Method and system for lipolysis and body contouring

• US 20070239077A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slender Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Slender Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Benarie, Jacob, Azhari, Haim
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00464 Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/429 characterised by determining or monitoring the contact between the transducer and the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• 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 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2207/00 Anti-cellulite devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0069 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for lipolysis and body contouring of a subject. The apparatus includes a housing adapted for placement on tissue of the subject. The apparatus also includes a plurality of acoustic elements disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, including at least a first and a second subset of the acoustic elements, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit energy in a plane defined by the housing, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy reaches the second subset. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a housing adapted for placement on tissue of a subject; and

a plurality of acoustic elements disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, comprising at least a first and a second subset of the acoustic elements, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit energy in a plane defined by the housing, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy reaches the second subset.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tissue includes skin of the subject, and wherein the first subset is configured to transmit the energy through the skin.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is flexible at least in part, and configured to flex to match the shape of the tissue.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a source of suction configured to draw the tissue into the housing, wherein the plurality of acoustic elements are disposed with respect to the housing so as to direct the energy to the tissue within the housing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to pinch a portion of the tissue to draw the portion into the plane.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first subset is configured to substantially avoid transmitting energy out of the plane.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first subset comprises ultrasound transducers.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit treatment energy.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first subset is configured to configure the treatment energy for lipolysis of adipose tissue.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an electromechanical device configured to move at least some of the plurality of acoustic elements with respect to the plane.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acoustic elements are configured to monitor a parameter of the tissue.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the parameter of the tissue includes fat content.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a first portion of the plurality of acoustic elements is configured to transmit treatment energy, and wherein at least some of the plurality of acoustic elements are configured to monitor an alteration of the parameter in response to the treatment energy.

26. The apparatus according to claim 23, comprising an energy source that is not an acoustic element from the first or second subsets of acoustic elements, and wherein the energy source is configured to transmit treatment energy in response to the monitoring.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the energy source is configured to configure the treatment energy for lipolysis of adipose tissue.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the energy source is configured to transmit treatment energy in conjunction with the monitoring.

31. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a cuff, and wherein the plurality of acoustic elements are coupled to the cuff.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the tissue includes tissue of a limb of the subject, and wherein the cuff is configured to surround the limb.

36. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of acoustic elements is configured to effect contouring of the body of the subject.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, comprising a sensor coupled to the housing, configured to identify a location of the housing.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, comprising a sensor coupled to the housing, configured to identify a location of tissue, and a processing unit, configured to compare the location with a previously-stored location of tissue.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

10-11. -11. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

17-22. -22. (canceled)

29-30. -30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

34-35. -35. (canceled)

39. Apparatus, comprising:

a cuff housing configured to surround a portion of a limb of a subject; and

a plurality of acoustic elements disposed at respective locations with respect to the cuff housing, comprising at least a first and a second subset of the acoustic elements, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit energy such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy reaches the second subset.

40-69. -69. (canceled)

70. Apparatus, comprising:

a housing adapted for placement on tissue of a subject; and

a plurality of energy transducers disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, comprising at least a first and a second subset of the energy transducers, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit energy in a plane defined by the housing, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy reaches the second subset.

81. The apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the apparatus is configured to treat the tissue of the subject, and wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor the treatment by transmitting ultrasound energy.

71-80. -80. (canceled)