Multi-modality treatment systems, methods and apparatus for altering subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue
First Claim
1. A system for affecting lipid-rich cells in a region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
- a treatment unit configured to house a coolant;
an energy generating unit;
an applicator in fluid communication with the treatment unit and in electrical communication with the energy generating unit; and
a controller in communication with the treatment unit and the energy generating unit, wherein the controller has memory containing instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the applicator to;
reduce a temperature of a target region beneath the epidermis of the subject to reduce a temperature of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in the target region to a second temperature less than 37°
C.; and
after reducing the temperature of the target region, start applying energy across the target region such that the applied energy causes pores to form in membranes of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, which are at a temperature lower than 37°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods that enable tissue cooling applications and delivery of electrical energy to adipose tissue for alteration and reduction of body fat are described herein. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to, for example, temperature-controlled electroporation of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells. Additional aspects of the disclosure are directed to treatment methods for treating a target region of a human subject'"'"'s body to achieve an alteration of subcutaneous adipose tissue. The method can include, for example, removing heat from the target region of the human subject during a treatment process to cool subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in the target region to a temperature below normal body temperature. Furthermore, the method can include delivering energy to the target region to produce an electric field in an amount sufficient to create pores in membranes of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells that have been cooled to the temperature below normal body temperature.
684 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for affecting lipid-rich cells in a region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a treatment unit configured to house a coolant; an energy generating unit; an applicator in fluid communication with the treatment unit and in electrical communication with the energy generating unit; and a controller in communication with the treatment unit and the energy generating unit, wherein the controller has memory containing instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the applicator to; reduce a temperature of a target region beneath the epidermis of the subject to reduce a temperature of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in the target region to a second temperature less than 37°
C.; andafter reducing the temperature of the target region, start applying energy across the target region such that the applied energy causes pores to form in membranes of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, which are at a temperature lower than 37°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for affecting subcutaneous tissue in a target region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an energy generating unit; an applicator in electrical communication with the energy generating unit and configured to non-invasively remove heat from the subcutaneous tissue and deliver energy to the target region; and a controller in communication with the energy generating unit and including memory, the memory containing instructions for causing the system to; deliver the energy from the applicator to the target region to form pores in membranes of subcutaneous cells of the subcutaneous tissue while the subcutaneous cells are below 37°
C., anduse the applicator to— reduce a temperature of the subcutaneous tissue from a normal temperature to less than about 37°
C. before forming the pores, and/ormaintain the temperature of the subcutaneous tissue at less than about 37°
C. after forming the pores. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for affecting subcutaneous tissue in a target region of a human subject'"'"'s body, comprising:
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a tissue-cooling applicator configured to monitor the target region and to deliver energy to the target region; and a controller including memory storing instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the tissue-cooling applicator to monitor the temperature of the target region, non-invasively cool the target region to a temperature lower than 20°
C., anddeliver energy from the tissue-cooling applicator to the target region such that the energy causes pores to form in membranes of subcutaneous cells at the target region while the subcutaneous cells are cooler than 37°
C. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification