Monitoring the cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, such as the cooling of adipose tissue
AssigneeZeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.
InventorsMitchell E. Levinson, Jesse N. Rosen, Corydon A. Hinton, Kevin S. Springer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method of monitoring, controlling and/or detecting events during the removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue is described. In some examples, the system detects an increase in temperature at a treatment device in contact with the skin of a subject, determines that the increase in temperature is related to a treatment event, and performs an action based on the determination. In some examples, the system shuts off the treatment device, alerts an operator, or reduces the cooling in response to a determined treatment event.
Claims6
A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:
- a treatment device configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin;
- a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin;
- and
- a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of at least one of the treatment device and the at least a portion of the contacted area of skin.
A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:
- a treatment device configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin, wherein the treatment device includes—
- a cooling unit that removes the heat;
- and
- an interface layer configured to be located at least partially between the cooling unit and the skin;
- a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin;
- and
- a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of at least one of the following:
- the treatment device, the at least a portion of the contacted area of skin, at least a portion of the interface layer, and at least a portion of the cooling unit.
A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:
- a treatment device, configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin, wherein the treatment device includes—
- a plate configured to be cooled to a temperature below 0° C.;
- and
- an interface layer that partially surrounds the plate and that is configured to contacts the area of skin;
- a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin;
- and
- a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of the at least one of the following:
- the treatment device, at least a portion of the contacted area of skin, at least a portion of the interface layer, and at least a portion of the plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.