HOME-USE APPLICATORS FOR NON-INVASIVELY REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS VIA PHASE CHANGE COOLANTS, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS
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Accused Products
Abstract
Home-use applicators for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous, lipid-rich cells via phase change coolants, and associated devices, systems and methods. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an applicator releasably positionable in thermal communication with human skin, and a coolant vessel having a coolant. The device further includes a heat transfer conduit operatively coupled to the applicator and housing a heat transfer fluid that is isolated from fluid contact with the coolant. A heat exchanger is operatively coupled between the coolant vessel and the heat transfer conduit to transfer heat between the heat transfer fluid and the coolant, and a fluid driver is operatively coupled to the heat transfer conduit to direct the heat transfer fluid between the applicator and the heat exchanger.
191 Citations
84 Claims
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1-53. -53. (canceled)
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54. A cooling device for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a human, comprising:
an applicator releasably positionable in thermal communication with human skin, the applicator including; a first portion having a first elasticity and being configured to be placed against the skin; and a second portion having a second elasticity less than the first elasticity, the second portion being sealably connected to the first portional and facing away from the first portion, at least one of the first and second portions being movable relative to the other to accommodate a chilled heat transfer fluid therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method for cooling human tissue, comprising:
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releasably attaching an applicator to a human by positioning a first portion of the applicator in thermal communication with the human'"'"'s skin and a second portion of the applicator to face away from first portion, the first portion having a first elasticity, the second portion having a second elasticity less than the first elasticity; and removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue of the human via the applicator in an amount sufficient to selectively reduce lipid rich cells of the tissue by directing a chilled heat transfer fluid into the applicator, between the first portion and the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
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64. A cooling device for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a human, comprising:
an applicator releasably positionable against human skin, the applicator including; a flexible, fluid-tight envelope having an entry port and an exit port; and a porous internal structure positioned within the envelope between the entry port and the exit port, the internal structure; (a) having a buckling strength sufficient to prevent the envelope from collapsing on itself when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure below a pressure external to the envelope, or (b) being attached to an inner surface of the envelope to at least restrict the envelope from bulging when a pressurized fluid is applied to an entry port, or (c) both (a) and (b). - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method for cooling human tissue, comprising:
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releasably attaching an applicator to a human by positioning a flexible envelope in thermal communication with the human'"'"'s skin; and removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue of the human via the applicator in an amount sufficient to reduce lipid-rich cells of the tissue by directing a chilled heat transfer fluid into the flexible envelope and through a porous internal support structure within the envelope, while the porous internal support structure; (a) at least restricts fluid pressure in the envelope from bulging the envelope outwardly, or (b) restricts external pressure from collapsing the internal support structure, or (c) both (a) and (b). - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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Specification