Apparatus and method for reducing subcutaneous fat deposits by electroporation
AssigneeMinnesota Medical Physics LLC
InventorsVictor I. Chornenky, Ali Jaafar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for minimally invasive treatment of deep subcutaneous fat deposits in lieu of cosmetic surgery is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a high voltage pulse generator connected to two or more needle electrodes at least one of which is configured for placement deeply under the skin in a treatment site of the patient's body. High voltage pulses, delivered to the electrodes, create an electric field that kills subcutaneous fat cells.
Claims29
An apparatus for reducing subcutaneous fat deposits by electroporation comprising:
- an applicator comprising sets of needle electrodes adapted for penetrating the skin of a patient and applying a high amplitude pulsed electric field to the area of the subcutaneous volume of fat tissue to be treated by electroporation;
- a generator of high voltage pulses for applying pulsed electric field to the electrodes, said pulses generating an electric field above the upper electroporation limit for subcutaneous fat cells in the volume of subcutaneous fat tissue to be treated;
- and
- connectors connecting said generator of high voltage electrical pulses with corresponding needle electrodes placed under the skin.
A method for reducing deep subcutaneous fat deposits by electroporation comprising:
- providing an applicator comprising a set of high voltage (needle electrodes adapted for penetrating the skin of a patient and applying a high amplitude pulsed electric field to the area of the subcutaneous volume of tissues to be treated by electroporation;
- providing a generator of high voltage pulses for applying pulsed electric field to the electrodes, said pulses generating an electric field above the upper electroporation limit for subcutaneous fat cells in the volume of the subcutaneous tissue to be treated;
- connecting said generator of high voltage electrical pulses with corresponding high needle electrodes placed in the deep subcutaneous fat tissue;
- and
- applying high voltage pulses via said set of needle electrodes with an amplitude sufficient to cause death to subcutaneous fat cells.
An apparatus for reducing deep subcutaneous fat deposits in a predetermined treatment volume beneath a predetermined area of a patient's skin by electroporation, said apparatus comprising:
- a set of needle electrodes, wherein said set of electrodes comprises:
- at least a pair of electroporation electrodes, said electroporation electrodes being provided for applying a pulsed electric field to the predetermined area of skin and the subcutaneous volume of tissues;
- a generator of high voltage pulses for applying a pulsed electric field to the predetermined area via said electrode set, said pulses generating an electric field above the upper electroporation limit for subcutaneous fat cells in the volume of the subcutaneous tissue to be treated, and
- connectors connecting said generator of high voltage electrical pulses with corresponding electroporation electrodes.
A method for reducing subcutaneous fat deposits in a treatment volume by electroporation comprising:
- applying a plurality of electroporation electric field pulses to the treatment volume to induce subcutaneous fat cell death by electroporation.
Apparatus for reduction of subcutaneous fat deposits in a predetermined treatment zone beneath a predetermined area of a patient's skin by electroporation, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes, wherein at least one of said electrodes is a subcutaneous electrode configured for placement under the skin and within the treatment zone;
- a generator of high voltage pulses for applying a pulsed electric field to the treatment zone via said electrodes, wherein the applied pulses generate an electric field above the upper electroporation limit for subcutaneous fat cells in the treatment zone, and
- connectors connecting said generator of high voltage electrical pulses with said electrodes.
A method for reducing the number of subcutaneous fat cells in a predetermined treatment zone by electroporation of the cells in the treatment zone, said method comprising:
- disposing at least a first electrode in the treatment zone;
- disposing a second electrode in close proximity to the first electrode;
- and
- applying high voltage electric field pulses via the first and second electrodes with an amplitude sufficient to cause death to subcutaneous fat cells by electroporation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.