Systems for affecting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, systems for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, and systems for reducing subcutaneous lipid-rich cells

• US 9,358,149 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Richard Rox, Manstein, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Kaitlyn
• Application Number:
  US13/896,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 601/15, 601 18- 21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0237 with a thermoelectric element in the probe for cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• 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 2007/0082 D.C. A61F2007/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• 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 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/10 Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for use in the selective disruption of lipid-rich cells by controlled cooling. The present invention further relates to a device for use in carrying out the methods for selective disruption of lipid-rich cells by controlled cooling.

Claims

1. A system for affecting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a target region of a subject, comprising:

a treatment unit including a chamber, a cooling element, and a vibration device, wherein the chamber is configured to receive tissue of the target region; and

a control unit programmed to control operation of the cooling element to reduce a temperature of the target region such that the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells are disrupted while non-lipid-rich cells of the subject are generally not injured;

wherein the vibration device is operable to provide mechanical motion to the target region; and

wherein the control unit is further programmed to command the vibration device to provide the mechanical motion to the target region after reducing the temperature of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells.

2. A system for affecting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a target region of a subject, comprising:

a treatment unit including a cooling element and a mechanical motion device; and

a control unit programmed to control operation of the cooling element to lower a temperature of the target region to disrupt the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells while non-lipid-rich cells of the subject are generally not injured;

wherein the mechanical motion device is operable to provide mechanical motion to the target region; and

wherein the control unit is further programmed to command the mechanical motion device to provide mechanical motion to the target region after lowering the temperature of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the mechanical motion device is operable to move the cooling element.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the mechanical motion device includes at least one piezoelectric transducer.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a vibration detecting device.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the mechanical motion device includes a vibration device.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the mechanical motion device is configured to provide at least one pulsation.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the mechanical motion device includes a massage device.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a suction unit configured to be coupled to the treatment unit and to apply a vacuum such that the target tissue is pulled into the chamber.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the mechanical motion device includes one or more selected from the group consisting of:

a vibration device, a massage device, and a device configured to provide at least one pulsation.

9. A system for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a region of a subject, comprising:

a treatment unit including;

a chamber configured to receive target tissue of the region,

at least one treatment interface,

at least one cooling element operatively coupled to the at least one treatment interface,

a control unit programmed to control operation of the cooling element to reduce a temperature of the region such that lipid-rich cells in the target tissue of the region are disrupted while non-lipid-rich cells in the subject'"'"'s epidermis and/or dermis are generally not injured, and

a mechanical motion device operable to mechanically move the target tissue in the chamber to affect the damage of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells;

wherein the control unit is further programmed to command the mechanical motion device to provide mechanical motion to the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells after reducing the temperature of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells.