Treatment of cellulite and adipose tissue with mid-infrared radiation

A device for the percutaneous treatment of cellulite and adipose tissue with laser energy, the device comprising:

• a hollow cannula having a tip at a distal end for placement underneath the dermis of a patient, the hollow cannula further having a suction port and a fiber access port at a proximal end, the suction port for coupling to an outside suction source, the hollow cannula further having an opening at the distal end, the hollow cannula further having one or more suction holes near the distal end
• an optical fiber laser delivery device disposed within or adjacent to the hollow cannula to transmit laser energy to a point substantially beyond the distal end of the cannula, the optical fiber laser delivery device having an emitting tip at a distal end thereof, the emitting tip of the optical fiber laser delivery device extending past the opening at the distal end of the hollow cannula, the proximal end of the optical fiber laser delivery device exiting the cannula through the fiber access port;
• a compression seal located at the proximal end of the hollow cannula to seal the fiber access port from the outside suction source;
• and
• a thermal sensor disposed just beyond the tip of the hollow cannula and near but proximal to the emitting tip of the optical fiber laser delivery device, a distal sensing tip of the thermal sensor extending beyond the opening at the distal end of the hollow cannula near the emitting tip of the optical fiber laser delivery device.

A method for the treatment of cellulite and adipose tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow cannula with a distal tip and an integral suction system;
• providing an optical fiber laser delivery device capable of being inserted inside the cannula, the optical fiber laser delivery device extendable through the cannula, the emitting tip of the optical fiber laser delivery device extendable beyond the distal tip of the cannula, the proximal end of the optical fiber laser delivery device for connecting to a laser source;
• providing a laser source with emitting characteristics for generating a laser beam transmittable through the optical fiber laser delivery device, the laser beam the laser source having an intensity and a wavelength capable of causing ablation of cellulite and adipose tissue;
• generating a laser beam with the laser source and delivering laser energy from the distal firing tip;
• placing the tip of the cannula underneath the skin of a patient;
• placing the optical fiber laser delivery device into the hollow cannula;
• moving the emitting tip of the optical fiber laser delivery device beyond the distal tip of the cannula into the cellulite and adipose tissue of the patient;
• irradiating the cellulite and adipose tissue with the laser beam to melt or disrupt the cellulite and adipose tissue;
• and
• activating the suction system to remove and aspirate fat and ablated tissue particles.

A method for laser-assisted liposuction, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow cannula with a tip, an integral suction system and an optical fiber inside or adjacent to the cannula, the optical fiber extending through the cannula, the emitting tip of the optical fiber extending beyond the tip of the cannula, the proximal end of the optical fiber for connecting to a laser source;
• providing a laser source with emitting characteristics for generating a laser beam transmittable through the optical fiber, the laser beam having an intensity and a wavelength capable of melting or disrupting cellulite and adipose tissue;
• generating the laser beam with the laser source and delivering laser energy from the distal firing tip;
• placing the tip of the cannula underneath the dermis of a patient;
• moving the emitting tip of the optical fiber beyond the tip of the cannula into cellulite and adipose tissue of the patient;
• irradiating the cellulite and adipose tissue with the laser beam to melt or disrupt the cellulite and adipose tissue prior to the cellulite and adipose tissue entering the cannula;
• and
• activating the suction system to remove and aspirate melted fat and ablated tissue particles.

A method for laser-assisted liposuction in which the fiber is in direct contact with tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow cannula with a tip, an integral suction system and an optical fiber inside or adjacent to the cannula, the optical fiber extending through the cannula, the firing tip of the optical fiber extending beyond the tip of the cannula, the proximal end of the optical fiber for connecting to a laser source;
• providing a laser source with emitting characteristics for generating a laser beam transmittable through the optical fiber, the laser beam having an intensity and a wavelength capable of melting or disrupting cellulite and adipose tissue;
• generating the laser beam with the laser source and delivering laser energy from the distal emitting tip;
• placing the tip of the cannula underneath the dermis of a patient;
• moving the firing tip of the optical fiber beyond the tip of the cannula into contact with the cellulite and adipose tissue of the patient;
• irradiating the cellulite and adipose tissue with the laser beam to melt or disrupt the cellulite and adipose tissue prior to the cellulite and adipose tissue entering the cannula;
• and
• activating the suction system to remove and aspirate fat and ablated tissue particles, whereby having the firing tip of the optical fiber in direct contact with tissue allows increased power density and faster ablation thereof.

A method for laser-assisted liposuction in which the fiber is in direct contact with tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hollow cannula with a distal tip, an integral suction system, a thermal sensor and an optical fiber inside or adjacent to the cannula, the optical fiber extending through the cannula, the emitting tip of the optical fiber extending beyond the tip of the cannula, the proximal end of the optical fiber for connecting to a laser source;
• providing a laser source with emitting characteristics for generating a laser beam transmittable through the optical fiber, the laser beam having an intensity and a wavelength capable of melting or disrupting cellulite and adipose tissue;
• generating the laser beam with the laser source and delivering laser energy from the distal firing tip;
• placing the tip of the cannula underneath the dermis of a patient;
• moving the emitting tip of the optical fiber beyond the tip of the cannula into contact with the cellulite and adipose tissue of the patient;
• irradiating the cellulite and adipose tissue with the laser beam to melt or disrupt the cellulite and adipose tissue prior to the cellulite and adipose tissue entering the cannula;
• and
• activating the suction system to remove and aspirate fat and ablated tissue particles, whereby having the emitting tip of the optical fiber in direct contact with tissue allows increased power density and faster ablation thereof.