ultrasonic therapy to tissue at least at a first cosmetic treatment zone at a first depth,   wherein the at least one of the first and the second reflective surfaces is configured to reflect energy from at least one of the first the second ultrasound transducers to apply ultrasonic therapy to tissue at least at a second cosmetic treatment zone at a second depth, wherein the first depth is different from the second depth.   
     
     
         12 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second transducers is configured to provide an acoustic power in a range of between about 1 W to about 100 W and a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 10 MHz to thermally heat the tissue to cause coagulation. 
     
     
         13 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 11 , wherein the movement mechanism is configured to move the second transducer to change the second depth. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 11 , wherein the movement mechanism is configured to move the first reflective surface to change the first depth. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasound treatment probe according to  claim 11 , wherein the treatment function is at least one of a face lift, a brow lift, a chin lift, an eye treatment, a wrinkle reduction, a scar reduction, a burn treatment, a tattoo removal, a skin tightening, a vein removal, a vein reduction, a treatment on a sweat gland, a treatment of hyperhidrosis, a sun spot removal, a fat treatment, a vaginal rejuvenation, and an acne treatment. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-focus ultrasound treatment probe, the probe comprising:
 a transducer comprising a flat portion and a concave portion;   wherein the flat portion is configured to emit ultrasound energy to a reflection point on the reflective surface, and   wherein the reflective surface is a parabolic reflective surface configured to direct ultrasound energy from the flat portion to the reflection point, and from the reflection point to a first cosmetic treatment zone at a first depth from a skin surface;   wherein the concave portion is configured to direct a concave portion ultrasound energy to a second cosmetic treatment zone at a second depth from the skin surface without reflecting the concave portion ultrasound energy off the parabolic reflective surface.   
     
     
         17 . The treatment probe according to  claim 16 , wherein the first depth and the second depth are located at different depths below a single region of a skin surface to increase the overall volume of tissue treated below the skin surface, thereby providing an enhanced overall cosmetic result. 
     
     
         18 . The treatment probe according to  claim 16 , wherein the reflective surface comprises an absorber configured to reduce the amount of re-radiation of ultrasound energy that is transmitted into the reflective surface. 
     
     
         19 . The treatment probe according to  claim 16 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a membrane and a reflective surface cavity, the reflective surface cavity comprising a coupling medium configured for transmission of the ultrasound energy between the transducer, reflective surface, and the membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The treatment probe according to  claim 16 , wherein the transducer comprises a concave portion configured to focus ultrasound energy to the first depth in tissue.