US20200100935A1 - Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue - Google Patents
Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20200100935A1 US20200100935A1 US16/693,273 US201916693273A US2020100935A1 US 20200100935 A1 US20200100935 A1 US 20200100935A1 US 201916693273 A US201916693273 A US 201916693273A US 2020100935 A1 US2020100935 A1 US 2020100935A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- adhesive
- applicator
- skin
- cooling
- composite structure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 143
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 title description 9
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 372
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 371
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 79
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 74
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N glycerol group Chemical group OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 132
- 150000001720 carbohydrates Chemical class 0.000 claims description 44
- 229930091371 Fructose Natural products 0.000 claims description 40
- 239000005715 Fructose Substances 0.000 claims description 40
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims description 38
- 230000009477 glass transition Effects 0.000 claims description 33
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 claims description 24
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N Glucose Natural products OC[C@H]1OC(O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N 0.000 claims description 22
- 239000008103 glucose Substances 0.000 claims description 22
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 150000002231 fructose derivatives Chemical class 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000003349 gelling agent Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethylene glycol Natural products OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920000049 Carbon (fiber) Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004917 carbon fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000004676 glycans Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydroxyacetaldehyde Natural products OCC=O WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000002772 monosaccharides Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001282 polysaccharide Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000005017 polysaccharide Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 claims description 3
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 125000002791 glucosyl group Chemical class C1([C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O1)CO)* 0.000 claims 4
- BJHIKXHVCXFQLS-UYFOZJQFSA-N fructose group Chemical group OCC(=O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO BJHIKXHVCXFQLS-UYFOZJQFSA-N 0.000 claims 2
- 125000003827 glycol group Chemical group 0.000 claims 2
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 abstract description 11
- 238000005728 strengthening Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000003313 weakening effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 134
- 210000003491 skin Anatomy 0.000 description 122
- 210000001519 tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 115
- 210000004027 cell Anatomy 0.000 description 57
- RFSUNEUAIZKAJO-ARQDHWQXSA-N Fructose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@](O)(CO)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O RFSUNEUAIZKAJO-ARQDHWQXSA-N 0.000 description 38
- 150000002632 lipids Chemical class 0.000 description 34
- 239000007767 bonding agent Substances 0.000 description 33
- 238000007920 subcutaneous administration Methods 0.000 description 31
- 239000001797 sucrose acetate isobutyrate Substances 0.000 description 29
- UVGUPMLLGBCFEJ-SWTLDUCYSA-N sucrose acetate isobutyrate Chemical compound CC(C)C(=O)O[C@H]1[C@H](OC(=O)C(C)C)[C@@H](COC(=O)C(C)C)O[C@@]1(COC(C)=O)O[C@@H]1[C@H](OC(=O)C(C)C)[C@@H](OC(=O)C(C)C)[C@H](OC(=O)C(C)C)[C@@H](COC(C)=O)O1 UVGUPMLLGBCFEJ-SWTLDUCYSA-N 0.000 description 29
- 235000010983 sucrose acetate isobutyrate Nutrition 0.000 description 29
- SZXQTJUDPRGNJN-UHFFFAOYSA-N dipropylene glycol Chemical compound OCCCOCCCO SZXQTJUDPRGNJN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 21
- 210000000577 adipose tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 16
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 15
- 239000013529 heat transfer fluid Substances 0.000 description 14
- 239000002577 cryoprotective agent Substances 0.000 description 13
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 12
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 10
- DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propylene glycol Chemical compound CC(O)CO DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 9
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000006907 apoptotic process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000002537 cosmetic Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000001225 therapeutic effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 210000001789 adipocyte Anatomy 0.000 description 6
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 6
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 5
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-VFUOTHLCSA-N beta-D-glucose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-VFUOTHLCSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000030833 cell death Effects 0.000 description 5
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 5
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 5
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 210000001015 abdomen Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 230000001640 apoptogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000036760 body temperature Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000004130 lipolysis Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 206010061218 Inflammation Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 229920000297 Rayon Polymers 0.000 description 3
- CZMRCDWAGMRECN-UGDNZRGBSA-N Sucrose Chemical compound O[C@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@@]1(CO)O[C@@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O1 CZMRCDWAGMRECN-UGDNZRGBSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229930006000 Sucrose Natural products 0.000 description 3
- 210000003423 ankle Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000017531 blood circulation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000001217 buttock Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000004087 circulation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000001815 facial effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000003127 knee Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002964 rayon Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001953 recrystallisation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000004927 skin cell Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 230000002269 spontaneous effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000005720 sucrose Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000000689 upper leg Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 206010063837 Reperfusion injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 206010047139 Vasoconstriction Diseases 0.000 description 2
- XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc monoxide Chemical compound [Zn]=O XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000883 anti-obesity agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001680 brushing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 210000000170 cell membrane Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006184 cosolvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002425 crystallisation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008025 crystallization Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000034994 death Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000113 differential scanning calorimetry Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002500 effect on skin Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009746 freeze damage Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004054 inflammatory process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000028867 ischemia Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 238000007443 liposuction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 206010033675 panniculitis Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000004003 subcutaneous fat Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004781 supercooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008093 supporting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003860 topical agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000025033 vasoconstriction Effects 0.000 description 2
- HDTRYLNUVZCQOY-UHFFFAOYSA-N α-D-glucopyranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside Natural products OC1C(O)C(O)C(CO)OC1OC1C(O)C(O)C(O)C(CO)O1 HDTRYLNUVZCQOY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OWEGMIWEEQEYGQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 100676-05-9 Natural products OC1C(O)C(O)C(CO)OC1OCC1C(O)C(O)C(O)C(OC2C(OC(O)C(O)C2O)CO)O1 OWEGMIWEEQEYGQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001817 Agar Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- 208000023184 Body fat disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 208000034656 Contusions Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000699802 Cricetulus griseus Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920002245 Dextrose equivalent Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 241000233866 Fungi Species 0.000 description 1
- 108010010803 Gelatin Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 206010019280 Heart failures Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000282412 Homo Species 0.000 description 1
- GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-PICCSMPSSA-N Maltose Natural products O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@@H]1O[C@@H]1[C@@H](CO)OC(O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-PICCSMPSSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005679 Peltier effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 206010057249 Phagocytosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- DUFKCOQISQKSAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Polypropylene glycol (m w 1,200-3,000) Chemical compound CC(O)COC(C)CO DUFKCOQISQKSAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HDTRYLNUVZCQOY-WSWWMNSNSA-N Trehalose Natural products O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@@H]1O[C@@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O1 HDTRYLNUVZCQOY-WSWWMNSNSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 208000009443 Vascular Malformations Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008272 agar Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002776 aggregation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004220 aggregation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000172 allergic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- HDTRYLNUVZCQOY-LIZSDCNHSA-N alpha,alpha-trehalose Chemical compound O[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O[C@@H]1O[C@@H]1[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](CO)O1 HDTRYLNUVZCQOY-LIZSDCNHSA-N 0.000 description 1
- WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N alstonine Natural products C1=CC2=C3C=CC=CC3=NC2=C2N1C[C@H]1[C@H](C)OC=C(C(=O)OC)[C@H]1C2 WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 210000003484 anatomy Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000000845 anti-microbial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003782 apoptosis assay Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009925 apoptotic mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000000617 arm Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 208000010668 atopic eczema Diseases 0.000 description 1
- GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-QUYVBRFLSA-N beta-maltose Chemical compound OC[C@H]1O[C@H](O[C@H]2[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)O[C@@H]2CO)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O GUBGYTABKSRVRQ-QUYVBRFLSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036770 blood supply Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001719 carbohydrate derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010428 chromatin condensation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013611 chromosomal DNA Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008645 cold stress Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000959 cryoprotective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002681 cryosurgery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000315 cryotherapy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000004207 dermis Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 235000001916 dieting Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000037228 dieting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002016 disaccharides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004064 dysfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002615 epidermis Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013467 fragmentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006062 fragmentation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008273 gelatin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000159 gelatin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000019322 gelatine Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000011852 gelatine desserts Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 210000004907 gland Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 150000002303 glucose derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000002334 glycols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000012010 growth Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000005556 hormone Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940088597 hormone Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000003642 hunger Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000002209 hydrophobic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920003063 hydroxymethyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229940031574 hydroxymethyl cellulose Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000006910 ice nucleation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000028993 immune response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001976 improved effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006749 inflammatory damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000302 ischemic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002147 killing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002414 leg Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000000265 leukocyte Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005923 long-lasting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000002540 macrophage Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000010534 mechanism of action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002503 metabolic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004060 metabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 210000000107 myocyte Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000003739 neck Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000017074 necrotic cell death Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001338 necrotic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000005036 nerve Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 231100000252 nontoxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000003000 nontoxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100000862 numbness Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000004792 oxidative damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000242 pagocytic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000001539 phagocyte Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000008782 phagocytosis Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005191 phase separation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011176 pooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004321 preservation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002203 pretreatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005522 programmed cell death Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002633 protecting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013074 reference sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000024042 response to gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007665 sagging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000001732 sebaceous gland Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000004904 shortening Methods 0.000 description 1
- GCLGEJMYGQKIIW-UHFFFAOYSA-H sodium hexametaphosphate Chemical compound [Na]OP1(=O)OP(=O)(O[Na])OP(=O)(O[Na])OP(=O)(O[Na])OP(=O)(O[Na])OP(=O)(O[Na])O1 GCLGEJMYGQKIIW-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000527 sonication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037351 starvation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000528 statistical test Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000004304 subcutaneous tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000013589 supplement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002459 sustained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000000106 sweat gland Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006188 syrup Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000020357 syrup Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000009885 systemic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002076 thermal analysis method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001052 transient effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000472 traumatic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011269 treatment regimen Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 208000016261 weight loss Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000004580 weight loss Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036642 wellbeing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011787 zinc oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/02—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques
-
- 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
-
- 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
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
- C09J11/00—Features of adhesives not provided for in group C09J9/00, e.g. additives
- C09J11/02—Non-macromolecular additives
- C09J11/06—Non-macromolecular additives organic
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
- C09J7/00—Adhesives in the form of films or foils
-
- 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
- A61F2007/0002—Head or parts thereof
- A61F2007/0009—Throat or neck
-
- 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
- A61F2007/0002—Head or parts thereof
- A61F2007/0009—Throat or neck
- A61F2007/0011—Neck only
-
- 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
- A61F2007/0002—Head or parts thereof
- A61F2007/0014—Chin
-
- 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
- A61F2007/0054—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
- A61F2007/0056—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water for cooling
-
- 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
-
- 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
- A61F2007/0087—Hand-held applicators
-
- 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
- A61F2007/0093—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body programmed
-
- 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
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
- A61F2007/0225—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling connected to the body or a part thereof
- A61F2007/0226—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling connected to the body or a part thereof adhesive, self-sticking
-
- 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
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
- A61F2007/0225—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling connected to the body or a part thereof
- A61F2007/0239—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling connected to the body or a part thereof using vacuum
-
- 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
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
- A61F2007/0282—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling for particular medical treatments or effects
- A61F2007/029—Fat cell removal or destruction by non-ablative heat treatment
Definitions
- the present disclosure is related to cooling of tissue, such as in the context of cryolipolysis and cryolysis.
- Excess body fat may be present at various locations of a subject's body and may detract from personal appearance.
- Excess subcutaneous fat under the chin and/or around the neck can be cosmetically unappealing and, in some instances, can produce a “double chin.”
- a double chin can cause stretching and/or sagging of skin and may also result in discomfort.
- excess adipose tissue in superficial fat compartments can produce loose facial structures, such as loose jowls, that also cause an undesirable appearance.
- Excess body fat can also be located at the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, knees, and arms, as well as other locations.
- Aesthetic improvement of the human body may involve the selective removal of adipose tissue.
- Invasive procedures e.g., liposuction
- Injection of drugs for reducing adipose tissue can cause significant swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and/or induration.
- Conventional non-invasive treatments for reducing adipose tissue may include regular exercise, application of topical agents, use of weight-loss drugs, dieting, or a combination of these treatments.
- One drawback of these non-invasive treatments is that they may not be effective or even possible under certain circumstances.
- Topical agents and orally administered weight-loss drugs are not an option if, as another example, they cause an undesirable reaction (e.g., an allergic or other negative reaction).
- non-invasive treatments may be ineffective for selectively reducing specific regions of adiposity. For example, localized fat loss around the neck, jaw, cheeks, etc. often cannot be achieved using general or systemic weight-loss methods.
- aesthetic and/or therapeutic improvement of the human body may involve treatment or alteration of non-lipid rich tissue as well as lipid rich tissue, and again conventional treatments sometimes are not suitable for many subjects and cannot effectively target certain regions of tissue necessary for an effective treatment.
- aesthetic and/or therapeutic improvement of the human body may involve treatment or alteration of non-lipid rich tissue as well as lipid rich tissue, and again conventional treatments sometimes are not suitable for many subjects and cannot effectively target certain regions of tissue necessary for an effective treatment.
- FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a subject and a treatment system for cooling tissue in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is an end plan view of an applicator of the treatment system shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 3 .
- FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the applicator of the treatment system shown in FIG. 1 after installation of a removable liner ( FIG. 5 ) and during a cooling procedure performed on the subject shown in FIG. 1 ( FIG. 6 ).
- FIGS. 7-9 are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 6 showing areas around treatment interfaces during cooling treatments in accordance with other respective embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 showing a thermal sensor at a treatment interface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 12-14 are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 6 showing areas around treatment interfaces during cooling treatments in accordance with still other respective embodiments of the present invention.
- FIGS. 15-18 are side views of the subject shown in FIG. 1 and nearby structures at different respective stages during a cooling treatment performed on the subject using the treatment system shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken along line C-C in FIG. 18 at different respective stages during the cooling treatment.
- FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 20 .
- FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a method for cooling a tissue region in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 23 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for a pure bonding agent and for a diluted bonding agent.
- FIG. 24 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for an adhesive including 70% v/v sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and 30% v/v dipropylene glycol.
- SAIB 70% v/v sucrose acetate isobutyrate
- FIG. 25 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for an adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol.
- FIG. 26 is a plot of specific heat and thermal conductivity versus temperature for an adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol.
- FIG. 27 is a plot of thermal diffusivity versus temperature for an adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol.
- the applicator oftentimes includes various sensors that depend on stable contact between the tissue region and the applicator. These sensors, for example, are used to detect conditions such as applicator temperature, tissue temperature, quality of contact between the applicator and the tissue, and tissue properties (e.g., impedance, acoustic, and optical properties, etc.). The sensor readings are sometimes used to detect freeze events which causes treatment parameters to be changed in response thereto.
- any resulting X, Y, or Z axis motion between the applicator and the tissue region can create a serious signal artifact from at least some of these sensors. This, in turn, can lead to false sensor readings and incorrect corrective action, such as under or over cooling, a premature alarm, premature cessation of treatment, incorrect freeze event detections, etc.
- suction and/or restraints e.g., straps
- suction is applied to a subject's skin via an air gap that reduces a skin area available for thermal and physical contact with an applicator.
- the area of a subject's skin in contact with an air gap is directly proportional to the strength of the suction.
- achieving such holding strength by suction may require a large skin area to be in contact with an air gap and, therefore, not available for thermal and physical contact with an applicator.
- suction and restraints In the context of transdermal cooling, decreasing the area of a subject's skin available for thermal and physical contact with an applicator is typically undesirable. Furthermore, strong suction may be uncomfortable during long-duration treatments. Restraints may lessen or eliminate the need for suction, but only in limited cases. For example, unlike suction, restraints are typically not well suited for pulling and holding skin and underlying tissue in contact with three-dimensional surfaces. Also, use of suction and restraints generally allows for undue relative movement between the applicator and the tissue region when the subject moves for any of a variety of reasons which, as mentioned above, can cause false sensor readings, false alarms, and ineffective treatments.
- Methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can at least partially address one or more problems associated with conventional technologies as discussed above and/or other problems whether or not such problems are stated herein.
- Methods in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention include use of temperature-dependent adhesive bonding to promote stable thermal and physical contact between an applicator and a tissue region.
- An adhesive that causes this bonding can be applied to one or more of a subject's skin, a heat transfer surface of an applicator, and an intervening structure (e.g., a liner).
- the adhesive can be applied independently (e.g., as a viscous layer) or carried by an absorbent substrate as part of a composite structure.
- the subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface of the applicator can then be brought together with the adhesive therebetween.
- the applicator can be used to cool the tissue region via the subject's skin, via the heat-transfer surface of the applicator, via the adhesive, and via various other intervening structures or materials when present at the treatment interface.
- the adhesive can also be cooled.
- This cooling of the adhesive can significantly strengthen the adhesion between the subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface of the applicator via the adhesive, thereby reducing or eliminating relative movement between the subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface of the applicator during the treatment.
- both increasing the viscosity of the adhesive and increasing the tackiness of the adhesive in response to cooling may contribute to the strengthened adhesion.
- the adhesive can have a viscosity and tackiness during application low enough to conform readily to irregularities in the subject's skin, but still high enough to maintain its shape.
- the viscosity and tackiness during application can also be low enough to allow an applicator to be ideally placed on the skin and moved into an optimal position.
- the viscosity and tackiness of the adhesive can be high enough to promote stable thermal and physical contact between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the tissue region and to keep the applicator fixed in position relative to the skin regardless of patient motion during the treatment.
- methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention have less or no need for suction, restraints, and/or other mechanisms for maintaining stable thermal and physical contact between an applicator and a tissue region.
- FIGS. 1-27 Specific details of methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to FIGS. 1-27 .
- methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems may be disclosed herein primarily or entirely in the context of cryolipolysis and cryolysis, other contexts in addition to those disclosed herein are within the scope of the present invention.
- the disclosed methods, structures, and systems may be useful in the context of any compatible type of treatment mentioned in the applications and patents listed above and incorporated herein by reference. It should be understood, in general, that other methods, structures, and systems in addition to those disclosed herein are within the scope of the present invention.
- methods, structures, and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have different and/or additional configurations, components, and procedures than those disclosed herein.
- a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that methods, structures, and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be without one or more of the configurations, components, and/or procedures disclosed herein without deviating from the present invention.
- treatment system refers to cosmetic, therapeutic or other medical treatment systems, as well as to any treatment regimens or medical device usage. At least some treatment systems configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are useful for reducing or eliminating excess adipose tissue or other undesirable tissue or enhancing the appearance of skin. In many cases, the treatment systems can be used at various locations, including, for example, a subject's face, neck, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, knees, back, arms, and/or ankles. Treatment systems in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention are well suited for cosmetically beneficial alterations of tissue at targeted anatomical regions.
- Some cosmetic procedures may be for the sole purpose of altering a target region to conform to a cosmetically desirable look, feel, size, shape, and/or other desirable cosmetic characteristic or feature. Accordingly, at least some embodiments of the cosmetic procedures can be performed without providing an appreciable therapeutic effect (e.g., no therapeutic effect). For example, some cosmetic procedures may not include restoration of health, physical integrity, or the physical well-being of a subject.
- the cosmetic methods can target subcutaneous or dermal regions to change a subject's appearance and can include, for example, procedures performed on subject's submental region, face, neck, ankle region, or the like.
- desirable treatments may have therapeutic outcomes, such as alteration of vascular malformations, treatment of glands including sebaceous and sweat glands, treatment of nerves, alteration of body hormones levels (by the reduction of adipose tissue), etc.
- FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, isometric view of a subject 100 and a treatment system 102 for cooling tissue in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the treatment system 102 can include an applicator 104 that conforms closely to contours of the subject's body.
- the applicator 104 is placed at a treatment site 105 under the subject's chin 106 .
- the applicator 104 can be placed at other suitable locations on the subject's body (e.g., at the abdomen, thigh, buttock, knee, back, arm, ankle, etc.).
- the treatment system 102 can include a head support 108 (e.g., a pillow) shaped to snugly receive the subject's head 109 .
- the treatment system 102 can further include a restraint 110 (e.g., a strap) detachably connecting the applicator 104 to the head support 108 .
- the restraint 110 can be configured to press the applicator 104 into firm contact with the subject's skin 111 at the treatment site 105 . Structures and materials at the treatment interface between the applicator 104 and the subject's skin 111 are not shown in FIG. 1 and will be described with reference to subsequent figures.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1 .
- the treatment system 102 can include a control module 112 and a connector 114 (e.g., a cable) extending between the control module 112 and the applicator 104 .
- the control module 112 can include a housing 116 containing a fluid system 118 , a power supply 120 , a suction system 122 , and a controller 124 .
- the fluid system 118 can be configured to chill and to circulate a heat-transfer fluid (e.g., water, glycol, or oil) through the applicator 104 .
- a heat-transfer fluid e.g., water, glycol, or oil
- the fluid system 118 can include suitable fluid-cooling and fluid-circulating components (not shown), such as a fluid chamber, a refrigeration unit, a cooling tower, a thermoelectric chiller, and/or a pump.
- the heat-transfer fluid can be one that transfers heat with or without phase change.
- the fluid system 118 also includes suitable fluid-heating components (also not shown), such as a thermoelectric heater configured to heat the heat-transfer fluid such that the applicator 104 can provide heating as well as cooling at the treatment site 105 .
- the treatment system 102 is configured for cooling only.
- the connector 114 can include an elongate main body 126 and lines 128 (individually identified as lines 128 a - 128 e ) within the main body 126 .
- the lines 128 can extend longitudinally between the control module 112 and the applicator 104 .
- the lines 128 include a supply fluid line 128 a operably connected to the fluid system 118 , a return fluid line 128 b also operably connected to the fluid system 118 , a power line 128 c operably connected to the power supply 120 , a suction line 128 d operably connected to the suction system 122 , and a control line 128 e operably connected to the controller 124 .
- a counterpart of the connector 114 can carry other suitable lines in addition to or instead of the illustrated lines.
- the control module 112 and the applicator 104 can be configured to communicate wirelessly in addition to or instead of communicating via the connector 114 .
- the treatment system 102 can deliver heat-transfer fluid continuously or intermittently from the control module 112 to the applicator 104 via the supply fluid line 128 a .
- the heat-transfer fluid can circulate to absorb heat from the treatment site 105 .
- the heat-transfer fluid can then flow from the applicator 104 back to the control module 112 via the return fluid line 128 b .
- the control module 112 can actively heat the heat-transfer fluid such that warm heat-transfer fluid is circulated through the applicator 104 .
- the heat-transfer fluid can be allowed to warm passively.
- the applicator 104 relies on circulation of heat-transfer fluid to maintain a thermal gradient at the treatment site 105 and thereby drive cooling or heating.
- a counterpart of the applicator 104 can include a thermoelectric element that supplements or takes the place of circulation of heat-transfer fluid to maintain this thermal gradient.
- the thermoelectric element can be configured for cooling (e.g., by the Peltier effect) and/or heating (e.g., by resistance).
- a counterpart of the applicator 104 can rely on circulation of heat-transfer fluid to drive cooling and a thermoelectric element to drive heating.
- the control module 112 can control the suction system 122 to apply suction at the treatment site 105 via the applicator 104 and via the suction line 128 d .
- Suction can be useful for securing a liner (not shown) to the applicator 104 and/or for drawing and holding skin 111 and underlying tissue at the treatment site 105 into contact with the applicator 104 or the applicator liner, and/or for other purposes.
- Suitable suction levels can be selected based on characteristics of the tissue at the treatment site 105 , patient comfort, and/or the holding power of a temperature-dependent adhesive (not shown) at the treatment site 105 .
- the power supply 120 can be configured to provide a direct current voltage for powering electrical elements (e.g., thermal and sensor devices) of the applicator 104 via the power line 128 c .
- the control module 112 can include an input/output device 130 (e.g., a touchscreen) operably connected to the controller 124 .
- the input/output device 130 can display a state of operation of the treatment system 102 and/or a progress of a treatment protocol.
- the controller 124 can be in communication with the applicator 104 and can have instructions for causing the treatment system 102 to use the applicator 104 to cool tissue at the treatment site 105 .
- the controller 124 exchanges data with the applicator 104 via the control line 128 e , via a wireless communication link, via an optical communication link, and/or via another suitable communications link.
- the controller 124 can monitor and adjust a treatment based on, without limitation, one or more treatment profiles and/or patient-specific treatment plans, such as those described, in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,442, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- Suitable treatment profiles and patient-specific treatment plans can include one or more segments, each including a temperature profile, a vacuum level, and/or a duration (e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.).
- a duration e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.
- FIG. 3 is an end plan view of the applicator 104 .
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 3 .
- FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the applicator 104 after installation of a removable liner 131 ( FIG. 5 ) and during a cooling procedure performed on the subject 100 ( FIG. 6 ).
- the applicator 104 can define a tissue-receiving cavity 132 and can include a heat-transfer surface 134 within the cavity 132 .
- the heat-transfer surface 134 can be a durable surface through which the applicator 104 is configured to cool tissue 135 at the treatment site 105 .
- the liner 131 and an adhesive 136 can be disposed between the heat-transfer surface 134 and the tissue 135 .
- the liner 131 can be useful, for example, to help keep the applicator 104 clean during a treatment.
- the adhesive 136 discussed in detail below, can be useful, for example, to maintain stable thermal and physical contact between heat-transfer surface 134 and the tissue 135 .
- the liner 131 can be attached to the applicator 104 with a liner adhesive (not shown) and/or held in place in another suitable manner, such as a vacuum generated by the applicator 104 .
- a liner adhesive between the liner 131 and the heat-transfer surface 134 need not have any special properties, such as temperature-dependent adhesive power and/or viscosity as discussed below with regard to the adhesive 136 .
- the heat-transfer surface 134 can be temperature controlled, such as via the controller 124 .
- the heat-transfer surface 134 is three-dimensional. In other embodiments, the heat-transfer surface 134 can be two-dimensional.
- the applicator 104 can include a cup 137 defining a body of the cavity 132 , and a contoured lip 138 defining a mouth of the cavity 132 .
- the cup 137 can be contoured to accommodate the tissue 135 pulled into the cavity 132 and can serve as a heat sink to facilitate cooling of the tissue 135 .
- the lip 138 can be configured to sealingly engage the subject's skin 111 and/or to sealingly engage the liner 131 , the adhesive 136 , or another intervening structure or material disposed between the heat-transfer surface 134 and the subject's skin 111 .
- the applicator 104 can include a slot 139 at a lowermost portion of the cavity 132 .
- the applicator 104 can further include side suction ports 140 and end suction ports 142 within the cavity 132 and around the slot 139 .
- the slot 139 , the side suction ports 140 , and the end suction ports 142 can be operably connected to the suction system 122 via the suction line 128 d and via additional suction lines (not shown) within the applicator 104 .
- the applicator 104 is configured to hold the liner 131 within the cavity 132 by suction at the side and end suction ports 140 , 142 in addition to or instead of by use of liner adhesive disposed on a surface of the liner 131 facing the applicator 104 .
- Suction at the slot 139 can draw the tissue 135 into the cavity 132 and hold the tissue 135 within the cavity 132 with the assistance of the adhesive 136 .
- the tensile adhesion and viscosity of the adhesive can increase with decreasing temperature such that the initial adhesion provided by the adhesive may be relatively weak.
- a counterpart of the applicator 104 can be configured for use without a removable liner, and suction at the side and end suction ports 140 , 142 and the slot 139 can draw the tissue 135 into the cavity 132 and hold the tissue 135 within the cavity 132 .
- a counterpart of the applicator 104 can have other suitable suction configurations.
- counterparts of the applicator 104 can be without suction functionality, such as when drawing the tissue 135 into the cavity 132 and holding the tissue 135 within the cavity 132 is not needed.
- a counterpart of the applicator 104 that is substantially flat or slightly curved may be placed directly on the subject's skin 111 without use of any suction and held in place with only straps and the adhesive 136 or with just the adhesive 136 .
- the applicator 104 can further include a fluid-cooled element 144 underlying the slot 139 .
- the fluid-cooled element 144 can include channels 146 shaped to convey the heat-transfer fluid in a manner that promotes heat transfer via the heat-transfer surface 134 .
- the applicator 104 can include an inlet port 148 and an outlet port 150 coupled to the supply fluid line 128 a and the return fluid line 128 b , respectively.
- the channels 146 can extend along a serpentine or other suitable path between the inlet port 148 and the outlet port 150 .
- the applicator 104 can further include a thermoelectric element 152 disposed between the fluid-cooled element 144 and the slot 139 .
- the fluid-cooled element 144 and the thermoelectric element 152 can be used together or separately to cause a desired level of cooling or heating. Using the fluid-cooled element 144 and/or the thermoelectric element 152 for heating may be useful, for example, to facilitate separating the applicator 104 from the treatment site after a cooling procedure is complete.
- FIGS. 7-9 are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 6 showing areas around a treatment interface during cooling treatments in accordance with other respective embodiments of the present invention.
- FIGS. 7-9 show different adhesive configurations at the treatment interface.
- the adhesive 136 is applied to the liner 131 before the liner 131 contacts the skin 111 . Accordingly, the adhesive 136 can be absent from portions of the treatment site 105 not in contact with the liner 131 . In some cases, the adhesive 136 is preloaded onto the liner 131 .
- the liner 131 can be packaged with a layer of the adhesive 136 and configured to be discarded after a single use.
- the adhesive 136 can be applied to the liner 131 just before a treatment commences, such as just before or just after the liner 131 is removably connected to the applicator 104 .
- the applicator 104 does not include a liner 131 and the adhesive 136 is disposed directly between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 .
- This arrangement may be desirable, for example, when protecting the adhesive 136 is not necessary, such as when the adhesive 136 is water soluble and the heat-transfer surface 134 is free of gaps and crevices in which the adhesive 136 may become embedded.
- the slot 139 , the side suction ports 140 , and the end suction ports 142 can include filters (not shown) that prevent the adhesive 136 from being drawn into the suction system 122 .
- the adhesive 136 is carried by an absorbent substrate 160 disposed between the subject's skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 of the applicator 104 .
- the adhesive 136 and the absorbent substrate 160 can form a composite structure 162 configured to be disposed at the treatment interface.
- the absorbent substrate 160 can be useful, for example, to facilitate application of the adhesive 136 at low viscosities, to hold the adhesive 136 in position at the treatment interface, to reduce or prevent displacement of the adhesive 136 during placement of the applicator 104 , and/or to insure that a continuous layer of material is present between the applicator 104 and the subject's skin 111 .
- Insuring that a continuous layer of material is present between the applicator 104 and the subject's skin 111 can likewise insure that no part of the applicator 104 directly touches the subject's skin 111 .
- such direct contact between the applicator 104 and the subject's skin 111 may be undesirable as it may inadvertently inoculate the skin 111 and cause a premature freeze event therein.
- the absorbent substrate 160 is tubular and stretchable so that it can be fitted around the subject's neck, arm, leg, torso, etc.
- the absorbent substrate 160 can be a flat or curved pad or have other suitable forms for making optimum contact with a treatment site and yet be easy to apply and remove.
- the absorbent substrate 160 can include a stretchable fabric, mesh, or other porous material suitable for carrying the adhesive 136 . Cotton, rayon, and polyurethane cloth are a few examples of suitable materials for use in the absorbent substrate 160 .
- the absorbent substrate 160 can include a thermally conductive material that at least partially compensates for a lower thermal conductivity of the corresponding adhesive 136 .
- the composite structure 162 is more thermally conductive than the adhesive 136 alone. Higher thermal conductivity can be useful, for example, to facilitate detection of the thermal signature of a freeze event during a cooling procedure.
- the absorbent substrate 160 include stretchable fabric, some or all of the fibers of the fabric can be made of thermally conductive material.
- the fabric can include metal fibers, carbon fibers, and/or fibers having a thermally conductive coating.
- Carbon fiber fabric is available, for example, under the FLEXZORB trademark from Calgon Carbon (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
- the corresponding composite structure 162 can be encased in moisture impermeable packaging (not shown) to protect the constituent adhesive 136 from the environment. Furthermore, the composite structure 162 can be packaged separately from or together with the liner 131 . In a particular embodiment, the composite structure 162 is pre-positioned on the liner 131 such that the composite structure 162 and the liner 131 can simply be brought into contact with the subject's skin 111 without any need to separately position the composite structure 162 . In another embodiment, the composite structure 162 is independent of the liner 131 and configured to be placed on the subject's skin 111 before establishing thermal and physical contact with the applicator 104 .
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 showing a thermal sensor 164 at the treatment interface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- the thermal sensor 164 can be carried by (e.g., embedded in) the absorbent substrate 160 .
- a counterpart of the thermal sensor 164 can be carried by (e.g., embedded in) another suitable portion of the applicator 104 , such as the heat-transfer surface 134 of the applicator 104 .
- the thermal sensor 164 can be useful, for example, to facilitate detection of the thermal signature of a freeze event at the skin 111 by shortening the distance over which thermal energy associated with a freeze event must conveyed before detection.
- the thermal sensor 164 can include a wire 166 that extends out of the absorbent substrate 160 to a port (not shown) for connection to external electronics. Alternatively, the thermal sensor 164 can be configured to communicate with external electronics wirelessly.
- the thermal sensor 164 is built into the absorbent substrate 160 . In other cases, the thermal sensor 164 is inserted into the absorbent substrate 160 at the time of use. In these and other cases, the thermal sensor 164 can be single-use or multiple use.
- FIGS. 12-13 show use of the adhesive 136 with different applicator types.
- the adhesive 136 is shown in use with a “pinch-type” applicator 170 at a treatment site 171 .
- the applicator 170 can include a frame 172 having sidewalls 174 operably connected to respective cooling elements 176 .
- the frame 172 can define an end gap 177 at which the applicator 170 includes a suction port 178 . Suction at the end gap 177 can facilitate holding tissue 135 at the treatment site 171 in a captured state between the sidewalls 174 before cooling of the tissue 135 begins.
- the adhesive 136 can cool and form a strong adhesive bond between the tissue 135 and the sidewalls 174 .
- the suction at the end gap 177 is reduced after the adhesive bond between the tissue 135 and the sidewalls 174 is strengthened. Reducing the suction at the end gap 177 can be useful, for example, to reduce or eliminate suction-related blood pooling at a portion of the tissue 135 closest to the end gap 177 . Additional details regarding “pinch-type” applicators that can be used with adhesive 136 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0342780 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/662,181, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- the adhesive 136 is shown in use with another cup type applicator 179 similar to the applicator 104 ( FIG. 6 ).
- the applicator 179 is also similar to the applicator 170 ( FIG. 12 ) except that no end gap 177 exists between the skin 111 and a heat transfer surface of the applicator 179 .
- the applicator 179 can include a cup 180 and a suction port 181 at a base of the cup 180 that fully draws the tissue 135 into the cup 180 .
- the applicator 170 FIG.
- the applicator 179 is a three-dimensional applicator well suited for use with tissue that can be pulled away from a subject's body.
- the treatment interfaces associated with these applicators are also three dimensional. It should be understood, however, that the adhesive can also be used with applicators that cool tissue via a two-dimensional treatment interface.
- the adhesive 136 is shown in use with a “saddlebag-type” applicator 182 at a treatment site 183 .
- the applicator 182 can include a cooling element 184 coupled to a central backing 186 .
- the applicator 182 can further include suction elements 188 coupled to respective lateral backings 190 .
- the lateral backings 190 can be hingedly connected to the central backing 186 at opposite respective sides of the central backing 186 .
- a strap (not shown) can be used to initially secure the applicator 182 at the treatment site 183 by compression.
- Suction at the suction elements 188 optionally can facilitate holding tissue 135 at the treatment site 171 in stable contact with the cooling element 184 before cooling of the tissue 135 begins.
- the adhesive 136 can cool and form a strong adhesive bond between the tissue 135 and the cooling element 184 sufficient to hold the applicator 182 in place without continued use of any straps or suction.
- compression from the strap and/or suction from the suction elements 188 can be reduced or eliminated entirely after the adhesive bond between the tissue 135 and the cooling element 184 is strengthened. Reducing compression from the strap and/or suction from the suction elements 188 can be useful, for example, to enhance patient comfort. Additional details regarding “saddlebag-type” applicators that can be used with the adhesive 136 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0342780 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/662,181, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- FIGS. 15-18 are side views of the subject 100 at different respective stages during a cooling treatment performed on the subject 100 using the treatment system 102 ( FIG. 1 ) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the subject 100 is shown before the treatment begins.
- the subject 100 is shown after an adhesive 136 has been applied to the subject's skin 111 at the treatment site 105 as a viscous layer.
- the adhesive 136 can be applied to the skin 111 at the treatment site 105 by brushing, by smearing, by placing (e.g., when the adhesive 136 is carried by an absorbent substrate), and/or by another suitable application technique.
- the adhesive 136 has a viscosity at an application temperature (e.g., room temperature or body temperature) high enough to form a stable viscous layer on skin yet low enough to readily conform to irregularities (e.g., creases) typically present in skin.
- an application temperature e.g., room temperature or body temperature
- the adhesive 136 can be applied to the skin 111 at the treatment site 105 at a viscosity within a range from 5,000 to 500,000 centipoise, such as within a range from 10,000 to 100,000 centipoise.
- the adhesive 136 can have a low tackiness, which substantially increases after it is cooled.
- the applicator 104 can be staged ( FIG.
- the applicator 104 can be precisely positioned in view of the relatively low viscosity and tackiness of the adhesive 136 at the application temperature.
- FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken along line C-C in FIG. 18 at different respective stages during the cooling treatment.
- the skin 111 and the underlying tissue 135 at the treatment site 105 can be mostly outside the cavity 132 .
- Suction represented by arrows 192 in FIG. 19 , can draw the skin 111 and the underlying tissue 135 into the cavity 132 until the skin 111 and the underlying tissue 135 move into thermal and physical contact with the heat-transfer surface 134 of the applicator 104 .
- the thermal and physical contact between the tissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 can extend through the skin 111 , through the adhesive 136 , through the liner 131 and through any liner adhesive (not shown) between the liner 131 and the heat-transfer surface 134 of the applicator 104 .
- the adhesive 136 can be present at a thickness sufficient to promote adhesion between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 via the liner 131 yet thin enough not to unduly reduce thermal conductivity between the tissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 .
- the adhesive 136 is present at an average thickness within a range from 0.1 to 1 millimeter, such as within a range from 0.2 to 0.5 millimeter. In a particular embodiment, the adhesive 136 present at an average thickness of 0.3 millimeter.
- the applicator 104 is readily repositionable before cooling begins. Repositioning the applicator 104 can be useful, for example, when an initial position of the applicator 104 is suboptimal. Once the applicator 104 is properly positioned and the tissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 are in thermal and physical contact with one another (and in direct physical contact with one another when the liner 131 is not present), the applicator 104 can be activated to draw heat (represented by arrows 194 in FIG.
- the applicator 104 can cool the tissue 135 via the skin 111 , via the adhesive 136 , via the liner 131 , via any liner adhesive, and via the heat-transfer surface 134 of the applicator 104 .
- the adhesive 136 can be cooled while cooling the tissue 135 . Cooling the adhesive 136 can cryogenically strengthen the direct or indirect adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 and thereby strengthen an adhesion between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 via the adhesive 136 and via the liner 131 . This can inhibit or totally prevent movement of the applicator 104 relative to the skin 111 while the adhesive 136 is chilled.
- cooling the adhesive 136 from an application temperature to a chilled temperature in conjunction with a cooling treatment can at least increase a tensile strength of the adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 by a factor of more than 1.25 ⁇ , 1.5 ⁇ , 2 ⁇ , 3 ⁇ , 4 ⁇ , 5 ⁇ , 6 ⁇ , 7 ⁇ , 10 ⁇ , 20 ⁇ , or 30 ⁇ .
- a force required to break adhesion between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 in a direction normal to the heat-transfer surface 134 when the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened can be at least a factor of more than 1.25 ⁇ , 1.5 ⁇ , 2 ⁇ , 3 ⁇ , 4 ⁇ , 5 ⁇ , 6 ⁇ , 7 ⁇ , 10 ⁇ , 20 ⁇ , or 30 ⁇ a corresponding force required to break the adhesion before the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened.
- cooling the adhesive 136 from an application temperature to a chilled temperature in conjunction with the cooling treatment can at least increase a shear strength of the adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat transfer surface 134 by a factor of more than 1.25 ⁇ , 1.5 ⁇ , 2 ⁇ , 3 ⁇ , 4 ⁇ , 5 ⁇ , 6 ⁇ , 7 ⁇ , 10 ⁇ , 20 ⁇ , or 30 ⁇ a shear strength of the adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 before the shear strength is cryogenically strengthened.
- a force required to break the adhesion between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 in a direction parallel to the heat-transfer surface 134 when the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened can be at least a factor of more than 1.25 ⁇ , 1.5 ⁇ , 2 ⁇ , 3 ⁇ , 4 ⁇ , 5 ⁇ , 6 ⁇ , 7 ⁇ , 10 ⁇ , 20 ⁇ , or 30 ⁇ such a force required to break adhesion before the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened.
- An increase in shear strength can be important to prevent any X, Y axis relative movement between the skin 111 and the heat transfer surface 134 during a cooling treatment.
- cup-type applicators e.g., the applicator 104 shown in FIG. 6
- pinch-type applicators e.g., the applicator 170 shown in FIG. 12
- an increased shear strength can be very effective in reducing or eliminating relative movement between skin and a heat transfer surface. This can be useful to reduce or eliminate “pop off” or other types of undesirable shifting or separation between these applicators and skin at a treatment site.
- surface applicators e.g., the applicator 182 shown in FIG.
- increased tensile strength preventing motion along the Z axis can be very effective to reduce or eliminate relative movement between skin and a heat transfer surface in the Z axis. Again, this can be useful to reduce or eliminate “pop off” or other types of undesirable shifting or separation between these applicators and skin at a treatment site.
- any material used to form an adhesive absorbent (when used), liner (when used), heat transfer surface, and any other components that may come in contact with the adhesive should be compatible with the adhesive.
- these other structures and materials can be selected to preferably wet to the adhesive and form strong bonds thereto at treatment temperatures.
- aluminum, cotton, rayon, and polyurethane are compatible with the formation of strong adhesive bonds. Bonding strength has been found to increase when an absorbent substrate carrying an adhesive has a surface that is at least somewhat porous.
- a level of suction and/or compression initially used to urge the tissue 135 into the cavity 132 may be unneeded to maintain a position of the tissue 135 within the cavity 132 . Accordingly, the level of suction and/or compression can be reduced, which can be beneficial, for example, to enhance patient comfort during long-duration treatments and/or to reduce undesirable side effects of the suction and/or compression.
