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Method and system for lipolysis and body contouring

  • US 9,107,798 B2
  • Filed: 01/12/2007
  • Issued: 08/18/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Apparatus, comprising:

  • a housing adapted for placement on tissue that includes skin of a subject, the housing comprising first and second pinching elements configured to pinch a portion of the skin therebetween;

    a plurality of acoustic elements disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, comprising at least a first and a second subset of the acoustic elements, coupled respectively to the first and second pinching elements, wherein the first subset is configured to transmit energy through the pinched skin, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy reaches the second subset by through transmission through the skin; and

    a distance sensor, configured to sense a distance between the first and second subsets of the acoustic elements,wherein the apparatus is configured to;

    use at least some of the plurality of acoustic elements to monitor the tissue in response to the through-transmitted energy, by measuring a time-of-flight of the through-transmitted energy and calculating an indication of speed of sound in the tissue, based on a relationship between (a) the measured time-of-flight of the through-transmitted energy and (b) the distance sensed between the first and second subsets by the distance sensor, the relationship being that the speed of sound in the tissue is a division of (i) the distance sensed between the first and second subsets, by (ii) the measured time-of-flight of the through-transmitted energy,based on the calculated indication of the speed of sound, assess whether a concentration of fat in the tissue is sufficient for application of treatment energy thereto, anduse at least some of the plurality of acoustic elements to apply treatment energy, and, once treatment energy has been applied to the tissue;

    (a) monitor temperature of the tissue by monitoring changes in the calculated indication of the speed of sound, in response to the application of the treatment energy, and (b) regulate the application of the treatment energy to the tissue, based on the monitoring of the temperature.

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