Subdermal cryogenic remodeling of muscles, nerves, connective tissue, and/or adipose tissue (fat)
AssigneeMyoScience, Inc.
InventorsLisa Elkins, Ronald Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods treat cosmetic defects, and often apply cooling with at least one tissue-penetrating probe inserted through of the skin of a patient. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissue so as to effect a desired change in a composition of the target tissue and/or a change in its behavior. Exemplary embodiments of the cooling treatments will interfere with the nerve/muscle contractile function chain so as to mitigate wrinkles of the skin. Related treatments may be used therapeutically for treatment of back and other muscle spasms, chronic pain, and the like. Some embodiments may remodel subcutaneous adipose tissue so as to alter a shape or appearance of the skin surface.
Claims15
A system for treating tissue in a patient, said system comprising:
- a body comprising a handpiece having a size and a shape suitable for supporting
- in a hand of an operator, and at least one cooling fluid supply path disposed in the handpiece;
- a probe attached to the handpiece, the probe comprising a probe body and an array of tissue penetrating needles attached thereto, wherein each tissue penetrating needle comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen therebetween fluidly coupled to the cooling fluid supply path, each tissue penetrating needle extending distally from the probe body and insertable into the tissue through a skin surface of the patient, the tissue comprising adipose tissue;
- a cooling fluid source coupleable to the fluid supply path to direct cooling fluid flow into the lumens of the tissue penetrating needles when cooling is initiated, so as to cool the tissue below the skin surface to remodel the adipose tissue and skin surface;
- and
- an electric heater element having a skin engaging surface, the heater element
- adjacent the distal end of the probe body, the heater element directing heat energy into the skin to protect the skin from injury caused by the cooling
- wherein one or more of the needles comprise a fused silica supply tube extending into the lumen thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.