Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
  • A61F7/007—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body characterised by electric heating
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
  • A61F2007/0001—Body part
  • A61F2007/0052—Body part for treatment of skin or hair
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
  • A61F7/007—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body characterised by electric heating
  • A61F2007/0075—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body characterised by electric heating using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled

Definitions

• the present inventions are directed to the cooling of a targeted area of lipid-rich cells and, in particular, to the cooling of the targeted lipid-rich cells at a predetermined range of temperatures for a predetermined period of time to crystallize the lipid-rich cells due to the cooling effects.
• Cryotherapy is a local or general use of low temperatures, generally exposing the body to subzero (0°C) temperatures, for health benefits.
• Cryotherapy has been used to decrease inflammation, increase cellular survival, decrease pain and spasms, and promote overall health.
• Cryotherapy is not generally considered a medical procedure, but a non-invasive option for people seeking relief from pain and faster recovery from injuries.
• the application of extreme cold temperature has also been used to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue.
• Cryotherapy has also been used to treat a number of diseases and disorders, such as warts, moles, skin tags, solar keratoses, as well as to treat inflammation due to gout.
• Cryotherapy has also been used to cool targeted lipid-rich cells, such as excess body fat, to crystallize the lipid-rich cells to reduce the fat cells.
• targeted fat cells such as excess body fat
• the crystallized fat cells may die and the immune system of the body naturally eliminates the crystallized fat cells from the body. This results in a localized reduction of fat in the treated area of the body such that the user can target the area of the body to reduce the fat cells and look better.
• One of the advantages of the cooling method for removing fatty tissue is that it does not require surgery or significant recovery time. The cooling method described in U.S. Patent No.
• cryotherapies may utilize a vacuum suction to draw a target area of the body into a chamber to crystallize the fat cells.
• conventional cooling methods are susceptible to improvement.
• conventional vacuum suction methods can cause pain to the user during the procedure and may not be effective in crystalize the fat cells in some cases.
• the present inventor has determined that there is a need for a cooling system that is effective at lowering the temperature, such as below subzero (0°C) temperatures, around a targeted area of the body for health benefits such as crystallizing the targeted fat cells to reduce the fat cells in the targeted area of body/skin with less pain than the current cooling methods.
• a skin cooling system in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having a first side and a second side where the first side is a hot side and the second side is a cold side; an applicator configured to extract heat away from a target area of the skin and having a base thermally coupled to the second side of the TEC; and a coolant source operably coupled to the first side of the TEC and configured to supply gaseous coolant; wherein the gaseous coolant supplied by the coolant source to the TEC extracts heat away from the first side of the TEC such that the second side of the TEC cools the base of the applicator to extract heat away from the target area of the skin to crystalize at least a portion of fat cells underneath the target area of the skin without damaging the skin.
• TEC thermoelectric cooler
• a skin cooling method in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes forming a plurality of protruding bumps within a target area of the skin, at the same time with a single applicator, to stretch the target area of the skin; and cooling the target area of the skin to crystalize fact cells underneath the target area without damaging the skin.
• a cooling system in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having a first side and a second side where the first side is a hot side and the second side is a cold side; an applicator having a base thermally coupled to the second side of the TEC and configured to extract heat away from the target area of the skin; and a coolant source configured to inject cooled gas juxtaposed to the first side of the TEC to extract heat away from the first side of the TEC such that the second side cools the base to extract heat away from the target area of the skin to crystalize at least a portion of fat cells underneath the target area of the skin without damaging the skin.
• TEC thermoelectric cooler
• a cooling system in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes an applicator having a base with a plurality of chambers adapted to draw a targeted area of skin into the plurality of chambers to stretch the surface area of the targeted area of the skin; and a plurality of thermoelectric coolers (TECs), each of the TECs having a first side and a second side where the first side is a hot side and the second side is a cold side, each of the chambers thermally coupled to the second side of TEC to cool the chamber to crystalize a portion of the fat cells within the chamber without damaging the skin.
• TECs thermoelectric coolers
• a cooling system in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes an applicator having a base with a plurality of chambers adapted to draw a targeted area of skin into the plurality of chambers to stretch the surface area of the targeted area of the skin; and a plurality of thermoelectric coolers (TECs), each of the TECs having a first side and a second side where the first side is a hot side and the second side is a cold side, each of the chambers thermally coupled to the second side of TEC to cool the chamber to crystalize a portion of the fat cells within the chamber without damaging the skin.
• TECs thermoelectric coolers
• Figure 1 A shows a cooling system
• Figure IB shows a side view of the cooling system.
• Figure 1C shows another side view of the cooling system.
• Figure 2A shows a top perspective view a base with a plurality of chambers.
