MONITORING THE COOLING OF SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS, SUCH AS THE COOLING OF ADIPOSE TISSUE

• US 20090149929A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Springer, Kevin S., Levinson, Mitchell E., Rosen, Jesse N., Hinton, Corydon A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 device for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, comprising:

a treatment unit, configured to contact an area of skin of a patient, that removes the heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin;

a detection unit, in communication with the treatment unit, that measures a temperature of an interface between the treatment unit and the area of skin; and

a control unit that modifies operation of the treatment unit upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein the control unit modifies the operation of the treatment unit upon receiving an indication from the detection unit of a positive change in temperature of the interface.

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

a cooling unit that removes the heat; and

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

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

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

a cooling unit that removes the heat; and

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

wherein the control unit determines at least a partial freezing of the skin upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the interface layer and upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the cooling unit.

4. The treatment device of claim 1, wherein the treatment unit comprises:

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

C.;

an interface layer that partially surrounds the internal plate and contacts the area of skin;

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

5. The treatment device of claim 1, wherein the treatment unit comprises:

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

C.;

an interface layer that partially surrounds the internal plate and contacts the area of skin;

wherein the control unit determines at least a partial freezing of the skin upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the interface layer and upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the internal plate.

6. The treatment device of claim 1, wherein the detection unit is configured to compare a measured temperature difference of the interface with a threshold value and provide the indication to the control unit based on the comparison.

7. A method of controlling operation of a treatment unit that removes heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells under skin of a subject, wherein the treatment unit contacts the skin, the method comprising:

identifying a value for a change in temperature at one or more locations on the skin that satisfies a predetermined condition;

determining an event associated with the satisfied condition; and

performing an action based on the determined event.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the treatment unit loses contact with the skin; and

performing the action in response to the determined loss of contact with the skin.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the treatment unit is at least partially separated from the skin; and

performing the action in response to the determined separation with the skin.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the performed action includes turning off power to the treatment unit.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the performed action includes applying heat to the skin.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the performed action includes notifying the subject to remove the treatment unit from the skin.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the performed action includes transmitting information associated with the determined event to a monitoring component in communication with the treatment unit.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the value for the change in temperature includes determining an increase in temperature of the treatment unit.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the value for the change in temperature includes determining an increase in temperature of the treatment unit that is greater than a threshold value associated with the determined event.

16. An apparatus for reducing lipid-rich cells in subcutaneous tissue under skin of a patient, comprising:

a thermoelectric cooler configured to be cooled to a temperature below the freezing point of the lipid-rich cells;

an interface layer, located between the thermoelectric cooler and the skin and in contact with the skin, configured to be cooled by the thermoelectric cooler approximately to the temperature of the thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature sensor configured to measure the rate of change of the temperature of the interface layer and the rate of change of the temperature of the thermoelectric cooler; and

a controller configured to perform an action in response to the measured rates of change.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein performing an action includes alerting an operator associated with the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein performing an action includes warming the thermoelectric cooler.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein performing an action includes shutting off power to the thermoelectric cooler.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein performing an action includes transmitting data to a log associated with a current treatment using the apparatus.