- thermal and physical contact between the tissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 occurs primarily or solely by adhesion while the tissue 135 is cooled. In other cases, maintaining thermal and physical contact between the tissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 can occur primarily by suction supplemented by adhesion while the tissue 135 is cooled.
- cooling the adhesive 136 from an application temperature to a chilled temperature in conjunction with a cooling treatment increases a viscosity of the adhesive 136 by at least 1,000% (e.g., at least 10,000%) on a centipoise scale.
- cooling the adhesive 136 in this manner can cause the adhesive 136 to have a viscosity within a range from 3,000,000 centipoise to a maximum viscosity of the adhesive 136 at temperatures warmer than a glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136 . Cooling the adhesive 136 to colder than its glass transition temperature can weaken the adhesion between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 via the adhesive 136 .
- the adhesive 136 can be selected to have a glass transition temperature colder than a coldest temperature to which the adhesive 136 is to be cooled during a cooling treatment.
- the adhesive 136 can be selected to have a glass transition temperature colder than ⁇ 20° C., such as colder than ⁇ 30° C.
- the adhesive 136 has minimal adhesive force such that the applicator 104 can be readily placed on and removed from the skin 111 and moved sideways or twisted as need be to correctly position the applicator 104 .
- the adhesive force before cooling can be insufficient to keep the applicator 104 in a precise position and fixed in that position for a significant period of time without the use of some other holding force.
- the adhesive force is dramatically increased such that the adhesive force alone is strong enough to keep the applicator 104 in place without any other attachment force.
- attachment forces that may become unnecessary can include suction, straps, or even the support of the subject's tissue 135 with the assistance of gravity (e.g., if the subject 100 is lying down and the applicator 104 is resting on top of the subject 100 ).
- the adhesive 136 is strong enough to secure the applicator 104 in place in any orientation. So even if the subject 100 is standing and the applicator 104 is simply hanging from the subject 100 , such as from the subject's abdomen or side flank, the adhesive 136 is strong enough to secure the applicator 104 and keep it in place and non-movable relative to the skin 111 at the treatment site being treated by the applicator 104 .
- the adhesive 136 can be strong enough to not only hold the applicator 104 in place and keep it from moving relative a subject's skin 111 when the subject is standing and the applicator 104 is hanging from the subject, but could do so even if the subject moves, shivers, or were to jump up and down.
- FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 20 .
- the liner 131 can have a rounded edge 196 at a perimeter of the slot 139 .
- the adhesive 136 can be squeezed between the skin 111 and the liner 131 and thereby shifted toward the slot 139 , toward an area above the lip 138 , and/or toward other areas where the liner 131 is not present.
- the adhesive 136 can be thicker at a side of the rounded edge 196 closer to the slot 139 than at a side of the rounded edge 196 farther from the slot 139 .
- the adhesive 136 can have a viscosity upon application high enough that it does not entirely squeeze out of areas of the treatment site 105 pressed firmly against the liner 131 . Because the adhesive 136 in the illustrated embodiment is applied to the subject's skin 111 before the subject's skin 111 is brought into contact with the liner 131 , the adhesive 136 can be present at portions of the treatment site 105 not in contact with the liner 131 , such as a portion of the treatment site 105 at the slot 139 . The adhesive 136 can have a viscosity upon application high enough that it is not pulled off the skin 111 by suction at the portions of the treatment site 105 not in contact with the liner 131 .
- the applicator 104 can include a filter (not shown) that reduces or eliminates clogging of suction lines and/or ports into which the liberated adhesive 136 is drawn.
- FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a method 200 for cooling a tissue region of a subject in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the method 200 will be further described primarily with reference to the applicator 104 . It should be understood, however, that the method 200 , when suitable, and/or portions of the method 200 , when suitable, can be practiced with respect to any of the applicators 104 , 170 , 179 , 182 , or other applicators in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
- the method 200 can include contacting the skin 111 and the applicator 104 with the adhesive 136 therebetween (block 202 ).
- this can include applying (e.g., brushing, smearing, placing, etc.) the adhesive 136 onto the skin 111 , onto the liner 131 , and/or onto the heat-transfer surface 134 of the applicator 104 , and then bringing the skin 111 and the applicator 104 into thermal and physical contact with one another.
- the adhesive 136 can be independent or carried by an absorbent substrate (e.g., the absorbent substrate 160 shown in FIG. 9 ).
- the method 200 includes urging the skin 111 into the cavity 132 (block 204 ).
- the method 200 can include urging the skin 111 into the cavity 132 at least partially by suction and/or at least partially by compression.
- the method 200 can include cooling the adhesive 136 (block 206 ) and cooling the tissue 135 (block 208 ). Cooling the adhesive 136 can include cooling the adhesive 136 to a temperature no colder than a glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136 , such as a temperature within a range from 1° C. warmer than the glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136 to 10° C. warmer than the glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136 , e.g., to a temperature warmer by more than either of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10° C.
- the temperature to which the adhesive 136 is cooled is within a range from either ⁇ 25° C. to ⁇ 1° C., ⁇ 25° C. to ⁇ 5° C., ⁇ 20° C. to ⁇ 8° C., or ⁇ 18° C. to ⁇ 10° C.
- Cooling the adhesive 136 can cryogenically strengthen an adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 .
- Cooling the tissue 135 can occur during cryogenic strengthening of the adhesive bond and/or after cryogenic strengthening of the adhesive bond.
- Cooling the tissue 135 can include cooling the tissue 135 via a viscous layer of the adhesive 136 , via the composite structure including the absorbent substrate 160 and adhesive 136 ( FIG.
- the tissue 135 is cooled to a sufficiently low temperature to damage or otherwise disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer.
- cooling the tissue 135 can include cooling the tissue 135 to colder than 0° C., ⁇ 5° C., ⁇ 10° C. or colder than another suitable threshold for at least 15 minutes.
- the method 200 can include maintaining thermal and physical contact between the tissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 (block 210 ).
- the adhesive 136 can cause this thermal and physical contact to be more reliable than it would be if the adhesive 136 were not present.
- the adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 may become strong enough while cooling the tissue 135 to at least partially or totally substitute for suction and/or compression used to urge the tissue 135 into the cavity 132 .
- the method 200 can include reducing or eliminating suction and/or compression after cryogenically strengthening the adhesive bond and while cooling the tissue 135 .
- the method 200 can further include maintaining a position of the liner 131 within the cavity 132 (block 212 ) while cooling the tissue 135 .
- the position of the liner 131 within the cavity 132 can be maintained at least primarily by suction and/or by another adhesive, which can but does not need to have any special properties. If rapid release of the tissue 135 from the applicator 104 is necessary while a strong adhesive bond between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 is present via the adhesive 136 , suction holding the liner 131 within the cavity 132 can be released and the tissue 135 can be removed from the cavity 132 with the liner 131 when a liner adhesive is not present.
- the applicator 104 can be rapidly re-warmed to warm the adhesive 136 to a temperature high enough such that the tissue 135 can be readily removed from the cavity 132 .
- the method 200 can further include warming the adhesive 136 (block 214 ) after cooling the adhesive 136 .
- This can weaken the adhesion between the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 .
- warming the adhesive 136 includes warming the adhesive 136 by at least 10° C.
- warming the adhesive 136 can include actively warming the adhesive 136 (e.g., using the thermoelectric element 152 ) and/or passively warming the adhesive 136 (e.g., by passing uncooled heat-transfer fluid through the fluid-cooled element 144 . Warming the adhesive 136 can decrease the viscosity of the adhesive 136 to less than 1,000,000 centipoise.
- the method 200 can include separating the skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 (block 216 ).
- Cooling treatments in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be used to reduce or eliminate targeted tissue in either the skin, subcutaneous layer, or other layers, and thereby cause the tissue to have a desired appearance.
- treatment systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can perform medical treatments to provide therapeutic effects and/or cosmetic procedures for cosmetically beneficial effects.
- the selective effect of cooling is believed to result in, for example, membrane disruption, cell shrinkage, disabling, disrupting, damaging, destroying, removing, killing, reducing, and/or other methods of lipid-rich cell and non-lipid rich cell alteration, and alteration of other tissue, either in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, or other tissue. Such alteration is believed to stem from one or more mechanisms acting alone or in combination.
- an applicator 104 can cool targeted tissue of a subject to a temperature in a range of from about ⁇ 25° C. to about 20° C. In other embodiments, the cooling temperatures can be from about ⁇ 20° C. to about 10° C., from about ⁇ 18° C. to about 5° C., from about ⁇ 15° C.
- cooling temperatures can be equal to or less than ⁇ 5° C., ⁇ 10° C., ⁇ 15° C., or in yet another embodiment, from about ⁇ 15° C. to about ⁇ 25° C.
- Other cooling temperatures and temperature ranges can be used.
- Apoptosis also referred to as “programmed cell death” is a genetically-induced death mechanism by which cells self-destruct without incurring damage to surrounding tissues.
- An ordered series of biochemical events induce cells to morphologically change. These changes include cellular blebbing, loss of cell membrane asymmetry and attachment, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and chromosomal DNA fragmentation.
- Injury via an external stimulus, such as cold exposure is one mechanism that can induce cellular apoptosis in cells, Nagle, W. A., Soloff, B. L., Moss, A. J. Jr., Henle, K. J. “Cultured Chinese Hamster Cells Undergo Apoptosis After Exposure to Cold but Nonfreezing Temperatures” Cryobiology 27, 439-451 (1990).
- apoptosis in contrast to cellular necrosis (a traumatic form of cell death causing local inflammation), is that apoptotic cells express and display phagocytic markers on the surface of the cell membrane, thus marking the cells for phagocytosis by macrophages.
- phagocytes can engulf and remove the dying cells (e.g., the lipid-rich cells) without eliciting an immune response.
- Temperatures that elicit these apoptotic events in lipid-rich cells may contribute to long-lasting and/or permanent reduction and reshaping of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
- apoptotic lipid-rich cell death by cooling is believed to involve localized crystallization of lipids within the adipocytes at temperatures that do not induce crystallization in non-lipid-rich cells.
- the crystallized lipids selectively may injure these cells, inducing apoptosis (and may also induce necrotic death if the crystallized lipids damage or rupture the bi-lipid membrane of the adipocyte).
- Another mechanism of injury involves the lipid phase transition of those lipids within the cell's bi-lipid membrane, which results in membrane disruption or dysfunction, thereby inducing apoptosis.
- adipocyte damage refers to ischemia/reperfusion injury that may occur under certain conditions when such cells are cooled as described herein.
- the targeted adipose tissue may experience a restriction in blood supply and thus be starved of oxygen due to isolation as a result of applied pressure, cooling which may affect vasoconstriction in the cooled tissue, or the like.
- restoration of blood flow after cooling treatment may additionally produce reperfusion injury to the adipocytes due to inflammation and oxidative damage that is known to occur when oxygenated blood is restored to tissue that has undergone a period of ischemia.
- This type of injury may be accelerated by exposing the adipocytes to an energy source (via, e.g., thermal, electrical, chemical, mechanical, acoustic, or other means) or otherwise increasing the blood flow rate in connection with or after cooling treatment as described herein.
- Increasing vasoconstriction in such adipose tissue by, e.g., various mechanical means (e.g., application of pressure or massage), chemical means or certain cooling conditions, as well as the local introduction of oxygen radical-forming compounds to stimulate inflammation and/or leukocyte activity in adipose tissue may also contribute to accelerating injury to such cells.
- Other yet-to-be understood mechanisms of injury may exist.
- lipid-rich cells in the target region can be reduced generally without collateral damage to non-lipid-rich cells in the same region.
- lipid-rich cells can be affected at low temperatures that do not affect non-lipid-rich cells.
- lipid-rich cells such as those associated with highly localized adiposity (e.g., submental adiposity, submandibular adiposity, facial adiposity, etc.), can be affected while non-lipid-rich cells (e.g., myocytes) in the same generally region are not damaged.
- the unaffected non-lipid-rich cells can be located underneath lipid-rich cells (e.g., cells deeper than a subcutaneous layer of fat), in the dermis, in the epidermis, and/or at other locations.
- the treatment system can remove heat from underlying tissue through the upper layers of tissue and create a thermal gradient with the coldest temperatures near the cooling surface, or surfaces, of the applicator (i.e., the temperature of the upper layer(s) of the skin can be lower than that of the targeted underlying cells). It may be challenging to reduce the temperature of the targeted cells low enough to be destructive to these target cells (e.g., induce apoptosis, cell death, etc.) while also maintaining the temperature of the upper and surface skin cells high enough so as to be protective (e.g., non-destructive). The temperature difference between these two thresholds can be small (e.g., approximately, 5° C.
- cryoprotectants for inhibiting or preventing such freeze damage.
- the adhesive 136 acts as such a cryoprotectant.
- the adhesive can be used when tissue is cooled to temperatures above a freezing point of the tissue, when tissue is cooled to temperatures below a freezing point of the tissue where freezing does not occur due to supercooling, or alternatively be used in procedures where freezing of tissue is intended and caused to occur. Additional details regarding cryotherapies compatible with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0251120, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- Adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can include a bonding agent that significantly increases in viscosity and tack (i.e., stickiness) when cooled.
- the adhesives can further include a viscosity-reducing agent mixed with the bonding agent to modify the viscosity temperature-dependence of the resulting adhesive, to modify that tack temperature-dependence of the resulting adhesive, and/or to lower the glass transition temperature of the resulting adhesive.
- FIG. 23 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for a pure bonding agent (right) and for a bonding agent diluted with a viscosity-reducing agent (left). As shown in FIG.
- the addition of the viscosity-reducing agent lowers the glass transition temperature of the adhesive and shifts the region of highly temperature-dependent viscosity for the adhesive to be between ⁇ 20° C. and 20° C.
- the bonding agent is a solid at room temperatures
- the viscosity-reducing agent is a liquid solvent at room temperature with a relatively high solubility limit for the bonding agent, such as greater than 50% w/w, 60% w/w, 70% w/w, or a higher threshold.
- the viscosity-reducing agent and the bonding agent can be miscible liquids at room temperature.
- the relative proportions of the bonding agent and the viscosity-reducing agent in the adhesive can be selected to cause a cooling temperature range in which the adhesive significantly increases in viscosity and stickiness to correspond to a cooling temperature range of a treatment in which the adhesive is to be used.