• Figure 2B shows a top view of the base.
• Figure 2C shows a cross-sectional view of a chamber along the line 2C-2C of Figure
• Figure 2D shows an underside perspective view of the base with a plurality of pockets formed by their respective chambers.
• Figure 2E shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the base along the line 2E- 2E of Figure 2D.
• Figure 2F shows an alternative cross-sectional view of the base where the chambers are pivotably coupled to each other.
• FIG. 2G shows another perspective view of the base where each of the chambers has a thermal electrical cooler (TEC) placed thereon.
• TEC thermal electrical cooler
• Figure 2H shows another perspective view of the base with a radiator placed over each of the TECs.
• Figure 21 shows another perspective view of the base including a tubing system including an inlet for receiving coolant fluid and outlets juxtaposed to their respective radiators, which are placed over their respective TECs, and fans to convey air out of the applicator.
• Figure 2J shows another perspective view of the base including a canister to provide coolant fluid to the applicator and a vacuum pump to form vacuum pressure within the pockets.
• Figure 2K shows an expanded view of an applicator to illustrate various components within the applicator.
• Figure 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a liner placed over a target area of the skin and the base placed over the liner.
• Figure 3B shows a cross-sectional view of Figure 3 A after vacuum pressure within the chambers pull the target area of the skin into the pockets thereby stretching the target area and increasing the surface area of the skin juxtaposed to the inner side of the chambers thereby reducing the overall thickness of the underside of the target area including the fat cells.
• Figures 3C and 3D illustrate by way of example a cross-sectional view of a target area of the skin before and after, respectively, a cooling treatment as disclosed herein.
• Figure 4A shows a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of an invention.
• Figure 4B shows a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of an invention.
• Figure 4C shows a flow chart illustrating yet another embodiment of an invention.
• FIG. 1 A shows a perspective of an exemplary cooling system 100 adapted to cool a target area of a body.
• the cooling system 100 may include an applicator 102, a coolant source 104, a power supply 106, and a liner 108.
• the applicator 102 may include a container 110 that may be defined by a first side 112, a second side 114 opposite of the first side 112, a third side 116, a fourth side 118, a fifth side 120, and a sixth side 122.
• the first side 112 may have a plurality of holes 124 to ventilate the air within the container 110.
• the fourth side 118 may have an adaptor 126 configured to receive and couple to the coolant source 104.
• the coolant source may have an outlet 105 that may release the coolant within the coolant source 104 in a regulated manner.
• the fifth and sixth sides 120 and 122 may have their respective handles 128 and 130 to allow a user to grab the applicator 102.
• the power supply 106 may have a plug end 132 adapted to couple to the applicator 102 at any one of its sides to provide power to applicator 102.
• the power supply may be provided in many forms such as an external power supply that plugs into an electrical outlet or as an internal battery that can be recharged to allow the applicator 102 to be mobile.
• Figure IB shows the third side 116 between the fifth and sixth sides 120 and 122, respectively, of the applicator 102 along a longitudinal axis 141.
• the third side 116 may have a control panel 134 to operate the cooling system 100.
• the control panel 134 may include a variety of control buttons such as a start and stop control display 136, and a time control display 138 and a temperature control display 140 where the user or the program may input the duration of the cooling procedure and the cooling temperature of the applicator via the control displays 138 and 140, respectively; and once the user presses the start and stop display 136 to activate the applicator 102, the displays 138 and 140 may keep track of the time and temperature of the applicator during the period of the activation, as discussed in more detail below.
• the second side 114 of the applicator 102 may have configured or shaped to be placed over a target area of the user’s body.
• the second side 114 which may be the underside of the applicator 102, may have a curved or concave configuration, along a longitudinal axis 141, to allow the second side 114 to contour the convex shape of the user’s body such as around the waist especially the stomach area, back of the shoulder, thigh, arm, neck, chin, buttock, and any other body parts where fat reduction may be desired.
• Figure 1C shows the sixth side 122 of the applicator 102 with ventilation openings 142 and a power socket 144 adapted to receive the plug end 132 from the power supply 106.
• the fourth side 118 may have a cavity 146 adapted to receive the coolant source 104, and the adaptor 126 may be juxtaposed to the cavity 146 to allow the adaptor 126 to releasably couple to the outlet 105 of the coolant source 104.
• the coolant source 104 and its outlet 105 may have a substantially cylindrical body to allow the outlet 105 to couple and decouple to the adaptor 126 by rotating the coolant source 104 in a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction for example, respectively.
• the cavity 146 may have a semi-circular concave configuration to allow the coolant source 104 to slide in and out of the cavity 146.
