Tissue treatment methods

• US 8,192,474 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levinson, Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US11/558,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 607/100, 607/108, 607/112
• US Class Current: 607/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00047 using Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/029 Fat cell removal or destruction by non-ablative heat treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/008 Apparatus for applying pressure or blows almost perpendicular to the body or limb axis, e.g. chiropractic devices for repositioning vertebrae, correcting deformation

Abstract

Methods are provided herein for affecting a region of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising exposing the region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool subcutaneous adipose tissue in said region; and increasing the blood flow rate to the cooled tissue by exposing the tissue to an energy source. Methods are also provided for treating subcutaneous adipose tissue in a region of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising exposing said region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool said tissue; and exposing the tissue to an energy source to increase the blood flow rate to the cooled tissue, thereby stimulating reperfusion in, and/or causing an ischemia-reperfusion injury to, the cooled tissue.

Claims

1. A method for selective reduction of lipid-rich cells in a region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

treating the region to encourage formation of oxygen radicals by locally administering an oxygen radical forming compound;

exposing an epidermal layer in said region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool subcutaneous adipose tissue in said region; and

increasing a rate of blood flow to the cooled tissue by exposing the region to an energy source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising cycling at least one of the steps of exposing said region to a cooling element and increasing blood flow.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of increasing vasoconstriction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source causes the blood flow rate to increase more rapidly than would occur without the energy source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling element is maintained at an average temperature between about −

20°

C. and about 5°

C.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the epidermal layer in said region is exposed to the cooling element from about 2 min to about 60 min.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling element includes a thermoelectric cooling element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling element includes a cooling agent circulating through the cooling element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source provides at least one of thermal, vibrational, acoustic, and electromagnetic energy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source provides mechanical energy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy source is applied such that the region is warmed to at least about normal body temperature.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy source is applied such that the region is warmed to a temperature warmer than the temperature of the cooled tissue.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the region is warmed sufficient to stimulate reperfusion.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy is applied for from about 1 sec to about 30 min.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein energy of about 10 J/cm2 to about 1000 J/cm2 is applied to the tissue.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps produce ischemia-reperfusion injury.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the region to encourage formation of intracellular and/or extracellular ion concentrations at other than normal levels.

18. A method of treating subcutaneous adipose tissue in a region of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

treating the region to encourage formation of oxygen radicals by locally administering an oxygen radical forming compound;

exposing said region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool said tissue; and

stimulating reperfusion in the cooled tissue by exposing the region to an energy source to increase the blood flow rate to the cooled tissue.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein stimulating reperfusion in the tissue causes ischemia-reperfusion injury to adipocytes in the tissue.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the energy source causes the blood flow rate to increase more rapidly than would occur without the energy source.

21. A method of treating subcutaneous adipose tissue in a region of a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

treating the region to encourage formation of oxygen radicals by locally administering an oxygen radical forming compound;

exposing said region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool said tissue; and

causing an ischemia-reperfusion injury to the cooled tissue by exposing the region to an energy source to increase the blood flow rate to the cooled tissue.

22. A method for selective reduction of lipid-rich cells in a region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

treating the region to encourage formation of oxygen radicals by locally administering an oxygen radical forming compound;

selectively causing vasoconstriction in adipose tissue; and

subsequently stimulating reperfusion by applying an energy source to thereby increase blood flow to the region.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of causing vasoconstriction is by applying pressure.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of causing vasoconstriction is by administration of drugs.

25. A method for selective reduction of lipid-rich cells in a region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

treating the region to encourage formation of oxygen radicals by locally administering an oxygen radical forming compound;

selectively creating ischemia in lipid-rich cells in a region of a human subject'"'"'s body; and

subsequently stimulating reperfusion by applying an energy source to thereby increase the blood flow.