External ultrasound lipoplasty
First Claim
1. A single-channel external ultrasound lipoplasty (EUL) system comprising a transmitter and a single element transducer in the 0.5 MHz to 20 MHz frequency range, wherein the transducer consists of a substantially cylindrically shaped active transducer element with a fixed focus in the manufacturer selected depth range between about 1 mm and 30 mm, said transducer aperture and frequency being configured to not irreversibly affect tissue of a patient beyond the user or manufacturer selected depth range when an acoustic pressure and intensity of said EUL system is high enough to substantially emulsify fat within said selected depth range of the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a non-invasive, safer alternative to current lipoplasty procedures. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-channel system that focuses the low mega Hertz ultrasound at user selectable depths, where fat cells are to be emulsified. The system has independent user control of the main emulsifying property, cavitation, and thermal heating, which can independently be used for skin tightening. One part of the system is a handheld transducer, in shape similar to a typical small diagnostic ultrasound transducer. The other part of the system includes a transmitter with internal tracking of procedure time and with a disabling feature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A single-channel external ultrasound lipoplasty (EUL) system comprising a transmitter and a single element transducer in the 0.5 MHz to 20 MHz frequency range, wherein the transducer consists of a substantially cylindrically shaped active transducer element with a fixed focus in the manufacturer selected depth range between about 1 mm and 30 mm, said transducer aperture and frequency being configured to not irreversibly affect tissue of a patient beyond the user or manufacturer selected depth range when an acoustic pressure and intensity of said EUL system is high enough to substantially emulsify fat within said selected depth range of the tissue.
- 2. An external ultrasound lipoplasty (EUL) system comprising a transmitter and a multi-channel transducer operated in a 0.5 MHz to 20 MHz frequency range, wherein the transducer consists of a transducer aperture and an electronic focus that is electronically swept within a user or manufacturer selected depth range between about 1 mm and 30 mm, said transducer aperture and frequency being configured to not irreversibly affect tissue of a patient beyond the user or manufacturer selected depth range when an acoustic pressure and intensity of said EUL system is high enough to substantially emulsify fat within said selected depth range of the tissue.
- 14. A method for emulsifying subdermal fat of a patient comprising topically applying ultrasound through a hand-held high intensity focused ultrasound transducer acoustically coupled to skin via a liquid or gel, said focused ultrasound transducer comprising a transmitter and a multi-channel transducer operated in a 0.5 MHz to 20 MHz frequency range, wherein the transducer consists of a transducer aperture and an electronic focus that is electronically swept within a user or manufacturer selected depth range between about 1 mm and 30 mm, wherein said transducer aperture and frequency being configured to not irreversibly affect tissue of the patient beyond the user or manufacturer selected depth range when an acoustic pressure and intensity of said focused ultrasound transducer is high enough to substantially emulsify said subdermal fat within said selected depth range of the tissue.
Specification