• the second side 114 may have a sloping surface relative to a transverse longitudinal axis 148 which may be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 141 illustrated in Figure IB.
• Figure 2A shows that the applicator 102 may include a base member 200 in reference to the longitudinal axes 141 and 148 as discussed above in reference to Figures IB and 1C, respectively, where the axis 148 may be perpendicular to the axis 141.
• the base member 200 may represent the second side 114 of the applicator 102.
• the base member 200 may have one or more chambers 202A through 202E, where a first row of chambers 202A and 202B may be staggard relative to the second row of chambers 202C, 202D, and 202E. Note that it is within the scope of the inventions to arrange the chambers 202 in a variety of arrangements.
• Each of the chambers 202 may have a side 220 that resembles an inverted bell shape with a substantially truncated base 204 where the truncated base 204 may be substantially flat.
• the slope of each of the truncated bases 204A through 204E may vary relative to each other to conform with the concave configuration of the underside 206 of base member 200 along the longitudinal axis 141 and the sloping surface along the transverse axis 148. Note that it is within the scope of the inventions to have the surface of the truncated bases from 204A to 204E be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis 141 or axis 148, or be different from each other. Alternatively, a pair or portion of truncated bases may be parallel with respect to each other but not with other bases.
• the base member 200 may be formed from a unitary layer and may be made of a variety of materials that may have thermal heat conductive properties such as metals like aluminum, copper, gold, silver, nickel, and the like known to one of ordinary skilled in the art. Alternatively, composite and/or polymer materials such as plastic materials having thermal heat conductive properties known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used to form the desired base 200 shape.
• the chambers 202 may be also formed from separate parts from the base member 200 where the open end of the chambers 202 may be sealed to the based member 200 as indicated by the dotted lines 205 between the chambers 202.
• the chambers 202 may be formed from a substantially rigid heat conductive material
• the base member 200 may be formed from a flexible material which may or may not be heat conductive material.
• the base member 200 may be formed from a flexible material to allow the base member 200 to form around the curved targe area of the user to fit more comfortably to the user.
• the base member 200 formed from a non-heat conductive material may isolate the heat or cold within the chamber 202 to enhance the performance of the chambers 202 as discussed in more detail below.
• the outer configuration 208 of the base member 200 may form a trapezoidal-like shape.
• each of the chambers 202 may be isolated from each other by having a full or a partial barrier between the chambers 202 along the dotted lines 205, for example. Isolating the chambers 202 may allow for more control over the cooling of the individual chambers 202 as discussed in more detail below.
• Figure 2B shows a top view of the base member 200 with the chambers 202 arranged in a manner discussed above in reference to Figure 2A.
• the applicator 102 may include a first set of tubes 210 including a primary tube 212A that may be fluidly coupled to one or more secondary tubes 212B through 2121.
• the primary and secondary tubes 212A through 2121 may be fluidly coupled to at least one of the chambers 202 to allow the primary tube 212A to form a vacuum pressure within each of the chambers.
• the primary tube 212A may have a first end 214A and a second end 214B where the second end 214B may be coupled to the chamber 202D to draw fluid such as air that may be within the chamber 202D, and then drawn out of the first end 214A, which may form a vacuum pressure within the chamber 202D.
• fluid may be an antifreeze jelly like substance that is resistant to transforming into a solid at about -20°C or lower.
• the antifreeze jelly substance may be applied over the target area of the body and the base member 200 may be placed over the target area of the body, and the vacuum pressure may be formed within the chambers by removing a least a portion of the antifreeze jelly.
• the viscosity the jelly may vary or sufficiently low to allow the vacuum pressure to remove the jelly within the chamber.
• Another alternative is to use apply cooling gel on the target area of the body to precool the target area before the application of the cooling system 100.
• commercially available gels sold by Vaseline® and marketed as “Ice Cool Hydration Lotion” and “Body Ice Cream” or the like may be used.
• the primary tube 212A may also be fluidly coupled to other chambers 202 in the following manner: (1) The tube 212B may fluidly couple the chamber 202C to the primary tube 212A; (2) the tube 212C may fluidly couple the chamber 202E to the primary tube 212A; (3) the tube 212D may fluidly couple the chamber 202A to the primary tube 212A; and the tube 212E may fluidly couple the chamber 202B to the primary tube 212A; (5) and, the tube 212A may fluidly couple the chamber 202D in a manner discussed above.
• each of the chambers 202 may be fluidly coupled to the primary tube 212A by more than one secondary tubes in the following manner: (1) the tube 212F may fluidly couple the chambers 202B and 202E together; (2) the tube 212G may fluidly couple the chambers 202E and 202D together; (3) the tube 212H may fluidly couple the chambers 202D and 202C together; and (4) the tube 2121 may fluidly couple the chambers 202C and 202 A together.
• first and secondary tubes 212 fluidly coupled to each of chambers 202 may allow the first and second set of tubes 212 to form a vacuum pressure within each of the chambers 202 even if one of the first and/or secondary tubes is/are clogged or blocked during the procedure.
• Figure 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the chamber 202E along the sectional line 2C-2C of Figure 2B, which may be representative of other chambers 212.
• the chamber 202E may have the truncated base 204E with a sidewall 220E which may expand outwardly, similar to an inverted bell, although other shapes are within the scope of the inventions, such as an oval, square, rectangular, and irregular configuration.
• the sidewall 220E may terminate to form a rim 222E defining an opening 224E to define a pocket 226E within the chamber 202E.
• the rim 222E may have curved or rounded corner 225E where it may come into contact with the skin.
• the tubes 212C, 212F, and 212G may be fluidly coupled to the chamber 202E to extract air within the pocket 226E to form a vacuum pressure therein.
• the rim 222E may extend out radially to allow the chamber 202E to seal to the base member 200 where the chamber 202E may be formed from a rigid material and the base member 200 may be formed from a flexible material. Note that it is within the scope of the inventions to have the chambers 202 and the base member 200 be formed from a unitary member or separate pieces, and the chambers 202 and the base member 200 be formed from the same material or different materials.
• the truncated base 204E may be formed from a thermally conductive material having a flat surface with a variety of configuration such has a circular area with a diameter D from about 1.0 inch to about 3.0 inches, and in particular from about 1.5 inch to about 2.5 inches.
• the height H of the pocket 226E may be from 0.5 inch to 3.0 inches, and in particular from about 1.0 inch to 2.0 inches. Note that the size of the pocket formed within the chamber may vary depending on the application such as when an applicator is used on a smaller target area such as around the arm or chin.
• Figure 2D shows the underside 206 of the base member 200 facing upwards with the first set of tubes 210 including the first and secondary tubes 212 in dotted lines to indicate that the tubes are behind the base member 200.
• the underside of the chambers 202 may have corresponding holes 230 which may be formed in the inner side of the sidewalls 220A and 220C, for example, to fluidly couple the secondary tubes such as the tube 2121 between the two chambers 202A and 202C.
• the underside of the chambers 202 may also have one or more holes 240 to couple to the primary tube 212A.
• a vacuum pressure may be generated within the chamber 202A by extracting the air within the pocket of the chamber 202 A via the tube 2121, then through one or both of the tubes 212B and/or 212H, and then through the primary tube 212A via holes 230 and 240.
• Each of the chambers 202 may be also coupled to one or more temperature sensors 232.
• the chamber 202B may have a first temperature sensor 232 coupled to the inner side of the truncated base 204B, and second temperature sensor 232 may be coupled to the inner side of the sidewall 220B to measure the temperature of the targeted area of the body and the chamber 202B at their respective locations.
• the temperature sensors may be placed on the outer side of the chambers 202 and located on or in the chambers 202 to provide a more accurate measurement of the targeted area of the body.
• Figure 2E shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the base member 200 along the sectional line 2E-2E of Figure 2D with the underside 206 of the base member 200 facing upwards.
• the chambers 202C, 202D, and 202E may be arranged in an arcing manner with the chamber 202D between the chambers 202C and 202E.
• the rims 222C and 222D may be juxtaposed to each other with a layer of base member 200 therebetween; and likewise, the rims 22D and 222E may have a layer of base member 200 therebetween.
• the base member 200 may be formed from a flexible material to allow each of the chambers 202 to flex individually to provide a comfortable fitting onto a target area of the body.
• Each of the chambers 202 may also have one or more holes 240 to fluidly couple the first set of tubes to the primary tube 212A.
• Figure 2F shows an alternative embodiment where the rims 222C and 222D may be pivotably coupled to each other about a pivot axis 242 such as by interlocking the two rims 222C and 222D together; and likewise interlocking the rims 222D and 222E together about a pivot axis 244.
• FIG. 2G shows a perspective view of the base member 200 of Figure 2B.
• the applicator 102 may include one or more thermal electrical coolers (TECs) 250 with a hot side 252 and a cold side 254 to cool a targeted area of the skin within a predetermined range of temperatures for a predetermined period of time.
• TECs thermal electrical coolers
• one or more of the truncated bases 204 may be thermally coupled to the cold side 254 of the TECs 250 such that the hot side 252 faces upwards.
• the TEC may have a variety of configurations such as a square shape as illustrated in Figure 2G, rectangular, circular, and irregular shape.
• the diagonal side of the square shape TEC may be equal to or less than the diameter of the base 204 such that the TECs may not overlap the surface area of the truncated base 204. Note that it is within the scope of the inventions where the TEC may overlap the truncated base 204.
• FIG. 2H shows a perspective view of the base member 200.
• the applicator 102 may include a radiator 256 thermally coupled to the hot side 252 of each of the TECs to dissipate the heat away from the TECs.
• each of the TECs 250 may be between the base 204 and the radiator 256, and thermally coupled to each other to dissipate the heat away from the hot side of the TECs.
• the radiator 256 may have a plurality of fins 258 to increase the surface area to improve the efficiency of radiating the heat away from the hot side of the TEC.
• the radiator 256 may be formed from a thermally conductive materials such as aluminum, copper, or other materials known to one skilled in the art; and the configuration of the fins 258 in the radiator may be design to efficiently radiate the heat away from the hot side 252 of the TEC 250 so that the cold side 254 may cool the base 204 at the desired cool temperature to effectively chill the fat cell underneath the targeted area of the skin as discussed in more detail below.
• TECs 250 may utilize the Peltier effect where whenever direct current passes through the circuit of heterogeneous conductors, heat is either released or absorbed at the conductors' junctions, which depends on the current polarity. The amount of heat may be proportional to the current that passes through conductors.
• the first side 252 may be hot while the opposite second side 254 may be cold or cooler relative to the first side 252, and vice versa if the polarity of the direct current is reversed.
• the heat generated on the hot side is effectively dissipated into heat sinks such as the radiator and further into the surrounding environment, then the temperature on the cold side may be much lower than that of the ambient by dozens of degrees.
• the TEC’ s cooling capacity may be proportional to the current passing through the interconnected layer between the first and second sides.
• Figure 21 shows that the applicator 102 may include a duct system 260 having one or more inlets 262 and one or more outlets 264.
• the duct system 260 may include one inlet 262 and a plurality of outlets 264A through 264D juxtaposed to their respective radiators 256A through 256E.
• the duct system 260 may convey cooling fluid provided into the inlet 262 to distribute the cooling fluid in a substantially even manner via the outlets 264.
• the inlet 262 may be formed within the adaptor 126, in reference in Figure 1A, to fluidly couple to the outlet 105 of the coolant source 104.
• the duct system 260 may include a regulator 266 to regulate the amount of cooling fluid provided by the coolant source 104 to the radiator(s) depending on the program to crystalize the fat cell underneath the target area.
• the regulator may also provide substantially even distribution of the cooling fluid to each of the outlets 262. Note that it is within the scope of the inventions to have a regulator fluidly coupled to each of the outlets 264A through 264D so that each of the outlets may independently release cooling fluid onto its respective radiator 256. This may allow the applicator 100 to independently control the cooling temperature at each of the chambers 202 such that a portion of the target area which may have more fat cells may be cooled at a different cooling temperature and at different rate to more effectively crystalize the fat cells underneath the target area.
• the regulator 266 may also close or open the duct system 250 such that the temperature at the target area is within a desired cooling temperature parameter.
• the regulator 266 may also partially or fully open the duct system 250 to control the amount of heat dissipated away from the radiators 250 such that the temperature at the target area is within a desired cooling temperature.
• the duct system 260 may also include: a first duct 265 to convey the cooling fluid to the outlets 256C, 256D, and 256E; a second duct 267 fluidly coupling the first duct 265 to the third duct 269, which provides cooling fluid to the outlets 264 A and 264B.
• the outlets 264 may disperse or inject the cooling fluid above the fins 258 to efficiently extract the heat away from the hot side of the TEC.
• the applicator 102 may also include one or more fans 270 to extract the heat away from the applicator 102 and into the surrounding environment through the holes 124, illustrated in Figure 1 A, to assist with cooling the hot sides of the TECs.
• Figure 2J shows that the applicator 102 may include a vacuum pump 280 fluidly coupled to the first end 214A of the primary tube 212A to form a vacuum pressure within the pockets of the chambers 202 A through 202E via the first and second set of tubes 210 in a manner discussed above.
• Figure 2J also illustrates the outlet 105 of the cooling source 104 juxtaposed to the inlet 262 of the adaptor 126 where the inlet 262 may be adapted to fluidly couple to the outlet 105 to receive the coolant fluid.
• a suitable coolant may include a liquid that cools as it expands to a gas, such as a gas compressed to liquid form, or a gas that cools as it expands, such as a compressed gas.
• a suitable gas may include CO2 that cools as it expands or compressed air.
