Methods for efficiently reducing the appearance of cellulite

• US 10,531,888 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2016
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulthera Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Original Assignee: Ulthera Inc. (Merz Pharma GmbH & Company Kgaa)
• Inventors: Clark, III, Robert L., Chomas, James E., Merchant, Adnan I., Brian, III, Ben F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Good, Samantha M
• Application Number:
  US15/277,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20170014147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3407 including a base for support on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00464 Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00648 using more than one sensed parameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 : with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 : Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 : heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 : with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 : with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2207/00 : Anti-cellulite devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 : with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 : ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 : Destruction of fat cells

Abstract

A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes.

Claims

1. A method of modifying subdermal structures to reduce an appearance of cellulite, the method comprising:

applying a force to a handpiece to move a first area of a target tissue into a cavity of a handpiece comprising a tool aperture;

after the application of the force to the handpiece to move the first area of the target tissue into the cavity, inserting an end of a first tool through the tool aperture and into the first area of the target tissue then administering a liquid to the first area of the target tissue through the first tool;

after the administering of the liquid to the first area of the target tissue through the first tool, applying a force to the handpiece to move a second area of the target tissue different than the first area of the target tissue into the cavity;

after the application of the force to the handpiece to move the second area of the target tissue into the cavity, inserting the end of the first tool through the tool aperture and into the second area of the target tissue then administering the liquid to the second area of the target tissue through the first tool;

after the administering of the liquid to the second area of the target tissue through the first tool, applying a force to the handpiece to move one of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity;

after the application of the force to the handpiece to move the one of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity, inserting an end of a second tool through the tool aperture and into the one of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity then using the second tool to create a first surgical lesion in the one of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity;

after the creation of the first surgical lesion in the one of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity, applying a force to the handpiece to move the other of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity; and

after the application of the force to the handpiece to move the other of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity, inserting the end of the second tool through the tool aperture and into the other of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity then using the second tool to create a second surgical lesion in the other of the first area of the target tissue or the second area of the target tissue into the cavity of the target tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application of the force to the handpiece to move the first area of the target tissue into the cavity comprises applying vacuum pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second tool comprises a cutting blade.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creation of at least one of the first surgical lesion and the second surgical lesion includes severing fibrous septae.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creation of at least one of the first surgical lesion and the second surgical lesion includes guiding the second tool along a predetermined path.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined path is parallel to tissue apposition surface.

7. A method of modifying subdermal structures to reduce an appearance of cellulite, the method comprising:

serially moving a plurality of areas of target tissue into a cavity of a handpiece and, while each area of the plurality of areas of the target tissue is in the cavity of the handpiece, administering a liquid to the plurality of areas of the target tissue using a first tool; and

after the administering of the liquid to each of the plurality of areas of the target tissue, serially moving the plurality of areas of the target tissue into the cavity of a handpiece and, while each area of the plurality of areas of the target tissue is in the cavity of the handpiece, creating a surgical lesion in each area of the plurality of areas of the target tissue using a second tool.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the moving of the plurality of areas of the target tissue into the cavity comprises applying vacuum pressure.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the liquid comprises an anesthetic solution.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second tool comprises a cutting blade.

11. The method of claim 7, creating the surgical lesion in each area of the plurality of areas of the target tissue includes severing fibrous septae.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the areas of the plurality of areas of the target tissue at least partially overlaps another of the areas of the plurality of areas of the target tissue.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the serially moving of the plurality of areas of the target tissue into the cavity of the handpiece to administer the liquid is in a same sequence as the serially moving of the plurality of areas of the target tissue into the cavity of the handpiece to create the surgical lesions.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the creation of the surgical lesion in each area of the plurality of areas of the target tissue includes guiding the second tool along a predetermined path.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the liquid comprises an anesthetic solution, wherein the creation of the surgical lesion in each area of the plurality of areas of the target tissue includes guiding the second tool along a predetermined path, wherein the predetermined path is parallel to tissue apposition surface, wherein the second tool comprises at least one of a cutting blade, an RF probe, or a catheter having a high-pressure fluid jet, wherein the administering of the liquid comprises inserting a distal end of the first tool through an aperture in the handpiece, and wherein the creation of the surgical lesions comprises inserting a distal end of the second tool through the aperture in the handpiece.