Home-use applicators for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells via phase change coolants, and associates devices, systems and methods

A cooling device for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a human, comprising:

• a coolant vessel having a coolant with a first liquid/solid phase transition temperature less than about −3° C.;
• a heat exchanger positioned within the coolant vessel and housing a heat transfer fluid having a second liquid/solid phase transition temperature less than the first liquid/solid phase transition temperature;
• and
• an applicator operatively coupled to the heat exchanger via a closed-loop path that circulates the heat transfer fluid to transfer heat from the applicator to the coolant, wherein the first liquid/solid phase transition temperature is selected to produce a temperature at the applicator that selectively reduces the lipid-rich cells via thermal communication between the applicator and human skin, and wherein the temperature produced at the applicator is less than about 0° C.;
• a fluid driver configured to be activated to direct the heat transfer fluid between the applicator and the heat exchanger;
• and
• a controller programmed to cause the fluid driver to circulate the heat transfer fluid along the closed-loop path while the coolant is capable of undergoing a solid to liquid/gel phase change such that the temperature of the applicator is sufficiently low for a sufficient length of time so as to reduce the lipid-rich cells via the thermal communication between the applicator and the lipid-rich cells, and wherein the controller is programmed to automatically deactivate the fluid driver based on a temperature of the coolant exceeding a threshold temperature.

A cooling device for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a human, comprising:

• a coolant vessel having a coolant with a first liquid/solid phase transition temperature less than about −3 degrees Celsius;
• a heat exchanger positioned within the coolant vessel and housing a heat transfer fluid having a second liquid/solid phase transition temperature that is less than the first liquid/solid phase transition temperature;
• an applicator operatively coupled to the heat exchanger via a closed-loop path that circulates the heat transfer fluid to transfer heat from the applicator to the coolant;
• a heater in thermal communication with the heat transfer fluid;
• a fluid driver configured to direct the heat transfer fluid between the applicator and the heat exchanger;
• and a controller programmed to automatically cause the heater to increase a temperature of the heat transfer fluid when the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is lower than a predetermined temperature, wherein the controller is programmed to automatically control activation of the fluid driver based on a temperature of the coolant, and wherein the controller is programmed to command the fluid driver to cause the heat transfer fluid to flow along the closed-loop path such that a surface of the applicator is at a sufficiently low temperature for a sufficient length of time to reduce the lipid-rich cells via thermal communication between the surface of the applicator and human skin.