• a suitable liquid includes, for example, diflouroethane, which is commonly provided as compressed air marketed for computer keyboard cleaning. The device uses the expansion of a portion of the cooling liquid into gas as the liquid travels through a tube in order to absorb energy and cool the adjacent environment.
• the cooling source 104 may be provided as a canister containing the cooling fluid in a pressurized manner with sufficient volume to maintain hot side 252 of the TEC 250 at a desired temperature to allow the cold side 254 to cool its corresponding chamber 202 at a desired cool temperature to freeze and/or harden the fat cell underneath the targeted area of the skin for a predetermined time without damaging the skin.
• the coolant fluid such as in the gas form, may disperse from the outlets 264A through 256E located juxtaposed to their respective radiators 256A through 256E such that the cool gas injected onto the radiators may remove or dissipate heat away from the radiators via convection to cool the radiators thereby cooling the hot side 252 of the TECs 250.
• the canister 104 may provide sufficient cooling fluid, in gaseous form for example, to inject cooled fluid at a temperature from +20°C to about -20°C, or from about +10°C to about -10°C, or from about +5°C to about -5°C, or at about 0°C for about 30 minutes to about 120 minutes, or from about 45 minutes to about 90 minutes, or from about 60 minutes to about 75 minutes.
• this may allow the cold side of the TEC to substantially cool the inner side of its respective chamber from 0°C to about -20°C for at least 120 minutes, or from 0°C to -10°C for at least 90 minutes, or from 0°C to -10°C for at least 60 minutes, or from 0°C to -10°C for about 30 minutes, to crystalize the fat cells within the target area of the skin.
• Figure 2K shows an expanded side view of the applicator 102 illustrating an exemplary layout of the various elements discussed above.
• the second side 114 may have an opening (not shown) adapted to correspond with the outer configuration 208 of the base member 200 and couple together.
• the side view also illustrates the tube 2121 fluidly coupling the chamber 202 A to the chamber 202C; the tube 212B coupling the chamber 202C to the primary tube 212A; and the primary tube 212A coupled to the vacuum pump 280.
• the TECs may be position between their respective base 204 and radiator 256.
• the cold side 254 of the TEC may be thermally coupled to the base 204 to cool the base 204 as discussed above, and the hot side 252 of the TEC may be thermally coupled to the radiator 256 to radiate the heat away from the hot side 252 to improve the performance of the TECs to keep the cold side cool at the desired cooling temperature to damage the fat cells without damaging the skin.
• the TEC 250A may be located between the base 204A and the radiator 256A with thermal paste between the base 204 and the cold side 254, and thermal paste between the hot side 252A and the radiator 256A to improve the efficiency of conducting heat away from the base to the radiator.
• Figure 2K also illustrates the duct system 260 with the outlets 264 position juxtaposed to their respective radiators 256 to cool the radiators to maintain the temperature of the base 204 within a predetermined range.
• the cooling source 104 may be fluidly coupled to the duct system 260 to inject cooling fluid via the duct system 260 to cool the radiators.
• the applicator 102 may also include one or more fans 270 to remove the heated air surrounding the radiators 256 within the applicator 102 and to the outer surrounding.
• Each chamber 202 may be also isolated from each other as discussed above in reference to Figure 2A; and under such embodiment, each of the chambers 202 may have fan 270 to remove heat away from the radiator.
• the elements discussed above may be enclosed between the first side 112 and the second side 114.
• the cooling source 104 may be located outside of the applicator 102 so that it can be replaced when the cooling fluid within the cooling source 104 becomes low.
• Figure 3 A shows a cross-sectional view of the applicator 102 applied over a targeted area of the skin 300 with a liner 108 between the cooling chambers 202 and the targeted area of the skin 300.
• the current or power to the TECs 250 may be provided by electrical wires (not shown), along with other wires for temperature sensors 232 (not shown).
• the liner 108 may be soaked with antifreeze solution to protect the targeted skin from freeze damage such as freezer burns.
• antifreeze jelly or cooling gel may be applied to the target area as discussed above.
• the adjacent cooling chambers 202 may have an obtuse angle relative to each other to better contour the curvature shape of the user’s abdomen, flanks, buttocks, back, chin, foot, inner and outer thighs, and the like.
• the cooling chambers 202 may be also shaped and sized to contour the smaller portions of the body such as lower face, submentum, and neck as well.
• the cross-sectional view shows that the targeted area 300 of the skin includes an epidermis layer 302, a dermis layer 304, and a subcutaneous adipose layer 306, which may be represented as an overall thickness Tl.
• the epidermis layer 302 may also be described as the surface layer of the skin
• the subcutaneous layer 306 may also be described as the fat cells.
• a targeted area of the skin is cooled at a predetermined cool temperature range for a period of time
• a portion of the subcutaneous layer may freeze or crystalize.
