Device, system and method of removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells

A method for selective reduction of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, comprising:

• applying a substance to an application site to protect biological tissues of the subject from freezing damage;
• applying a device to the application site, the device including
• an applicator configured to operably engage a target area that includes the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, wherein the applicator comprises
• a vacuum cup defining a vacuum cavity configured to receive and hold the subject's tissue, the vacuum cup including
• a first portion being a rigid portion including a thermal conductor having an inside surface and an outside surface positioned opposite the inside surface;
• and
• a flexible second portion configured to allow an entrance of the vacuum cavity to change width to facilitate drawing of the subject's tissue into the vacuum cavity when a vacuum is applied, wherein the flexible second portion has an inner surface circumferentially surrounding opposing ends of the vacuum cavity, an outer surface positioned opposite the inner surface, and a cutout positioned along a sidewall of the vacuum cup extending between the inner and outer surfaces;
• wherein the thermal conductor is positioned in the cutout to face an opposing side of the vacuum cavity and the first and second portions define a body comprising:
• an interior surface including the inside surface of the first portion and the inner surface of the second portion,
• an exterior surface including the outside surface of the first portion and the outer surface of the second portion, and
• a thermoelectric cooler;
• a memory storing predetermined body part treatments each including a prescribed time-varying cooling profile having multiple segments each including a specified duration and a target temperature;
• and
• a controller programmed to control the thermoelectric cooler according to the prescribed time-varying cooling profile that reduces the temperature within a local region containing the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells sufficient to selectively reduce the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of the local region while maintaining the subject's skin at a temperature wherein non lipid-rich cells proximate to the thermoelectric cooler are not damaged;
• receiving input indicating a selected body part to be treated;
• and
• controlling the device according to one of the predetermined body part treatments for the selected body part to reduce the temperature within the local region containing the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells sufficient to selectively reduce the lipid-rich cells of the local region while maintaining the subject's skin at a temperature wherein non lipid-rich cells proximate to the applicator are not damaged.