- the targeted temperature range can extend from an application temperature (e.g., room temperature or body temperature) to a chilled temperature suitable for damaging or otherwise disrupting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer (e.g., ⁇ 20° C., ⁇ 15° C., ⁇ 10° C., or ⁇ 5° C.).
- the relative proportions of the bonding agent and the viscosity-reducing agent in the adhesive can additionally or alternatively be selected based on the solubility limit of the bonding agent in the viscosity-reducing agent.
- the concentration of the bonding agent in the adhesive can be selected to be a maximum concentration (thereby maximizing the viscosity and the tack of the adhesive) that still adequately suppresses recrystallization of the bonding agent during normal storage and use of the adhesive.
- Adhesives in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention have a viscosity less than 500,000 centipoise (e.g., within a range from 5,000 centipoise to 500,000 centipoise) at 20° C. and a viscosity greater than 3,000,000 centipoise at ⁇ 15° C.
- the viscosities of the adhesives at ⁇ 10° C. can be greater than the viscosities of the adhesives at 20° C. by at least 1,000% (e.g., by at least 3,000%, 5,000%, or 10,000%) on a centipoise scale.
- the adhesives can have a first level of tensile adhesion to human skin at 20° C. and a second level of tensile adhesion to human skin at ⁇ 10° C. greater that the first level of tensile adhesion by a factor of more than 1.25 ⁇ , 1.5 ⁇ , 2 ⁇ , 3 ⁇ , 4 ⁇ , 5 ⁇ , 6 ⁇ , 7 ⁇ , 10 ⁇ , 20 ⁇ , or 30 ⁇ .
- This tensile adhesion to human skin can be tested by applying a normal pulling force to a flat layer of adhesive disposed between an applicator and a skin analog.
- the bonding agent can be a modified or unmodified saccharide. These compounds can be well suited for this application because they tend to become both increasingly viscous and increasingly sticky when cooled to temperatures above their glass transition temperatures. As discussed above, this behavior is desirable for enhancing adhesion between skin and an applicator during a cooling treatment that involves using the applicator to cool and thereby damage or otherwise disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer.
- the strength of the bond between the skin and the applicator may benefit from both high viscosity (e.g., for maintaining the internal integrity of the bond) and high tack (e.g., for maintaining the integrity of the bonded interface between the adhesive and the skin).
- Saccharides also tend to be biocompatible, nontoxic, and water soluble, with the latter being useful to facilitate cleaning.
- Examples of saccharides suitable for use in methods in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention include modified and unmodified monosaccharides (e.g., glucose and fructose) and modified and unmodified disaccharides (e.g., sucrose, maltose, and trehalose).
- modified and unmodified monosaccharides e.g., glucose and fructose
- disaccharides e.g., sucrose, maltose, and trehalose
- SAIB sucrose acetate isobutyrate
- saccharides and saccharide derivatives typically do not apply below their glass transition temperatures.
- pure SAIB, pure glucose, or pure fructose transitions to its glass state, it becomes brittle and no longer sticky.
- the glass transition temperatures for pure SAIB, pure glucose, and pure fructose are all at or above 0° C.
- these saccharides would turn to glass if used in their pure forms in cooling procedures that involve cooling to below 0° C., which is typical of cooling procedures that disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells.
- the bonding agent can be mixed with a viscosity-reducing agent at a ratio that moves the glass-transition temperature of the resulting adhesive to be colder than a chilled temperature characteristic of a cooling procedure in which the adhesive is to be used.
- the glass transition temperature of the bonding agent is modified in this manner such that the glass transition temperature of the corresponding adhesive is colder than ⁇ 20° C., such as colder than ⁇ 30° C.
- Suitable viscosity-reducing agents include glycols (e.g., propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and glycerol) and other polar, biocompatible oil-like compounds. These compounds tend to be good solvents of saccharides and to have relatively low glass transition temperatures.
- Adhesives in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention contain less than 3% w/w water.
- bonding agents, viscosity-reducing agents, and adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be anhydrous.
- the presence of water as a co-solvent tends to reduce the solubility limit of viscosity-reducing agents for modified or unmodified saccharides.
- reducing or eliminating water from adhesives including saccharide-based bonding agents may increase the solubility limits of these adhesives for their constituent bonding agents. This, in turn, may increase the maximum viscosity and tack of the adhesives within targeted temperature ranges for cooling procedures while still adequately suppressing recrystallization of the bonding agents during normal storage and use of the adhesives.
- Reducing or eliminating water from adhesives including saccharide-based bonding agents also may enhance the antimicrobial properties of the adhesives.
- saccharide-based bonding agents typically do not support the growth of bacteria and fungi. This can facilitate manufacturing and storage of adhesives including these bonding agents.
- the adhesives it is desirable for the adhesives to be as viscous as possible.
- an adhesive in addition to having a sufficiently high chilled viscosity to adhere an applicator to a subject's skin during a cooling procedure, it may also be helpful for an adhesive to have a sufficiently high application viscosity (e.g., at room temperature and/or at body temperature) to facilitate application of the adhesive before cooling begins or before significant cooling is achieved.
- High application viscosity for example, may suppress excessive dripping of the adhesive and/or squeezing of the adhesive out of an interface between an applicator and a subject's skin.
- the adhesive can include a gelling agent that enhances its ability to retain its shape upon application.
- suitable gelling agents include polysaccharides (e.g., agar) and proteins (e.g., gelatin).
- the gelling agent can be present at a relatively low concentration (e.g., less than 5% w/w) such that its presence does not unduly interfere with other desirable properties of the adhesive.
- adhesives in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention include bonding agents that include more than one modified or unmodified saccharide.
- an adhesive in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention includes a bonding agent that is a combination of a modified or unmodified first saccharide (e.g., one of sucrose, fructose, and glucose) and a modified or unmodified second saccharide (e.g., another of sucrose, fructose, and glucose).
- Each of the modified or unmodified first saccharide and the modified or unmodified second saccharide can be present at a concentration relative to the overall bonding agent within a range from 5% w/w to 95% w/w.
- the presence of more than one modified or unmodified saccharide in the bonding agent can increase the solubility limit of the corresponding adhesive for the bonding agent.
- An adhesive in accordance a particular embodiment of the present invention includes a bonding agent that includes modified or unmodified fructose and modified or unmodified glucose. Other combinations of modified or unmodified saccharides are also expected to be desirable for use as bonding agents.
- the thermal properties of adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention facilitate this detection.
- the thermal conductivity of the adhesive can increase as the adhesive is cooled from an application temperature (e.g., room temperature or body temperature) to a chilled temperature suitable for suitable for damaging or otherwise disrupting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer (e.g., ⁇ 20° C., ⁇ 15° C., ⁇ 10° C., or ⁇ 5° C.).
- the rate at which the adhesive conveys a thermal signal may be enhanced during the coldest portion of a cooling process, when the need for detecting skin freezes is greatest.
- the thermal conductivity of the adhesive can be relatively consistent within a range of chilled temperatures suitable for suitable for damaging or otherwise disrupting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer (e.g., a range from ⁇ 5° C. to ⁇ 20° C.).
- the thermal conductivity of the adhesive at ⁇ 5° C. and the thermal conductivity of the adhesive at ⁇ 20° C. may differ by less than 2% on a watts-per-meter-kelvin scale. This can be useful for facilitating differentiating a thermal signature associated with a skin freeze from background thermal information during a cooling procedure.
- Adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can further include additives that enhances their thermal conductivity.
- a given adhesive can include dispersed particles of a highly thermally conductive material, such as zinc oxide.
- the thermally conductive particles can be incorporated into the adhesive by sonication or a similar mixing process to avoid aggregation.
- the adhesive can include a stabilizing agent (e.g., a compatible electrostatic and/or steric stabilizing agent) that promotes even distribution of the particles throughout the adhesive. Accordingly, the adhesive can be a stable suspension at room temperature.
- the particles are configured to enhance the thermal conductivity of the adhesive when in a random distribution within the adhesive.
- the particles are configured to enhance the thermal conductivity of the adhesive when in an ordered distribution within the adhesive.
- thermally conductive particles within an adhesive in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention are configured to be magnetically shifted in situ to increase the thermal conductivity of the adhesive.
- An applicator used with the adhesive can be configured to apply a magnetic field that causes the particles to form channels for preferential transmission of thermal energy between the applicator and a subject's skin.
- thermally conductive particles in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have an average effective diameter greater than 100 nanometers to reduce or eliminate their migration through a subject's skin during a cooling procedure.
- Adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have benefits in addition to providing adhesion between an applicator and a subject's skin during a cooling procedure.
- the viscosity-reducing agents of some adhesives may suppress skin freezing by deactivating potential ice nucleation sites.
- the bonding agents of some adhesives may absorb into or even through a subject's skin and provide cryoprotection to non-targeted cells.
- the presence of a saccharide-based bonding agent in an adhesive applied after the pretreatment may establish a concentration gradient that suppresses outgoing migration of a cryoprotective saccharide absorbed during the pretreatment.
- Adhesives including sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and dipropylene glycol (DPG) were prepared by mixing these two constituent materials at 60° C. Specifically, SAIB/DPG adhesives with 70, 75 and 80% v/v SAIB content were prepared and their viscosities were measured using a Brookfield viscometer. Table 1 below shows that by adding DPG to SAIB, the viscosity of the mixture can be tuned, with more DPG content leading to lower viscosity at a fixed temperature.
- the viscosity of adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was tested using a Brookfield viscometer to determine shear-rate dependence.
- the viscosity of adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was tested using a Brookfield viscometer to determine temperature dependence.
- the results, shown in FIG. 24 indicate that the viscosity of the tested adhesive increased by 3 orders of magnitude as the temperature of the adhesive decreased from about 20° C. to about 0° C.
- Adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was compared to a non-adhesive cryoprotectant for spontaneous skin freezing temperature and thermal properties.
- the tested non-adhesive cryoprotectant was a mixture of 50% w/w propylene glycol, 1.5% w/w hydroxymethyl cellulose, and 48.5% w/w water.
- Skin to be tested was cleaned by pre-treatment skin wipes prior to application of 100 ⁇ L of either the tested adhesive or the non-adhesive cryoprotectant over the treatment sites (1 square inch). Cooling was applied using a temperature setpoint profile including an initial drop from 10° C. to ⁇ 18° C., followed by a drop of 2° C.
- the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant were found to correspond to mean spontaneous skin freeze temperatures of ⁇ 22.79° C. and ⁇ 23.26° C., respectively.
- the profile of skin temperature change over time for the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant were also compared. Test treatments using the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant at a ramping rate of 1.55° C./second and a target temperature of ⁇ 18° C. were performed. The profiles of skin temperature change over time and the time to reach the target temperature were found to be approximately the same for the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant.
- the glass transition temperature of adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol was determined theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical calculation, shown below, yielded a glass transition temperature of ⁇ 45.082° C.
- T g ⁇ 1 ⁇ T g ⁇ ⁇ 1 + k ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 2 ⁇ T g ⁇ ⁇ 2 ⁇ 1 + k ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ 2
- the experimental measurement of the glass transition temperature of the adhesive was performed by Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) Thermal Analysis.
- DSC Differential Scanning calorimetry
- the difference in heat flow to the sample and to a reference sample at the same temperature was recorded as a function of temperature. This allows the heat effects associated with phase transitions, including glass transition, to be measured as a function of temperature.
- the experimental measurement yielded a glass transition temperature of ⁇ 45.35° C. for the tested adhesive, which agreed well with the theoretical calculation.
- Pieces of rayon cloth loaded with adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol were placed between an applicator and a pulling block.
- the applicator was then used to cool the adhesive-loaded cloth to a pre-determined temperature.
- normal pulling force was applied using an ESM303 Motorized Force Tester (Mark-10 Corporation of Copiague, N.Y.) at a constant velocity of 0.5 in/min and with a travel distance of 0.25 in.
- the peak force was recorded before the detachment of the pulling block.
- Table 4 indicate that the peak tensile adhesion force increased from 3.4 lbF to 34.3 lbF when the temperature of the adhesive decreased from 40° C. to ⁇ 22° C.
- the thermal properties of pieces of fabric loaded with adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol were tested using a Linseis Transient Hot Bridge (THB).
- THB Linseis Transient Hot Bridge
- the THB was able to measure thermal conductivity in the range of 0.01 to 1 W/mK.
- a cooling chamber was used to measure temperature dependent properties at equilibrium.
- the density of the tested adhesive was assumed to be 1.363 g/cm 3 .
- the results of this testing are shown in FIG. 26 (plot of specific heat and thermal conductivity versus temperature) and FIG. 27 (plot of thermal diffusivity versus temperature).
- the thermal data shows that as the tested sample cools, it becomes more efficient as a thermally conductive layer.
- the thermal conductivity is relatively constant below 0° C.
- the thermal conductivity of about 0.3 W/(m ⁇ K) at temperatures below 0° C. is sufficiently high to allow for rapid detection of heat released by a skin freeze.
- a piece of paper towel loaded with adhesive including 80% v/v glucose syrup with a dextrose equivalent of 44 and 20% v/v glycerol was placed between an applicator and a 500 g weight.
- the applicator was then used to cool the adhesive-loaded paper towel from 10° C. to ⁇ 10° C. at a cooling rate of 0.5° C./s. After the cooling and after being held at ⁇ 10° C. for 3 minutes, the applicator was inverted and the weight suspended. By this test, the tensile strength of the adhesive-loaded paper towel was found to be sufficient to prevent the weight from detaching from the applicator in response to gravity.
- Viscosity 1 43% w/w fructose, 57% w/w glycerol 29,700 2 29% w/w fructose, 14% w/w glucose, 30,100 57% w/w glycerol 3 33% w/w fructose, 22% w/w glucose, 89,200 45% w/w glycerol
- adhesives having the following formulations were tested for temperature-dependent adhesion: (a) 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w propylene glycol, (b) 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w di-propylene glycol, and (c) 33% w/w glucose and 67% w/w glycerol. These adhesives were all found to have temperature-dependent adhesion similar to that of the adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol, as described in Example 9 above.