• the fat cells may freeze at an elevated temperature compared to its top epidermis and dermis layers such that the fat cells underneath the epidermis and dermis layers may crystalize or freeze without damaging the epidermis and dermis layers.
• Figure 3B illustrates the vacuum pump 280 being activated to at least partially remove the air within the pockets 226C, 226D, and 226E via the tubes 210 to at least a partially draw the targeted area of the skin 300 into the pockets 226. This may minimize the gap between the target area of the skin and the chambers 202 to improve the efficiency of conducting heat away from the targeted area of the skin 300.
• the surface area of the skin 300 may form an irregular or truncated sinusoidal like shape along the longitudinal axes 141 and 148 thereby stretching and/or increasing the surface area of the skin 300 in comparison to the target area of the skin 300 prior to being drawn into the chambers 226 as illustrated in Figure 3A.
• the target area of the skin having a truncated sinusoidal like configuration may form peaks and valleys with a difference of about height H in reference to Figure 2C.
• the pockets 226 formed within the chambers 202 may have a variety of different shapes or forms.
• a portion of the targeted area of the skin 300 drawn into the pocket may have a truncated inverted bell like shape, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 2C, where the height H of the pocket 226 may be less than the width or diameter D, which may minimize the pinch pain to the user during the cooling procedure. Note that it is within the scope of the inventions to have the height H that is equal or greater than the width or diameter D.
• the overall thickness underneath the target area of the skin 300 may get thinner including the epidermis layer 302, dermis layer 304, and subcutaneous adipose or fat cellular layer 306 such that the combination of layers underneath the target area of the skin 300, as represented as the thickness T2 in Figure 3B, may be thinner than Tl, or T2 ⁇ Tl.
• the base 102 may be formed from a flexible material to allow the base 102 to conform to the contour of the targeted area of the body 300 as illustrated by the difference in the curvature of the same base 102 shown in Figure 3 A versus Figure 3B. where the curvature of the body may be different such as between front the abdomen and side flanks.
• an applicator having one or more chambers to stretch the target area of the skin
• an applicator may have a substantially smooth base where cool gas injected onto the radiators may remove or dissipate heat away from the radiators via convection to cool the radiators thereby cooling the hot side of the TEC.
• the applicator with smooth base may be utilized in areas of the body where it may not be pinchable or areas where vacuum pressure may not be able to draw a substantial portion of the target area of the skin into the vacuum chamber.
• Figure 3C illustrates by way of example, a cross-sectional view of the targeted area of the skin 300 before the cooling procedure
• Figure 3D illustrates by way of example, a cross-sectional view of the targeted area of the skin 300 after the cooling procedure, as discussed above, where about 90 days after the procedure, the targeted area of the skin may have 5% to 20% less fat cells than before.
• FIG. 4A shows a flow chart 400 to illustrate one possible method of the cooling the target area 300 with the applicator 102.
• the liner 108 in preparation for the cooling procedure, may be placed over the target area of the skin 300.
• the protective liner may be provided in a variety of configuration and shape depending the target area. For example, for target areas such as the lower abdomen, the liner may have a rectangular shape, which may be soaked with antifreeze additive to protect the skin from freezer bum.
• the applicator 102 may be placed over the targeted area 300.
• the applicator 102 may be placed over the target area 300 with the liner 108 between the target area 300 and the applicator.
• the applicator 102 may be secured over the targeted area of the skin using an elastic strap (not shown) wrapped around the abdomen around the torso.
• the strap may ensure that the applicator does not move around relative to the targeted area of the skin during the procedure; and the strap may allow the user to selfadminister the cooling procedure using the applicator 102 with an aid from another person.
• the air within the pockets 226 of the chambers 202 may be remove to increase the surface area contact between the target area of the skin 300 and the inner side of the chambers 202, which may stretch the target area of the skin thereby reducing the overall thickness T2 of the target area as discussed above in reference to Figure 3B.
• the power provided to the TECs may be controlled to cool the targeted area of the skin within a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined amount of time.
• the cooling temperature within the pockets 226 may be controlled by turning ON and OFF the power to the TEC(s) to maintain the temperature within a predetermined range.
• one or more temperature sensors may be placed near the inner surface area of the chambers 202 to monitor the temperature of the target area of the skin and substantially maintain the temperature within a predetermined temperature range. If the predetermined temperature range at the target area of the skin is from 0°C to -4°C, then the power supply may provide power to the TEC(s) when the temperature is near 0°C and the power may be turned off when the temperature is near -4°C, and vice versa. Alternatively, the power to the TEC(s) may increase when the temperature is near 0°C; and conversely, the power may be decreased when the temperature is near -4°C.
