Cryoprotectant for use with a treatment device for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells
AssigneeZeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.
InventorsMitchell E. Levinson, Donald Johnson, Jessica Preciado, Edward A. Ebbers, Daniel Bucks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cryoprotectant for use with a treatment device for improved removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin is provided. The cryoprotectant is a non-freezing liquid, gel, or paste for allowing pre-cooling of the treatment device below 0° C. while preventing the formation of ice thereon. The cryoprotectant may also prevent freezing of the treatment device to the skin or ice from forming from moisture seeping out from the skin. The cryoprotectant may further be hygroscopic, thermally conductive, and biocompatible.
Claims24
1-40. (canceled)
A method for treating a patient at an anatomical region including skin and subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue, the method comprising:
- positioning an absorbent material and a treatment device relative to the skin such that the absorbent material is located between the skin and the treatment device;
- cooling the lipid-rich tissue by transferring heat from the lipid-rich tissue through the skin and through the absorbent material to a cooling element of the treatment device for a period of time while maintaining the cooling element at a temperature within a range from about −20° C. to about 20° C.;
- and
- supplying a bioabsorbable cryoprotectant from the absorbent material to the skin for the period of time while cooling the lipid-rich tissue.
A method for treating a patient at an anatomical region including skin and subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue, the method comprising:
- supplying a bioabsorbable cryoprotectant from a cryoprotectant reservoir to the skin such that at least a portion of the supplied cryoprotectant is absorbed into the skin;
- reducing the lipid-rich tissue by transferring heat from the lipid-rich tissue through the skin and through the cryoprotectant reservoir to a cooling element of a treatment device;
- and
- replenishing the cryoprotectant reservoir while reducing the lipid-rich tissue.
A method for treating a patient at an anatomical region including skin and subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue, the method comprising:
- releasing a bioabsorbable cryoprotectant from an absorbent pad toward the lipid-rich tissue through a first side of the absorbent pad such that at least a portion of the released cryoprotectant absorbs into the skin;
- removing heat from the lipid-rich tissue via a thermal gradient extending from the lipid-rich tissue through the skin and through the absorbent pad to a cooling element at a second side of the absorbent pad, the second side of the absorbent pad being opposite to the first side of the absorbent pad;
- and
- reducing the lipid-rich tissue by removing heat from the lipid-rich tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.