Method of removing adipose tissue from the body

• US 5,143,063 A
• Filed: 02/09/1988
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adipose Tissue Removal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Fellner
• Inventors: Fellner, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US07/153,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 128/804, 128/783, 128/897, 128/399, 128/653, 128/24 A, 128/24.1, 600/2, 600/10
• US Class Current: 601/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00464 Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/02 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Electromedical apparatus is employed to non-invasively remove adipose tissue from the body by causing necrosis thereof by localizing (e.g., focusing) radiant energy. The radiant energy may be of any suitable kind, for example, localized radio frequency, microwave or ultrasound energy, which is impinged upon the cells to be eliminated. Cell destruction occurs through a mechanism such as, e.g., heating or mechanical disruption beyond a level which the adipose tissue can survive.

Claims

1. A method of controlling obesity in a human subject by non-invasively eliminating excess healthy adipose tissue from a subcutaneous adipose tissue layer of the human subject, comprising the steps of:

determining a desired work site in the subject'"'"'s subcutaneous adipose tissue layer containing excess healthy adipose cells to be eliminated;

focusing radiant energy on said cells to raise the temperature thereof; and

maintaining the energy focused on said work site until the excess healthy adipose tissue to be eliminated absorbs sufficient energy to cause cell destruction.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising employing imaging apparatus for viewing said tissue destruction.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising employing imaging apparatus for determining the quantity of adipose tissue to be destroyed.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said energy is supplied from an ultrasonic energy source

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said energy is supplied from a radio frequency energy

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said energy is supplied from a microwave energy source.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the temperature at said work site is raised to substantially at least 43.3°

-44.4°

C.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said temperature at said work site is maintained for substantially at least 30-40 minutes.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the temperature at said work site is raised to substantially at least 43.3°

-44.4°

C.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said energy causes cell destruction by causing cell necrosis.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein said work site is raised to a temperature sufficient to destroy adipose cells.