• the coolant fluid provided to each of chambers may be regulated by the regulator 126, for example, to control the cooling temperature at the target area of the skin.
• amount or flow rate of the coolant fluid provided to the radiators 256 may determine the heat dissipation rate from the hot side of the TEC(s), which in turn can determine the cooling temperature at the cold side of the TEC(s), which in turn can control the cooling temperature at the target area of the skin.
• the cooling temperature at the target area of the skin may be controlled by either controlling the power provided to the TEC(s) in manner discussed above in reference to step 408, or by regulating the coolant fluid provided to the radiators 256 thermally coupled to their respective chambers 202, or a combination of controlling the power to the TEC(s) and regulating the flow rate of the coolant fluid to the radiators.
• the performance of the applicator such as the efficiency of the thermal materials used for the radiators and the chambers, such as using copper material versus aluminum, along with the construction of the radiators such as a number of fine, and the efficiency of the thermal contacts among the radiator, TEC, and the chambers.
• the cooling temperature ranges discussed above in regards to the applicator should not be taken as limiting the scope of the inventions in anyway.
• the applicator may be removed from the targeted area of the skin.
• the targeted area of the skin may be hardened due to a portion of the subcutaneous fat cells being harden or frozen.
• the harden target area of the skin may be massaged to soften the hardened area of skin.
• the massaging of the harden area of the skin may separate the crystalized fat cells from non-crystalized fat cells to allow the natural immune system to remove the crystalized fat cells more effectively, and this may allow the targeted area of the skin to reduce the fat cells more evenly.
• FIG. 4B shows a flow chart 420 to illustrate another possible method of the cooling the target area 300 with the applicator 102.
• the liner 108 may be placed over the target area of the skin 300.
• an applicator having at least two chambers which are at least partially isolated from each other may be placed over the protective liner 108 where each of the chambers has a TEC.
• each of the chambers 202 may be partially or entirely isolated from each other by placing a barrier along the dotted lines 205, for example.
• the air within the pockets 226 of the chambers 202 may be remove to increase the surface area contact between the target area of the skin 300 and the inner side of the chambers 202.
• the power to the TECs may be independently controlled to cool a portion of the targeted area of the skin within each of the chambers at a different temperature range, if desired.
• the power provided to the TEC 250D may be provided with more power to crystalize more of the fat cells within the pocket 226D to provide a more even fat reduction among the target area of the skin drawn into the pockets 226C, 226D, and 226E.
• the coolant fluid provided to each of chambers 202 may be regulated independently by providing a regulator juxtaposed to each of the outlets 264. With each of the chambers 202 at least partially isolated from each other, the flow rate of the coolant fluid provided to each of the chamber may be controlled independently to crystalize the fat cells in each of the pockets at different rate depending on the amount of fat cells within each of the pockets.
• the applicator may be removed from the targeted area of the skin.
• Figure 4C shows a flow chart 440 to illustrate yet another possible method of the cooling the target area 300 with the applicator 102.
• the target area of the skin may be stretched by forming a plurality of protruding bumps within the target area.
• the surface area of the skin 300 may be formed to have a plurality of bumps within the target area where the bumps may have a variety of configurations such as an irregular, sinusoidal, or truncated sinusoidal like shape along one or both axes such as the axis 141 and/or the axis 148, as illustrated in Figure 2A.
• Forming the plurality of bumps may stretch and/or increase the surface area of the skin 300 in comparison to the target area of the skin 300 from the original state as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B.
• the target area of the skin having a truncated sinusoidal like configuration may form peaks and valleys with a difference of about height H in reference to Figure 2C, where height H may vary depending on the application.
• the overall thickness of the target area of the skin including the fat cells may decrease such T2 ⁇ Tl.
• the target area 300 is treated with cooling energy to crystalize the fact cells underneath the target area of the skin without damaging the skin.
• the epidermis and dermis layers 302 and 304 may provide less insulation upon the subcutaneous or fat cell 306 underneath such that the cooling energy from the chambers 202 may more efficiently crystalize or freeze the fat cells at the targeted area of the skin 300.
• the target area of the skin 300 may be massaged to separate the crystalized fat cells from non-crystalized fat cells to allow the natural immune system to remove the crystalized fat cells more effectively.
• the cooling plates may be formed utilizing 3D printing technology to customize certain features of the body such as the chin or foot to better fit such body parts to improve the thermal conductivity between the customized cooling plate and the body parts.
• various features and functionalities described in this application and Figures may be combined individually and/or plurality of features and functionalities with others. Accordingly, the inventions are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-16 WO PCT/US2021/055324 patent/WO2022082076A1/en unknown
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