Apparatus and methods for the destruction of adipose tissue
First Claim
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1. A method of modifying adipose tissue in a patient using high intensity focused ultrasound, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a volume of adipose tissue to be treated;
identifying a corresponding surface area of skin over said volume of adipose tissue;
marking the patient'"'"'s skin to create a plurality of guide markers at a predetermined spacing on the patient'"'"'s skin within the surface area;
moving a HIFU therapy transducer successively from guide marker to guide marker on said surface area of skin; and
applying therapeutic ultrasound energy into said volume of adipose tissue at a power and for a time at each of said guide markers, wherein the power and time of applying said energy and the spacing of said guide markers are selected such that a plurality of necrosed tissue cells and denatured collagen fibrils are produced within a plurality of adjacent treatment cells covering substantially all of the treatment volume.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described for modifying unwanted tissue for cosmetic reasons. The methods provide a non-invasive manner to perform body contouring by destroying adipose tissue while simultaneously causing collagen contraction in a single procedure so that as destroyed tissue is removed from a treatment volume, the volume shrinks gradually to maintain the skin tone of the treatment area.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of modifying adipose tissue in a patient using high intensity focused ultrasound, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a volume of adipose tissue to be treated; identifying a corresponding surface area of skin over said volume of adipose tissue; marking the patient'"'"'s skin to create a plurality of guide markers at a predetermined spacing on the patient'"'"'s skin within the surface area; moving a HIFU therapy transducer successively from guide marker to guide marker on said surface area of skin; and applying therapeutic ultrasound energy into said volume of adipose tissue at a power and for a time at each of said guide markers, wherein the power and time of applying said energy and the spacing of said guide markers are selected such that a plurality of necrosed tissue cells and denatured collagen fibrils are produced within a plurality of adjacent treatment cells covering substantially all of the treatment volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification