# US 2008/0188835 A1 · Treatment of cellulite and adipose tissue with mid-infrared radiation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0188835 A1 - Document ID: US20080188835A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/101,095 - Filed: 2008-04-10 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-18 - Assignees: CoolTouch Incorporated - Inventors: David R. Hennings; Mitchel P. Goldman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080188835A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/203: {applying laser energy to the outside of the body} - A61B 18/22: the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; {Couplings or} hand-pieces therefor - A61B 18/28: for heating a thermal probe or absorber - A61B 2017/00747: {Dermatology} - A61B 2018/00452: {Skin} - A61B 2018/00464: {Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis} - A61B 2018/2005: {with beam delivery through an interstitially insertable device, e.g. needle} - A61N 2005/0659: {infrared} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A handpiece and method of use for laser-assisted liposuction for melting, disrupting, and removing cellulite and adipose tissue. Electromagnetic energy is used to selectively melt or disrupt cellulite and adipose tissue and ablate the collagen in the constricting bands of connective tissue that causes the dimpled appearance of cellulite and adipose tissue, while avoiding damage to the surrounding fatty cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 a firing tip at a distal end thereof, the firing 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; and a compression seal located at the proximal end of the hollow cannula to seal the fiber access port from the outside suction source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which the compression seal is a Touhy Borst adapter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a laser source having emitting characteristics for generating a laser beam that causes the ablation of undesirable connective tissue ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits at a wavelength between about 300 nm and about 3000 nm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits at a wavelength between about 800 nm and about 2200 nm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits at a wavelength between about 1.3 um and about 1.6 um. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits at a wavelength of 1320 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits a continuous output. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits a pulsed output. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 wherein the pulse length is between about 50 and about 400 microseconds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the optical fiber laser delivery device is between about 100 microns and about 1000 microns in diameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the optical fiber laser delivery device is between about 300 microns and about 600 microns in diameter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3 wherein the laser source emits a pulsed beam with an energy flux between about 1 J/cm2 and about 150 J/cm2. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a bushing portion located around the opening at the distal end of the tip of the hollow cannula to protect the firing tip of the optical fiber laser delivery device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which the diameter of the opening at the distal end of the hollow cannula is slightly greater than the diameter of the optic fiber to provide a close tolerance between the optical fiber laser delivery device and the opening at the distal end of the hollow cannula. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which the optical fiber laser delivery device is coated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16 in which the optical fiber laser delivery device is protected by a C-flex coating. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16 in which the coating of the optical fiber laser delivery device is Teflon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16 in which the coating of the optical fiber laser delivery device is polyimide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16 in which the coating of the optical fiber laser delivery device is gold. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which the tip at the distal end of the hollow cannula is blunt. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in the form of a handpiece which can be used manually. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in the form of a bench-mounted, automated laser delivery device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising mechanism for delivering compounds into the sub dermal area along with delivery of laser energy to the treatment target area. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24 in which the compound includes one or more of the following ingredients: phosphatidyl choline, sodium deoxycholate, multivitamins, alpha lipid acid, enzymes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics and hormones, other mesotherapy, lipotherapy, other wound-healing factors or lipodissolve drugs. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24 in which cannula used for introducing the optical fiber laser delivery device is also used for delivery of the compounds therethrough. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24 in which delivery of the compounds is concentrated in areas of cellulite that have excessive fat. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24 further comprising injection mechanism for delivery of the compounds to the treatment target area. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24 in which the compounds are delivered through the hollow cannula to the target tissue by use of a tumescent infusion pump. ### Claim 30 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. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The device of claim 30 in which the thermal sensor is a thermocouple. ### Claim 32 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. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of: cutting through fibrous strands of connective tissue in cellulite and adipose tissue with the emitting tip while the cannula is advancing through the connective structure, cellulite and adipose tissue. ### Claim 34 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. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 further comprising the following step: Acoustically determining the presence of melted fat prior to activation of suction for removal of aspirate. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 in which an increase in popping sounds determine the presence of melted fat prior to activation of suction for removal of aspirate. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34 further comprising the following step: delivering wound healing compounds, lipotherapy and/or meseotherapy drugs through the hollow cannula to the laser treated cellulite or adipose tissue. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37 in which the wound healing compounds, lipotherapy and/or meseotherapy drugs are delivered through the hollow cannula to the laser treated cellulite or adipose tissue. ### Claim 39 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. ### Claim 40 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. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of claim 40 further comprising the step of: collecting real-time thermal feedback from the thermal sensor located at the site of the treated cellulite and adipose tissue. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of: monitoring the thermal profile to prevent undesirable damage to the tissue. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of: controlling intensity of the laser beam to prevent undesirable damage to the tissue.