DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS
First Claim
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1. A device for treating subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, comprising:
- a rigid portion including a thermal conductor having an inside surface and an outside surface positioned opposite the inside surface; and
a flexible portion having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface, and a cutout extending between the inner and outer surfaces;
wherein the thermal conductor is positioned in the cutout and the flexible and rigid portions define a body havingan interior surface including the inside face of the rigid portion and the inner surface of the flexible portion; and
an exterior surface including the outside face of the rigid portion and the outer surface of the flexible portion.
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Abstract
Devices, systems and methods for removing heat from subcutaneously disposed lipid-rich cells are disclosed. In selected embodiments, suction and/or heat removal sources are coupled to an applicator. The applicator includes a flexible portion and a rigid portion. The rigid portion includes a thermally conductive plate and a frame coupling the thermally conductive plate and the flexible portion. An interior cavity of the applicator is in fluid communication with the suction source, and the frame maintains contiguous engagement between the heat removal source and the thermally conductive plate.
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Citations
106 Claims
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1. A device for treating subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, comprising:
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a rigid portion including a thermal conductor having an inside surface and an outside surface positioned opposite the inside surface; and a flexible portion having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface, and a cutout extending between the inner and outer surfaces; wherein the thermal conductor is positioned in the cutout and the flexible and rigid portions define a body having an interior surface including the inside face of the rigid portion and the inner surface of the flexible portion; and an exterior surface including the outside face of the rigid portion and the outer surface of the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for treating subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a target area, comprising:
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a treatment device including an applicator configured to operably engage the target area, the applicator including a heat removal source configured to remove heat from the lipid-rich cells; and a token permitting a treatment with the treatment device, the token including a microelectronic device electrically coupled with the heat removal source. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for treating subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a target area, comprising:
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configuring a treatment system for the target area, the treatment system including a heat removal source configured to remove heat from the lipid rich cells; permitting use of the treatment system within a predetermined limit; verifying that continued use of the treatment system is within the predetermined limit; and prohibiting use of the treatment system when the predetermined limit is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A vacuum applicator for treating lipid-rich cells disposed under a cutaneous layer with a cooling/heating unit, comprising:
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a rigid portion having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a rigid edge extending between the inside and outside surfaces, wherein the rigid portion includes a thermal conductor coupling the inside and outside surfaces; and a flexible portion having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface, and a flexible edge extending between the inner and outer surfaces; wherein the flexible and rigid portions define a body having an interior surface including the inside surface of the rigid portion and the inner surface of the flexible portion; an exterior surface including the outside surface of the rigid portion and the outer surface of the flexible portion; and an aperture including the rigid edge of the rigid portion and the flexible edge of the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for treating lipid-rich cells disposed under a cutaneous layer, comprising:
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coupling a heat removal source to an exterior surface of a thermally conductive plate of a vacuum applicator; coupling a suction source to an interior cavity of the vacuum applicator; placing the vacuum applicator on the cutaneous layer; activating the suction source to draw the cutaneous layer into the interior cavity of the vacuum applicator; and activating the heat removal source to remove heat from the lipid-rich cells. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A device for treating lipid-rich cells disposed under a cutaneous layer, comprising:
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a base including a first attachment; a fitting including a first portion of a contour that defines a mouth of a cavity, the fitting includes a second attachment that is coupled to the first attachment in a first device arrangement and is decoupled from the first attachment in a second device arrangement; and a thermal conductor disposed about at least a portion of the cavity, the thermal conductor is configured for heat transfer with respect to the lipid-rich cells when the contour engages the cutaneous layer in the first device arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A device for treating lipid-rich cells disposed under a cutaneous layer, comprising:
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a vacuum cup defining an interior cavity and including a contour that defines a mouth of a cavity; a thermal conductor disposed about at least a portion of the cavity, the thermal conductor is configured for heat transfer with respect to the lipid-rich cells when the contour engages the cutaneous layer; and an adjustor configured to adjust at least one of (a) dimensions of the interior cavity, and (b) position of the thermal conductor with respect to the interior cavity. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. A system for treating subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a target area, comprising:
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a base including a first attachment; a first fitting including a portion of a first contour that defines a first mouth of a first cavity, the fitting includes a second attachment that is coupled to the first attachment in a first device arrangement and is decoupled from the first attachment in a second device arrangement; a second fitting including a portion of a second contour that defines a second mouth of a second cavity, the second fitting includes a third attachment that is coupled to the first attachment in a third device arrangement; and a thermal conductor disposed about at least a portion of the cavity, the thermal conductor is configured for heat transfer with respect to the lipid-rich cells when the first contour engages the cutaneous layer in the first arrangement and when the second contour engages the cutaneous layer in the third arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99)
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100. A method comprising:
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coupling a first fitting to a base of a vacuum applicator; placing the first fitting on a first cutaneous layer area; transferring heat between a thermal conductor and lipid-rich cells disposed under the first cutaneous layer area; displacing the first fitting from the first cutaneous layer area; decoupling the first fitting from the base; coupling a second fitting to the base; placing the second fitting on a second cutaneous layer area; and transferring heat between the thermal conductor and lipid-rich cells disposed under the second cutaneous layer area. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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Specification