Abstract
A method and apparatus in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention includes applying adhesive onto skin of a human subject. An applicator is then brought into contact with the adhesive such the adhesive is disposed between the applicator and the subject's skin. The applicator is activated to cool a tissue region via the subject's skin, via the heat-transfer surface of the applicator, and via the adhesive. While the tissue region cools, the adhesive also cools, thereby reversibly strengthening adhesion between the subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface and forming a strong bond therebetween. The strengthened adhesion inhibits any movement of the applicator relative to the skin. After cooling the tissue region, the adhesive is warmed, thereby weakening the adhesion which allows the heat-transfer surface of the applicator to be easily separated from the skin.
Description
- The present application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/276,131, filed Jan. 7, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- The present disclosure is related to cooling of tissue, such as in the context of cryolipolysis and cryolysis.
- The following commonly assigned U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0287839 entitled “METHOD OF ENHANCED REMOVAL OF HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS AND TREATMENT APPARATUS HAVING AN ACTUATOR”;
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,675 entitled “FREEZING METHOD FOR CONTROLLED REMOVAL OF FATTY TISSUE BY LIPOSUCTION”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0255362 entitled “CRYOPROTECTANT FOR USE WITH A TREATMENT DEVICE FOR IMPROVED COOLING OF SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,754 entitled “COOLING DEVICE FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0066216 entitled “COOLING DEVICE FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0077201 entitled “COOLING DEVICES WITH FLEXIBLE SENSORS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0077211 entitled “COOLING DEVICE HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTROLLABLE COOLING ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED COOLING PROFILE”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0118722, filed Oct. 31, 2007, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS OR TISSUE”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0018624 entitled “LIMITING USE OF DISPOSABLE SYSTEM PATIENT PROTECTION DEVICES”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0018623 entitled “SYSTEM FOR TREATING LIPID-RICH REGIONS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0018625 entitled “MANAGING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE TO REMOVE HEAT FROM LIPID-RICH REGIONS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0018627 entitled “SECURE SYSTEM FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM LIPID-RICH REGIONS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0018626 entitled “USER INTERFACES FOR A SYSTEM THAT REMOVES HEAT FROM LIPID-RICH REGIONS”;
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,787 entitled “USE OF CRYOPROTECTIVE AGENT COMPOUNDS DURING CRYOSURGERY”;
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,285,390 entitled “MONITORING THE COOLING OF SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS, SUCH AS THE COOLING OF ADIPOSE TISSUE”;
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,442 entitled “TREATMENT PLANNING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BODY CONTOURING APPLICATIONS”;
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/275,002 entitled “APPARATUS WITH HYDROPHILIC RESERVOIRS FOR COOLING SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/275,014 entitled “APPARATUS WITH HYDROPHOBIC FILTERS FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0152824 entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH INTERRUPT/RESUME CAPABILITIES FOR COOLING SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,192,474 entitled “TISSUE TREATMENT METHODS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0280582 entitled “DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0022518 entitled “COMBINED MODALITY TREATMENT SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BODY CONTOURING APPLICATIONS”;
- U.S. Publication No. 2011/0238050 entitled “HOME-USE APPLICATORS FOR NON-INVASIVELY REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS VIA PHASE CHANGE COOLANTS, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS”;
- U.S. Publication No. 2011/0238051 entitled “HOME-USE APPLICATORS FOR NON-INVASIVELY REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS VIA PHASE CHANGE COOLANTS, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS”;
- U.S. Publication No. 2012/0239123 entitled “DEVICES, APPLICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH LOCALIZED HEAT FLUX ZONES FOR REMOVING HEAT FROM SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS”;
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/830,413 entitled “MULTI-MODALITY TREATMENT SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH TISSUE”;
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/830,027 entitled “TREATMENT SYSTEMS WITH FLUID MIXING SYSTEMS AND FLUID-COOLED APPLICATORS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME”;
- U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/528,225 entitled “COOLING DEVICE HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTROLLABLE COOLING ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED COOLING PROFILE;” and
- U.S. Pat. No. 8,285,390 entitled “MONITORING THE COOLING OF SUBCUTANEOUS LIPID-RICH CELLS, SUCH AS THE COOLING OF ADIPOSE TISSUE.”
- To the extent the foregoing commonly assigned U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents or any other material incorporated herein by reference conflicts with the present disclosure, the present disclosure controls.
- Excess body fat, or adipose tissue, may be present at various locations of a subject's body and may detract from personal appearance. Excess subcutaneous fat under the chin and/or around the neck can be cosmetically unappealing and, in some instances, can produce a “double chin.” A double chin can cause stretching and/or sagging of skin and may also result in discomfort. Moreover, excess adipose tissue in superficial fat compartments can produce loose facial structures, such as loose jowls, that also cause an undesirable appearance. Excess body fat can also be located at the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, knees, and arms, as well as other locations.
- Aesthetic improvement of the human body may involve the selective removal of adipose tissue. Invasive procedures (e.g., liposuction) for this purpose, however, tend to be associated with relative high costs, long recovery times, and increased risk of complications. Injection of drugs for reducing adipose tissue, such as submental or facial adipose tissue, can cause significant swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, and/or induration. Conventional non-invasive treatments for reducing adipose tissue may include regular exercise, application of topical agents, use of weight-loss drugs, dieting, or a combination of these treatments. One drawback of these non-invasive treatments is that they may not be effective or even possible under certain circumstances. For example, when a person is physically injured or ill, regular exercise may not be an option. Topical agents and orally administered weight-loss drugs are not an option if, as another example, they cause an undesirable reaction (e.g., an allergic or other negative reaction). Additionally, non-invasive treatments may be ineffective for selectively reducing specific regions of adiposity. For example, localized fat loss around the neck, jaw, cheeks, etc. often cannot be achieved using general or systemic weight-loss methods.
- Furthermore, aesthetic and/or therapeutic improvement of the human body may involve treatment or alteration of non-lipid rich tissue as well as lipid rich tissue, and again conventional treatments sometimes are not suitable for many subjects and cannot effectively target certain regions of tissue necessary for an effective treatment. For at least the foregoing reasons, there is a need for innovation in this field of aesthetic and/or therapeutic improvement of the human body.
- Many aspects of the present invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present invention. For ease of reference, throughout this disclosure identical reference numbers may be used to identify identical, similar, or analogous components or features of more than one embodiment of the present invention.
-
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a subject and a treatment system for cooling tissue in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is an end plan view of an applicator of the treatment system shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B inFIG. 3 . -
FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding toFIG. 4 showing the applicator of the treatment system shown inFIG. 1 after installation of a removable liner (FIG. 5 ) and during a cooling procedure performed on the subject shown inFIG. 1 (FIG. 6 ). -
FIGS. 7-9 are cross-sectional views similar toFIG. 6 showing areas around treatment interfaces during cooling treatments in accordance with other respective embodiments of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 10 showing a thermal sensor at a treatment interface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. -
FIGS. 12-14 are cross-sectional views similar toFIG. 6 showing areas around treatment interfaces during cooling treatments in accordance with still other respective embodiments of the present invention. -
FIGS. 15-18 are side views of the subject shown inFIG. 1 and nearby structures at different respective stages during a cooling treatment performed on the subject using the treatment system shown inFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken along line C-C inFIG. 18 at different respective stages during the cooling treatment. -
FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 20 . -
FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a method for cooling a tissue region in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 23 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for a pure bonding agent and for a diluted bonding agent. -
FIG. 24 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for an adhesive including 70% v/v sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and 30% v/v dipropylene glycol. -
FIG. 25 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for an adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol. -
FIG. 26 is a plot of specific heat and thermal conductivity versus temperature for an adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol. -
FIG. 27 is a plot of thermal diffusivity versus temperature for an adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol. - During a cooling treatment, it can be useful to maintain stable thermal and physical contact between an applicator and a tissue region receiving the treatment. When this thermal and physical contact is broken or altered, the tissue region or portions thereof may rewarm prematurely, thereby causing the treatment to have a diminished effect or even no effect. Additionally, the applicator oftentimes includes various sensors that depend on stable contact between the tissue region and the applicator. These sensors, for example, are used to detect conditions such as applicator temperature, tissue temperature, quality of contact between the applicator and the tissue, and tissue properties (e.g., impedance, acoustic, and optical properties, etc.). The sensor readings are sometimes used to detect freeze events which causes treatment parameters to be changed in response thereto. When physical contact between the applicator and the tissue region is disrupted for any reason, such as by patient motion, any resulting X, Y, or Z axis motion between the applicator and the tissue region can create a serious signal artifact from at least some of these sensors. This, in turn, can lead to false sensor readings and incorrect corrective action, such as under or over cooling, a premature alarm, premature cessation of treatment, incorrect freeze event detections, etc.
- Conventional approaches to maintaining stable thermal and physical contact between an applicator and a subject's skin during cooling treatments include use of suction and/or restraints (e.g., straps). While effective in many cases, these conventional approaches have limitations. For example, suction is applied to a subject's skin via an air gap that reduces a skin area available for thermal and physical contact with an applicator. The area of a subject's skin in contact with an air gap is directly proportional to the strength of the suction. Thus, when significant holding strength is desirable, achieving such holding strength by suction may require a large skin area to be in contact with an air gap and, therefore, not available for thermal and physical contact with an applicator. In the context of transdermal cooling, decreasing the area of a subject's skin available for thermal and physical contact with an applicator is typically undesirable. Furthermore, strong suction may be uncomfortable during long-duration treatments. Restraints may lessen or eliminate the need for suction, but only in limited cases. For example, unlike suction, restraints are typically not well suited for pulling and holding skin and underlying tissue in contact with three-dimensional surfaces. Also, use of suction and restraints generally allows for undue relative movement between the applicator and the tissue region when the subject moves for any of a variety of reasons which, as mentioned above, can cause false sensor readings, false alarms, and ineffective treatments.
- Methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can at least partially address one or more problems associated with conventional technologies as discussed above and/or other problems whether or not such problems are stated herein. Methods in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention include use of temperature-dependent adhesive bonding to promote stable thermal and physical contact between an applicator and a tissue region. An adhesive that causes this bonding can be applied to one or more of a subject's skin, a heat transfer surface of an applicator, and an intervening structure (e.g., a liner). Furthermore, the adhesive can be applied independently (e.g., as a viscous layer) or carried by an absorbent substrate as part of a composite structure. The subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface of the applicator can then be brought together with the adhesive therebetween. The applicator can be used to cool the tissue region via the subject's skin, via the heat-transfer surface of the applicator, via the adhesive, and via various other intervening structures or materials when present at the treatment interface.
- While the tissue region is cooled, the adhesive can also be cooled. This cooling of the adhesive can significantly strengthen the adhesion between the subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface of the applicator via the adhesive, thereby reducing or eliminating relative movement between the subject's skin and the heat-transfer surface of the applicator during the treatment. By way of theory, and without wishing to be bound to such theory, both increasing the viscosity of the adhesive and increasing the tackiness of the adhesive in response to cooling may contribute to the strengthened adhesion. Furthermore, the adhesive can have a viscosity and tackiness during application low enough to conform readily to irregularities in the subject's skin, but still high enough to maintain its shape. The viscosity and tackiness during application can also be low enough to allow an applicator to be ideally placed on the skin and moved into an optimal position. At a chilled temperature during tissue cooling, the viscosity and tackiness of the adhesive can be high enough to promote stable thermal and physical contact between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the tissue region and to keep the applicator fixed in position relative to the skin regardless of patient motion during the treatment. Thus, relative to conventional counterparts, methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention have less or no need for suction, restraints, and/or other mechanisms for maintaining stable thermal and physical contact between an applicator and a tissue region.
- Specific details of methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to
FIGS. 1-27 . Although methods for cooling tissue and related structures and systems may be disclosed herein primarily or entirely in the context of cryolipolysis and cryolysis, other contexts in addition to those disclosed herein are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the disclosed methods, structures, and systems may be useful in the context of any compatible type of treatment mentioned in the applications and patents listed above and incorporated herein by reference. It should be understood, in general, that other methods, structures, and systems in addition to those disclosed herein are within the scope of the present invention. For example, methods, structures, and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have different and/or additional configurations, components, and procedures than those disclosed herein. Moreover, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that methods, structures, and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be without one or more of the configurations, components, and/or procedures disclosed herein without deviating from the present invention. - The term “treatment system,” as used generally herein, refers to cosmetic, therapeutic or other medical treatment systems, as well as to any treatment regimens or medical device usage. At least some treatment systems configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are useful for reducing or eliminating excess adipose tissue or other undesirable tissue or enhancing the appearance of skin. In many cases, the treatment systems can be used at various locations, including, for example, a subject's face, neck, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, knees, back, arms, and/or ankles. Treatment systems in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention are well suited for cosmetically beneficial alterations of tissue at targeted anatomical regions. Some cosmetic procedures may be for the sole purpose of altering a target region to conform to a cosmetically desirable look, feel, size, shape, and/or other desirable cosmetic characteristic or feature. Accordingly, at least some embodiments of the cosmetic procedures can be performed without providing an appreciable therapeutic effect (e.g., no therapeutic effect). For example, some cosmetic procedures may not include restoration of health, physical integrity, or the physical well-being of a subject. The cosmetic methods can target subcutaneous or dermal regions to change a subject's appearance and can include, for example, procedures performed on subject's submental region, face, neck, ankle region, or the like. In other embodiments, however, desirable treatments may have therapeutic outcomes, such as alteration of vascular malformations, treatment of glands including sebaceous and sweat glands, treatment of nerves, alteration of body hormones levels (by the reduction of adipose tissue), etc.
