Home-use applicators for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells via phase change coolants

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

• an applicator releasably positionable against human skin, the applicator including:
• a flexible, fluid-tight envelope having an entry port, an exit port, a fluid chamber, and first and second oppositely-facing internal surfaces positioned on opposite sides of the fluid chamber;
• and
• a porous internal structure positioned within the envelope between the entry port and the exit port, positioned directly between the first and second internal surfaces of the envelope, and positioned throughout substantially the entire fluid chamber, the internal structure including layers of fibrous material in a face-to-face arrangement such that the layers of fibrous material slidably contact one another over substantially an entire length of the porous internal structure when the flexible, fluid-tight envelope is filled with a pressurized fluid, the porous internal structure:
• (a) having a buckling strength sufficient to prevent the envelope from collapsing on itself when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure below a pressure external to the envelope, wherein the internal structure has a buckling strength sufficient to prevent the envelope from collapsing on itself when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure of up to 10 psi below a pressure external to the envelope, and
• (b) being attached to an inner surface of the envelope to at least restrict the envelope from bulging when a pressurized fluid is applied to an entry port.

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

• an applicator releasably positionable against human skin, the applicator including:
• a flexible, fluid-tight envelope having an entry port, an exit port, and a fluid holding chamber;
• and
• a porous internal structure positioned within the fluid holding chamber and located between the entry port and the exit port, wherein the internal structure includes multiple layers of fibrous material positioned face-to-face such that the layers of fibrous material slidably contact one another along substantially an entire length of the porous internal structure when the envelope is completely filled with a pressurized fluid, the internal structure:
• (a) having a buckling strength sufficient to prevent the envelope from collapsing on itself when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure below a pressure external to the envelope, and
• (b) being attached to an inner surface of the envelope to at least restrict the envelope from bulging when the pressurized fluid is applied to an entry port.

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

• an applicator configured to be positioned against human skin, the applicator including:
• a flexible, fluid-tight envelope having an entry port, an exit port, and first and second oppositely-facing internal surfaces;
• and
• an internal structure contained within the envelope and positioned directly between the first and second internal surfaces, the internal structure occupying a majority of a volume of a chamber in the envelope and configured to diffuse fluid through the chamber of the envelope, the internal structure including layers of fibrous material positioned face-to-face such that the layers of fibrous material slidably contact one another along substantially an entire length of the porous internal structure when the envelope is completely filled with a pressurized fluid, the internal structure:
• (a) having a sufficient buckling strength and being positioned to prevent contact between opposing inner surfaces of the envelope when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure below a pressure external to the envelope and fluid flows through the internal structure, and
• (b) being attached to an inner surface of the envelope to at least restrict the envelope from bulging when fluid applied to an entry port is pressurized.

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

• an applicator configured to be positioned against human skin, the applicator including:
• a flexible, fluid-tight envelope having an entry port, an exit port, and first and second oppositely-facing internal surfaces;
• and
• an internal structure contained within the envelope and positioned directly between the first and second internal surfaces, the internal structure occupying a majority of a volume of a chamber in the envelope and configured to diffuse fluid through the chamber of the envelope, the internal structure:
• (a) having a sufficient buckling strength and being positioned to prevent contact between opposing inner surfaces of the envelope when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure below a pressure external to the envelope and fluid flows through the internal structure, and
• (b) being attached to an inner surface of the envelope to at least restrict the envelope from bulging when fluid applied to an entry port is pressurized,
• a heat exchanger;
• and
• a fluid driver fluidically coupled to the entry port, the exit port, and the heat exchanger, wherein the internal structure is porous, and wherein the fluid driver is configured to cause fluid that has been cooled by the heat exchanger to travel through the porous internal structure and to remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue in a human via the applicator in an amount sufficient to selectively reduce the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells.

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

• an applicator releasably positionable against human skin, the applicator including:
• a flexible, fluid-tight envelope having an entry port, an exit port, a first surface, and a second surface;
• and
• a porous internal structure positioned within the envelope between the entry port and the exit port and directly between the first and second surfaces, wherein the internal structure includes multiple layers of fibrous material positioned face-to-face such that the layers of fibrous material slidably contact each other along substantially an entire length of the porous internal structure when the envelope is filled with fluid, and wherein at least one of the multiple layers is slidable relative to the envelope when the envelope is filled with the fluid, the internal structure having a buckling strength sufficient to prevent the envelope from collapsing on itself when the outlet port is exposed to a pressure below a pressure external to the envelope.