Patents Assigned to VIVEVE, INC.
  • Patent number: 11511110
    Abstract: Methods for treating urinary stress incontinence by non-invasively delivering energy to one or more submucosal regions of vaginal tissue to induce remodeling within the vaginal tissue are provided. In some embodiments, the energy delivery results in heating of the target tissue to a temperature that ranges from about 38° C. to about 46° C. In some embodiments, the subject methods involve cooling a mucosal epithelial layer over the vaginal tissue. In some embodiments, a reverse thermal gradient is produced as the mucosal epithelium is cooled while energy is delivered to the underlying vaginal tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: VIVEVE, INC.
    Inventors: Deborah Wilkerson, Stacie Bell, Bruce Baldwin Allan
  • Patent number: 11154349
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a handle and treatment tip that has both an energy delivery element and a cooling mechanism. The handle may be a two-handed handle allowing control even while rotating and maneuvering the treatment around the genital opening. The apparatus or system may also include an integrated controller, which may confirm tissue contact without applying RF energy, based only on the temperature of the applicator and the time since the last application of energy from the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: VIVEVE, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Parmer, Ian F. Smith, Chun-Chih Cheng, Patrick Karl Howe, Sean Yasuo Sullivan, Jerome Jackson, Stanley Levy, Sheree Leigh Lucas, Steven Marc Lopez
  • Patent number: 10980596
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a treatment tip that comprises both an energy delivery element and a cooling mechanism. As the treatment tip contacts the epithelial mucosa, the tip cools the mucosa by contact, and delivers energy through the epithelium to the underlying tissue, thereby creating a reverse thermal gradient. The effect of the applied heat is to remodel genital tissue by tightening it. Such remodeling may include a tighter vagina and a tighter introitus. The tightening may be a consequence of thermal denaturation of collagen as well as a longer term healing response in the tissue that includes an increased deposition of collagen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Viveve, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan B. Parmer
  • Patent number: 10779874
    Abstract: The systems and methods in accordance with the principles of the invention can treat urinary stress incontinence by treating target tissue in proximity to the urethra and/or bladder neck. A method for treating urinary stress incontinence in a subject can included non-invasively heating a subsurface region of a target tissue to induce remodeling of the subsurface region at the anterior and/or posterior regions of the vagina. The system can include: a controller and a probe having a distal end configured for non-invasive contact with a surface of a target tissue to transfer energy to the target tissue based on treatment parameters. The probe distal end can have two treatment surfaces spaced apart a distance equal to at least a width of a urethra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: VIVEVE, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Baldwin Allan, Deborah Suzanne Wilkerson, David Laurence Black, Perry Joseph Tomasetti
  • Patent number: 10376307
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a handle and treatment tip that has both an energy delivery element and a cooling mechanism. The handle may be a two-handed handle allowing control even while rotating and maneuvering the treatment around the genital opening. The apparatus or system may also include an integrated controller, which may confirm tissue contact without applying RF energy, based only on the temperature of the applicator and the time since the last application of energy from the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Viveve, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Parmer, Ian F. Smith, Chun-Chih Cheng, Patrick Karl Howe, Sean Yasuo Sullivan, Jerome Jackson, Stanley Levy, Jr., Sherree Leigh Lucas, Steven Marc Lopez
  • Publication number: 20180333211
    Abstract: A system and method for endovaginal delivery of therapeutic treatment energies. The system and method include an applicator having a body with a treatment window. The treatment window may include one or more transducers and one or more electrodes for delivering the therapeutic treatment energies to a target tissue in the vagina. The system and method may include a rollerball tip, an optical window, and ultrasonic imaging. The vagina may be mapped and the applicator may be located at a target tissue selected based on the map to deliver one or more treatment energies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Viveve, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry J. Tomasetti, James Atkinson, David Black
  • Publication number: 20180214304
    Abstract: The systems and methods in accordance with the principles of the invention can promote correction of an aesthetic or functional defect in a target tissue. A method can include non-invasively applying a cooling agent to a surface of a target tissue; and cooling one or more tissue layers of said target tissue to a predetermined therapeutic temperature, wherein applying the cooling agent is performed such that cryoablation of said one or more layers of the target tissue does not occur. The system can include: a controller and a probe having a distal end configured for non-invasive contact with a surface of a target tissue to cool the target tissue based on treatment parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Viveve, Inc.
    Inventors: James ATKINSON, David BLACK, Richard HATCH, Patricia SCHELLER, Perry TOMASETTI, Deborah WILKERSON
  • Patent number: 9271785
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a handle and treatment tip that has both an energy delivery element and a cooling mechanism. The handle may be a two-handed handle allowing control even while rotating and maneuvering the treatment around the genital opening. The apparatus or system may also include an integrated controller, which may confirm tissue contact without applying RF energy, based only on the temperature of the applicator and the time since the last application of energy from the applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Viveve, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian F. Smith, Chun-Chih Cheng, Patrick Karl Howe, Sean Yasuo Sullivan, Jerome Jackson, Stanley Levy, Jr., Sherree Leigh Lucas, Steven Marc Lopez
  • Publication number: 20150327926
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a treatment tip that comprises both an energy delivery element and a cooling mechanism. As the treatment tip contacts the epithelial mucosa, the tip cools the mucosa by contact, and delivers energy through the epithelium to the underlying tissue, thereby creating a reverse thermal gradient. The effect of the applied heat is to remodel genital tissue by tightening it. Such remodeling may include a tighter vagina and a tighter introitus. The tightening may be a consequence of thermal denaturation of collagen as well as a longer term healing response in the tissue that includes an increased deposition of collagen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: VIVEVE, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan B. PARMER
  • Patent number: 8961511
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a treatment tip that comprises both an energy delivery element and a cooling mechanism. As the treatment tip contacts the epithelial mucosa, the tip cools the mucosa by contact, and delivers energy thought the epithelium to the underlying tissue, thereby creating a reverse thermal gradient. The effect of the applied heat is to remodel genital tissue by tightening it. Such remodeling may include a tighter vagina and a tighter introitus. The tightening may be a consequence of thermal denaturation of collagen as well as a longer term healing response in the tissue that includes an increased deposition of collagen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Viveve, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan B. Parmer
  • Publication number: 20130245728
    Abstract: This invention provides devices and methods for remodeling the female genital tissue, the device comprising a treatment tip, wherein the distal end of the treatment tip is conical, spherical, hemispherical, oval or circular in shape. The device further comprises one or more energy delivery elements for simultaneous cooling of the vaginal epithelium and transmission of energy for heating the tissues underneath the epithelium. In one embodiment, said device may further comprise one or more of the following: one or more temperature sensors for measuring the temperature at or below the epithelium; one or more directional sensors mounted on the hand piece or treatment tip; and one or more depth markers to show the depth of penetration of the treatment tip into the vagina. In another embodiment, this invention provides a device having a finger holder with electrodes for remodeling the female genital tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: VIVEVE, INC.
    Inventors: Donald I. GALEN, Jerome JACKSON, Steven Marc LOPEZ, Russell MEIROSE, Ian F. SMITH, Srihari YAMANOOR