- Reference throughout this specification to “one example,” “an example,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example of the present invention. Thus, the occurrences of the phrases “in one example,” “in an example,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, routines, stages, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples of the invention. The headings provided herein are for convenience only and are not intended to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, isometric view of a subject 100 and atreatment system 102 for cooling tissue in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that aspects of the present invention can be practiced with numerous different treatment systems, of which thetreatment system 102 is merely one example. As shown inFIG. 1 , thetreatment system 102 can include anapplicator 104 that conforms closely to contours of the subject's body. In the illustrated embodiment, theapplicator 104 is placed at atreatment site 105 under the subject'schin 106. In other embodiments, theapplicator 104 can be placed at other suitable locations on the subject's body (e.g., at the abdomen, thigh, buttock, knee, back, arm, ankle, etc.). With reference again toFIG. 1 , thetreatment system 102 can include a head support 108 (e.g., a pillow) shaped to snugly receive the subject'shead 109. Thetreatment system 102 can further include a restraint 110 (e.g., a strap) detachably connecting theapplicator 104 to thehead support 108. Therestraint 110 can be configured to press theapplicator 104 into firm contact with the subject'sskin 111 at thetreatment site 105. Structures and materials at the treatment interface between theapplicator 104 and the subject'sskin 111 are not shown inFIG. 1 and will be described with reference to subsequent figures. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A inFIG. 1 . With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 together, thetreatment system 102 can include acontrol module 112 and a connector 114 (e.g., a cable) extending between thecontrol module 112 and theapplicator 104. Thecontrol module 112 can include ahousing 116 containing afluid system 118, apower supply 120, asuction system 122, and acontroller 124. Thefluid system 118 can be configured to chill and to circulate a heat-transfer fluid (e.g., water, glycol, or oil) through theapplicator 104. For example, thefluid system 118 can include suitable fluid-cooling and fluid-circulating components (not shown), such as a fluid chamber, a refrigeration unit, a cooling tower, a thermoelectric chiller, and/or a pump. The heat-transfer fluid can be one that transfers heat with or without phase change. In some embodiments, thefluid system 118 also includes suitable fluid-heating components (also not shown), such as a thermoelectric heater configured to heat the heat-transfer fluid such that theapplicator 104 can provide heating as well as cooling at thetreatment site 105. In other embodiments, thetreatment system 102 is configured for cooling only. - The
connector 114 can include an elongatemain body 126 and lines 128 (individually identified as lines 128 a-128 e) within themain body 126. The lines 128 can extend longitudinally between thecontrol module 112 and theapplicator 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the lines 128 include asupply fluid line 128 a operably connected to thefluid system 118, areturn fluid line 128 b also operably connected to thefluid system 118, apower line 128 c operably connected to thepower supply 120, asuction line 128 d operably connected to thesuction system 122, and acontrol line 128 e operably connected to thecontroller 124. In other embodiments, a counterpart of theconnector 114 can carry other suitable lines in addition to or instead of the illustrated lines. Furthermore, thecontrol module 112 and theapplicator 104 can be configured to communicate wirelessly in addition to or instead of communicating via theconnector 114. - When in use, the
treatment system 102 can deliver heat-transfer fluid continuously or intermittently from thecontrol module 112 to theapplicator 104 via thesupply fluid line 128 a. Within theapplicator 104, the heat-transfer fluid can circulate to absorb heat from thetreatment site 105. The heat-transfer fluid can then flow from theapplicator 104 back to thecontrol module 112 via thereturn fluid line 128 b. For warming periods, thecontrol module 112 can actively heat the heat-transfer fluid such that warm heat-transfer fluid is circulated through theapplicator 104. Alternatively or in addition, the heat-transfer fluid can be allowed to warm passively. In the illustrated embodiment, theapplicator 104 relies on circulation of heat-transfer fluid to maintain a thermal gradient at thetreatment site 105 and thereby drive cooling or heating. In other embodiments, a counterpart of theapplicator 104 can include a thermoelectric element that supplements or takes the place of circulation of heat-transfer fluid to maintain this thermal gradient. The thermoelectric element can be configured for cooling (e.g., by the Peltier effect) and/or heating (e.g., by resistance). For example, in some embodiments, a counterpart of theapplicator 104 can rely on circulation of heat-transfer fluid to drive cooling and a thermoelectric element to drive heating. - The
control module 112 can control thesuction system 122 to apply suction at thetreatment site 105 via theapplicator 104 and via thesuction line 128 d. Suction can be useful for securing a liner (not shown) to theapplicator 104 and/or for drawing and holdingskin 111 and underlying tissue at thetreatment site 105 into contact with theapplicator 104 or the applicator liner, and/or for other purposes. Suitable suction levels can be selected based on characteristics of the tissue at thetreatment site 105, patient comfort, and/or the holding power of a temperature-dependent adhesive (not shown) at thetreatment site 105. Thepower supply 120 can be configured to provide a direct current voltage for powering electrical elements (e.g., thermal and sensor devices) of theapplicator 104 via thepower line 128 c. For example, thecontrol module 112 can include an input/output device 130 (e.g., a touchscreen) operably connected to thecontroller 124. The input/output device 130 can display a state of operation of thetreatment system 102 and/or a progress of a treatment protocol. - The
controller 124 can be in communication with theapplicator 104 and can have instructions for causing thetreatment system 102 to use theapplicator 104 to cool tissue at thetreatment site 105. In at least some embodiments, thecontroller 124 exchanges data with theapplicator 104 via thecontrol line 128 e, via a wireless communication link, via an optical communication link, and/or via another suitable communications link. Thecontroller 124 can monitor and adjust a treatment based on, without limitation, one or more treatment profiles and/or patient-specific treatment plans, such as those described, in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,442, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Suitable treatment profiles and patient-specific treatment plans can include one or more segments, each including a temperature profile, a vacuum level, and/or a duration (e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.). -
FIG. 3 is an end plan view of theapplicator 104.FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B inFIG. 3 .FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding toFIG. 4 showing theapplicator 104 after installation of a removable liner 131 (FIG. 5 ) and during a cooling procedure performed on the subject 100 (FIG. 6 ). With reference toFIGS. 1-6 together, theapplicator 104 can define a tissue-receivingcavity 132 and can include a heat-transfer surface 134 within thecavity 132. The heat-transfer surface 134 can be a durable surface through which theapplicator 104 is configured to cooltissue 135 at thetreatment site 105. During this cooling, theliner 131 and an adhesive 136 can be disposed between the heat-transfer surface 134 and thetissue 135. Theliner 131 can be useful, for example, to help keep theapplicator 104 clean during a treatment. The adhesive 136, discussed in detail below, can be useful, for example, to maintain stable thermal and physical contact between heat-transfer surface 134 and thetissue 135. Theliner 131 can be attached to theapplicator 104 with a liner adhesive (not shown) and/or held in place in another suitable manner, such as a vacuum generated by theapplicator 104. When present, a liner adhesive between theliner 131 and the heat-transfer surface 134 need not have any special properties, such as temperature-dependent adhesive power and/or viscosity as discussed below with regard to the adhesive 136. - The heat-
transfer surface 134 can be temperature controlled, such as via thecontroller 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat-transfer surface 134 is three-dimensional. In other embodiments, the heat-transfer surface 134 can be two-dimensional. As shown inFIG. 4 , theapplicator 104 can include acup 137 defining a body of thecavity 132, and acontoured lip 138 defining a mouth of thecavity 132. Thecup 137 can be contoured to accommodate thetissue 135 pulled into thecavity 132 and can serve as a heat sink to facilitate cooling of thetissue 135. Thelip 138 can be configured to sealingly engage the subject'sskin 111 and/or to sealingly engage theliner 131, the adhesive 136, or another intervening structure or material disposed between the heat-transfer surface 134 and the subject'sskin 111. Theapplicator 104 can include aslot 139 at a lowermost portion of thecavity 132. Theapplicator 104 can further includeside suction ports 140 and endsuction ports 142 within thecavity 132 and around theslot 139. Theslot 139, theside suction ports 140, and theend suction ports 142 can be operably connected to thesuction system 122 via thesuction line 128 d and via additional suction lines (not shown) within theapplicator 104. In the illustrated embodiment, theapplicator 104 is configured to hold theliner 131 within thecavity 132 by suction at the side and endsuction ports liner 131 facing theapplicator 104. - Suction at the
slot 139 can draw thetissue 135 into thecavity 132 and hold thetissue 135 within thecavity 132 with the assistance of the adhesive 136. As discussed below, the tensile adhesion and viscosity of the adhesive can increase with decreasing temperature such that the initial adhesion provided by the adhesive may be relatively weak. In other embodiments, a counterpart of theapplicator 104 can be configured for use without a removable liner, and suction at the side and endsuction ports slot 139 can draw thetissue 135 into thecavity 132 and hold thetissue 135 within thecavity 132. In still other embodiments, a counterpart of theapplicator 104 can have other suitable suction configurations. Furthermore, counterparts of theapplicator 104 can be without suction functionality, such as when drawing thetissue 135 into thecavity 132 and holding thetissue 135 within thecavity 132 is not needed. For example, a counterpart of theapplicator 104 that is substantially flat or slightly curved may be placed directly on the subject'sskin 111 without use of any suction and held in place with only straps and the adhesive 136 or with just the adhesive 136. - With reference again to
FIGS. 1-6 , theapplicator 104 can further include a fluid-cooledelement 144 underlying theslot 139. The fluid-cooledelement 144 can includechannels 146 shaped to convey the heat-transfer fluid in a manner that promotes heat transfer via the heat-transfer surface 134. Theapplicator 104 can include aninlet port 148 and anoutlet port 150 coupled to thesupply fluid line 128 a and thereturn fluid line 128 b, respectively. Thechannels 146 can extend along a serpentine or other suitable path between theinlet port 148 and theoutlet port 150. Theapplicator 104 can further include athermoelectric element 152 disposed between the fluid-cooledelement 144 and theslot 139. The fluid-cooledelement 144 and thethermoelectric element 152 can be used together or separately to cause a desired level of cooling or heating. Using the fluid-cooledelement 144 and/or thethermoelectric element 152 for heating may be useful, for example, to facilitate separating theapplicator 104 from the treatment site after a cooling procedure is complete. -
FIGS. 7-9 are cross-sectional views similar toFIG. 6 showing areas around a treatment interface during cooling treatments in accordance with other respective embodiments of the present invention. In particular,FIGS. 7-9 show different adhesive configurations at the treatment interface. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7 , the adhesive 136 is applied to theliner 131 before theliner 131 contacts theskin 111. Accordingly, the adhesive 136 can be absent from portions of thetreatment site 105 not in contact with theliner 131. In some cases, the adhesive 136 is preloaded onto theliner 131. For example, theliner 131 can be packaged with a layer of the adhesive 136 and configured to be discarded after a single use. In other embodiments, the adhesive 136 can be applied to theliner 131 just before a treatment commences, such as just before or just after theliner 131 is removably connected to theapplicator 104. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8 , theapplicator 104 does not include aliner 131 and the adhesive 136 is disposed directly between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134. This arrangement may be desirable, for example, when protecting the adhesive 136 is not necessary, such as when the adhesive 136 is water soluble and the heat-transfer surface 134 is free of gaps and crevices in which the adhesive 136 may become embedded. In these and other cases, theslot 139, theside suction ports 140, and theend suction ports 142 can include filters (not shown) that prevent the adhesive 136 from being drawn into thesuction system 122. - In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 9 , the adhesive 136 is carried by an absorbent substrate 160 disposed between the subject'sskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 of theapplicator 104. Together, the adhesive 136 and the absorbent substrate 160 can form a composite structure 162 configured to be disposed at the treatment interface. The absorbent substrate 160 can be useful, for example, to facilitate application of the adhesive 136 at low viscosities, to hold the adhesive 136 in position at the treatment interface, to reduce or prevent displacement of the adhesive 136 during placement of theapplicator 104, and/or to insure that a continuous layer of material is present between theapplicator 104 and the subject'sskin 111. Insuring that a continuous layer of material is present between theapplicator 104 and the subject'sskin 111 can likewise insure that no part of theapplicator 104 directly touches the subject'sskin 111. When supercooling treatment temperatures are used, such direct contact between theapplicator 104 and the subject'sskin 111 may be undesirable as it may inadvertently inoculate theskin 111 and cause a premature freeze event therein. - In some embodiments, the absorbent substrate 160 is tubular and stretchable so that it can be fitted around the subject's neck, arm, leg, torso, etc. In other embodiments, the absorbent substrate 160 can be a flat or curved pad or have other suitable forms for making optimum contact with a treatment site and yet be easy to apply and remove. The absorbent substrate 160 can include a stretchable fabric, mesh, or other porous material suitable for carrying the adhesive 136. Cotton, rayon, and polyurethane cloth are a few examples of suitable materials for use in the absorbent substrate 160. Furthermore, the absorbent substrate 160 can include a thermally conductive material that at least partially compensates for a lower thermal conductivity of the
corresponding adhesive 136. Thus, in some cases, the composite structure 162 is more thermally conductive than the adhesive 136 alone. Higher thermal conductivity can be useful, for example, to facilitate detection of the thermal signature of a freeze event during a cooling procedure. When the absorbent substrate 160 include stretchable fabric, some or all of the fibers of the fabric can be made of thermally conductive material. For example, the fabric can include metal fibers, carbon fibers, and/or fibers having a thermally conductive coating. Carbon fiber fabric is available, for example, under the FLEXZORB trademark from Calgon Carbon (Pittsburgh, Pa.). These and other forms of the absorbent substrate 160 can be configured for single-use or multiple-use, and can be packaged with or without being preloaded with the adhesive 136. When the absorbent substrate 160 is preloaded with the adhesive 136, the corresponding composite structure 162 can be encased in moisture impermeable packaging (not shown) to protect the constituent adhesive 136 from the environment. Furthermore, the composite structure 162 can be packaged separately from or together with theliner 131. In a particular embodiment, the composite structure 162 is pre-positioned on theliner 131 such that the composite structure 162 and theliner 131 can simply be brought into contact with the subject'sskin 111 without any need to separately position the composite structure 162. In another embodiment, the composite structure 162 is independent of theliner 131 and configured to be placed on the subject'sskin 111 before establishing thermal and physical contact with theapplicator 104. -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 9 .FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 10 showing athermal sensor 164 at the treatment interface in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 11 , thethermal sensor 164 can be carried by (e.g., embedded in) the absorbent substrate 160. Alternatively, a counterpart of thethermal sensor 164 can be carried by (e.g., embedded in) another suitable portion of theapplicator 104, such as the heat-transfer surface 134 of theapplicator 104. Thethermal sensor 164 can be useful, for example, to facilitate detection of the thermal signature of a freeze event at theskin 111 by shortening the distance over which thermal energy associated with a freeze event must conveyed before detection. Thethermal sensor 164 can include awire 166 that extends out of the absorbent substrate 160 to a port (not shown) for connection to external electronics. Alternatively, thethermal sensor 164 can be configured to communicate with external electronics wirelessly. In some cases, thethermal sensor 164 is built into the absorbent substrate 160. In other cases, thethermal sensor 164 is inserted into the absorbent substrate 160 at the time of use. In these and other cases, thethermal sensor 164 can be single-use or multiple use. -
