Monitoring the cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, such as the cooling of adipose tissue

• US 8,285,390 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levinson, Mitchell E., Rosen, Jesse N., Hinton, Corydon A., Springer, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US12/196,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20090149929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 607/99, 607/113
• US Class Current: 607/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0228 with belt or strap, e.g. with buckle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0239 using vacuum
• 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 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0285 with Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0057 Suction suction kneading A61H7/008

Abstract

A system and method of monitoring, controlling and/or detecting events during the removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue is described. In some examples, the system detects an increase in temperature at a treatment device in contact with the skin of a subject, determines that the increase in temperature is related to a treatment event, and performs an action based on the determination. In some examples, the system shuts off the treatment device, alerts an operator, or reduces the cooling in response to a determined treatment event.

Claims

1. A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:

a treatment device configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin;

a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin; and

a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of at least one of the treatment device and the at least a portion of the contacted area of skin.

2. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises:

a cooling unit that removes the heat; and

an interface layer configured to be disposed at least partially between the cooling unit and the contacted area of skin;

wherein the controlling device further determines the at least partial freezing of skin upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the interface layer.

3. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises:

an plate configured to be cooled to a temperature below 0°

C.;

an interface layer that partially surrounds the plate and that is configured to contact the area of skin;

wherein the controlling device determines at least a partial freezing of the skin upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the interface layer.

4. The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the controlling device is configured to compare the measured temperature with a threshold value.

5. A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:

a treatment device configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin, wherein the treatment device includes—

a cooling unit that removes the heat; and

an interface layer configured to be located at least partially between the cooling unit and the skin;

a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin; and

a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of at least one of the following;

the treatment device, the at least a portion of the contacted area of skin, at least a portion of the interface layer, and at least a portion of the cooling unit.

6. A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:

a treatment device, configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin, wherein the treatment device includes—

a plate configured to be cooled to a temperature below 0°

C.; and

an interface layer that partially surrounds the plate and that is configured to contacts the area of skin;

a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin; and

a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of the at least one of the following;

the treatment device, at least a portion of the contacted area of skin, at least a portion of the interface layer, and at least a portion of the plate.