FIGS. 12-13 show use of the adhesive 136 with different applicator types. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 12 , the adhesive 136 is shown in use with a “pinch-type”applicator 170 at atreatment site 171. Theapplicator 170 can include aframe 172 havingsidewalls 174 operably connected torespective cooling elements 176. Theframe 172 can define anend gap 177 at which theapplicator 170 includes asuction port 178. Suction at theend gap 177 can facilitate holdingtissue 135 at thetreatment site 171 in a captured state between thesidewalls 174 before cooling of thetissue 135 begins. After cooling of thetissue 135 begins, the adhesive 136 can cool and form a strong adhesive bond between thetissue 135 and thesidewalls 174. In at least some cases, the suction at theend gap 177 is reduced after the adhesive bond between thetissue 135 and thesidewalls 174 is strengthened. Reducing the suction at theend gap 177 can be useful, for example, to reduce or eliminate suction-related blood pooling at a portion of thetissue 135 closest to theend gap 177. Additional details regarding “pinch-type” applicators that can be used with adhesive 136 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0342780 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/662,181, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. - In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 13 , the adhesive 136 is shown in use with anothercup type applicator 179 similar to the applicator 104 (FIG. 6 ). Theapplicator 179 is also similar to the applicator 170 (FIG. 12 ) except that noend gap 177 exists between theskin 111 and a heat transfer surface of theapplicator 179. Theapplicator 179 can include acup 180 and asuction port 181 at a base of thecup 180 that fully draws thetissue 135 into thecup 180. Like the applicator 104 (FIG. 6 ) and the applicator 170 (FIG. 12 ), theapplicator 179 is a three-dimensional applicator well suited for use with tissue that can be pulled away from a subject's body. In at least some cases, the treatment interfaces associated with these applicators are also three dimensional. It should be understood, however, that the adhesive can also be used with applicators that cool tissue via a two-dimensional treatment interface. - In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 14 , the adhesive 136 is shown in use with a “saddlebag-type”applicator 182 at atreatment site 183. Theapplicator 182 can include acooling element 184 coupled to acentral backing 186. Theapplicator 182 can further includesuction elements 188 coupled to respectivelateral backings 190. Thelateral backings 190 can be hingedly connected to thecentral backing 186 at opposite respective sides of thecentral backing 186. A strap (not shown) can be used to initially secure theapplicator 182 at thetreatment site 183 by compression. Suction at thesuction elements 188 optionally can facilitate holdingtissue 135 at thetreatment site 171 in stable contact with thecooling element 184 before cooling of thetissue 135 begins. After cooling of thetissue 135 begins, the adhesive 136 can cool and form a strong adhesive bond between thetissue 135 and thecooling element 184 sufficient to hold theapplicator 182 in place without continued use of any straps or suction. In at least some cases, compression from the strap and/or suction from thesuction elements 188 can be reduced or eliminated entirely after the adhesive bond between thetissue 135 and thecooling element 184 is strengthened. Reducing compression from the strap and/or suction from thesuction elements 188 can be useful, for example, to enhance patient comfort. Additional details regarding “saddlebag-type” applicators that can be used with the adhesive 136 in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0342780 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/662,181, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. -
FIGS. 15-18 are side views of the subject 100 at different respective stages during a cooling treatment performed on the subject 100 using the treatment system 102 (FIG. 1 ) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 15 , the subject 100 is shown before the treatment begins. InFIG. 16 , the subject 100 is shown after an adhesive 136 has been applied to the subject'sskin 111 at thetreatment site 105 as a viscous layer. The adhesive 136 can be applied to theskin 111 at thetreatment site 105 by brushing, by smearing, by placing (e.g., when the adhesive 136 is carried by an absorbent substrate), and/or by another suitable application technique. In at least some embodiments, the adhesive 136 has a viscosity at an application temperature (e.g., room temperature or body temperature) high enough to form a stable viscous layer on skin yet low enough to readily conform to irregularities (e.g., creases) typically present in skin. For example, the adhesive 136 can be applied to theskin 111 at thetreatment site 105 at a viscosity within a range from 5,000 to 500,000 centipoise, such as within a range from 10,000 to 100,000 centipoise. In addition, when applied, the adhesive 136 can have a low tackiness, which substantially increases after it is cooled. After the adhesive 136 has been applied, theapplicator 104 can be staged (FIG. 17 ) and then moved into contact with the subject 100 at the treatment site 105 (FIG. 18 ). During and shortly after this contact is established, theapplicator 104 can be precisely positioned in view of the relatively low viscosity and tackiness of the adhesive 136 at the application temperature. -
FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken along line C-C inFIG. 18 at different respective stages during the cooling treatment. When theapplicator 104 first contacts thetreatment site 105, theskin 111 and theunderlying tissue 135 at thetreatment site 105 can be mostly outside thecavity 132. Suction, represented byarrows 192 inFIG. 19 , can draw theskin 111 and theunderlying tissue 135 into thecavity 132 until theskin 111 and theunderlying tissue 135 move into thermal and physical contact with the heat-transfer surface 134 of theapplicator 104. The thermal and physical contact between thetissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 can extend through theskin 111, through the adhesive 136, through theliner 131 and through any liner adhesive (not shown) between theliner 131 and the heat-transfer surface 134 of theapplicator 104. The adhesive 136 can be present at a thickness sufficient to promote adhesion between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 via theliner 131 yet thin enough not to unduly reduce thermal conductivity between thetissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134. In at least some cases, the adhesive 136 is present at an average thickness within a range from 0.1 to 1 millimeter, such as within a range from 0.2 to 0.5 millimeter. In a particular embodiment, the adhesive 136 present at an average thickness of 0.3 millimeter. - When the
skin 111 and theunderlying tissue 135 first move into thermal and physical contact with the heat-transfer surface 134, the adhesive 136 can form a weak adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134. Thus, in at least some cases, theapplicator 104 is readily repositionable before cooling begins. Repositioning theapplicator 104 can be useful, for example, when an initial position of theapplicator 104 is suboptimal. Once theapplicator 104 is properly positioned and thetissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 are in thermal and physical contact with one another (and in direct physical contact with one another when theliner 131 is not present), theapplicator 104 can be activated to draw heat (represented by arrows 194 inFIG. 20 ) from thetissue 135. In this way, theapplicator 104 can cool thetissue 135 via theskin 111, via the adhesive 136, via theliner 131, via any liner adhesive, and via the heat-transfer surface 134 of theapplicator 104. The adhesive 136 can be cooled while cooling thetissue 135. Cooling the adhesive 136 can cryogenically strengthen the direct or indirect adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 and thereby strengthen an adhesion between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 via the adhesive 136 and via theliner 131. This can inhibit or totally prevent movement of theapplicator 104 relative to theskin 111 while the adhesive 136 is chilled. - After the adhesive bond between the
skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 has been cryogenically strengthened, theapplicator 104 may no longer be readily repositionable. In at least some cases, cooling the adhesive 136 from an application temperature to a chilled temperature in conjunction with a cooling treatment can at least increase a tensile strength of the adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 by a factor of more than 1.25×, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 10×, 20×, or 30×. For example, a force required to break adhesion between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 in a direction normal to the heat-transfer surface 134 when the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened can be at least a factor of more than 1.25×, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 10×, 20×, or 30× a corresponding force required to break the adhesion before the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened. Similarly, cooling the adhesive 136 from an application temperature to a chilled temperature in conjunction with the cooling treatment can at least increase a shear strength of the adhesive bond between theskin 111 and theheat transfer surface 134 by a factor of more than 1.25×, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 10×, 20×, or 30× a shear strength of the adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 before the shear strength is cryogenically strengthened. For example, a force required to break the adhesion between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 in a direction parallel to the heat-transfer surface 134 when the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened can be at least a factor of more than 1.25×, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 10×, 20×, or 30× such a force required to break adhesion before the adhesion is cryogenically strengthened. An increase in shear strength can be important to prevent any X, Y axis relative movement between theskin 111 and theheat transfer surface 134 during a cooling treatment. - For “cup-type” applicators (e.g., the
applicator 104 shown inFIG. 6 ) or “pinch-type” applicators (e.g., theapplicator 170 shown inFIG. 12 ) where tissue is drawn into a cup or well having side walls, an increased shear strength can be very effective in reducing or eliminating relative movement between skin and a heat transfer surface. This can be useful to reduce or eliminate “pop off” or other types of undesirable shifting or separation between these applicators and skin at a treatment site. For surface applicators (e.g., theapplicator 182 shown inFIG. 14 ), increased tensile strength preventing motion along the Z axis can be very effective to reduce or eliminate relative movement between skin and a heat transfer surface in the Z axis. Again, this can be useful to reduce or eliminate “pop off” or other types of undesirable shifting or separation between these applicators and skin at a treatment site. - In addition to using adhesives as described which exhibit a large reversible change in adhesive power and viscosity in response to a change in temperature, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any material used to form an adhesive absorbent (when used), liner (when used), heat transfer surface, and any other components that may come in contact with the adhesive should be compatible with the adhesive. For example, these other structures and materials can be selected to preferably wet to the adhesive and form strong bonds thereto at treatment temperatures. For at least one tested adhesive formation, it has been found that aluminum, cotton, rayon, and polyurethane are compatible with the formation of strong adhesive bonds. Bonding strength has been found to increase when an absorbent substrate carrying an adhesive has a surface that is at least somewhat porous.
- After the adhesive bond between the
skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 is cryogenically strengthened, a level of suction and/or compression initially used to urge thetissue 135 into thecavity 132 may be unneeded to maintain a position of thetissue 135 within thecavity 132. Accordingly, the level of suction and/or compression can be reduced, which can be beneficial, for example, to enhance patient comfort during long-duration treatments and/or to reduce undesirable side effects of the suction and/or compression. In some cases, thermal and physical contact between thetissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 occurs primarily or solely by adhesion while thetissue 135 is cooled. In other cases, maintaining thermal and physical contact between thetissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 can occur primarily by suction supplemented by adhesion while thetissue 135 is cooled. - In at least some embodiments, cooling the adhesive 136 from an application temperature to a chilled temperature in conjunction with a cooling treatment increases a viscosity of the adhesive 136 by at least 1,000% (e.g., at least 10,000%) on a centipoise scale. In these and other embodiments, cooling the adhesive 136 in this manner can cause the adhesive 136 to have a viscosity within a range from 3,000,000 centipoise to a maximum viscosity of the adhesive 136 at temperatures warmer than a glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136. Cooling the adhesive 136 to colder than its glass transition temperature can weaken the adhesion between the
skin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 via the adhesive 136. Accordingly, the adhesive 136 can be selected to have a glass transition temperature colder than a coldest temperature to which the adhesive 136 is to be cooled during a cooling treatment. For example, the adhesive 136 can be selected to have a glass transition temperature colder than −20° C., such as colder than −30° C. - According to a particular embodiment, at room temperature or another suitable application temperature, the adhesive 136 has minimal adhesive force such that the
applicator 104 can be readily placed on and removed from theskin 111 and moved sideways or twisted as need be to correctly position theapplicator 104. For example, the adhesive force before cooling can be insufficient to keep theapplicator 104 in a precise position and fixed in that position for a significant period of time without the use of some other holding force. However, at a treatment temperature, the adhesive force is dramatically increased such that the adhesive force alone is strong enough to keep theapplicator 104 in place without any other attachment force. Other attachment forces that may become unnecessary can include suction, straps, or even the support of the subject'stissue 135 with the assistance of gravity (e.g., if the subject 100 is lying down and theapplicator 104 is resting on top of the subject 100). In other words, the adhesive 136 is strong enough to secure theapplicator 104 in place in any orientation. So even if the subject 100 is standing and theapplicator 104 is simply hanging from the subject 100, such as from the subject's abdomen or side flank, the adhesive 136 is strong enough to secure theapplicator 104 and keep it in place and non-movable relative to theskin 111 at the treatment site being treated by theapplicator 104. Furthermore, the adhesive 136 can be strong enough to not only hold theapplicator 104 in place and keep it from moving relative a subject'sskin 111 when the subject is standing and theapplicator 104 is hanging from the subject, but could do so even if the subject moves, shivers, or were to jump up and down. -
FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 20 . As shown inFIG. 21 , theliner 131 can have a roundededge 196 at a perimeter of theslot 139. With reference toFIGS. 20 and 21 together, the adhesive 136 can be squeezed between theskin 111 and theliner 131 and thereby shifted toward theslot 139, toward an area above thelip 138, and/or toward other areas where theliner 131 is not present. For example, the adhesive 136 can be thicker at a side of therounded edge 196 closer to theslot 139 than at a side of therounded edge 196 farther from theslot 139. The adhesive 136 can have a viscosity upon application high enough that it does not entirely squeeze out of areas of thetreatment site 105 pressed firmly against theliner 131. Because the adhesive 136 in the illustrated embodiment is applied to the subject'sskin 111 before the subject'sskin 111 is brought into contact with theliner 131, the adhesive 136 can be present at portions of thetreatment site 105 not in contact with theliner 131, such as a portion of thetreatment site 105 at theslot 139. The adhesive 136 can have a viscosity upon application high enough that it is not pulled off theskin 111 by suction at the portions of thetreatment site 105 not in contact with theliner 131. In some cases, however, some or all of the adhesive 136 at these portions of thetreatment site 105 may be pulled off theskin 111 by suction. In these cases, theapplicator 104 can include a filter (not shown) that reduces or eliminates clogging of suction lines and/or ports into which the liberated adhesive 136 is drawn. -
FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating amethod 200 for cooling a tissue region of a subject in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For simplicity, themethod 200 will be further described primarily with reference to theapplicator 104. It should be understood, however, that themethod 200, when suitable, and/or portions of themethod 200, when suitable, can be practiced with respect to any of theapplicators FIGS. 20-22 and various preceding figures as indicated, themethod 200 can include contacting theskin 111 and theapplicator 104 with the adhesive 136 therebetween (block 202). As discussed above, this can include applying (e.g., brushing, smearing, placing, etc.) the adhesive 136 onto theskin 111, onto theliner 131, and/or onto the heat-transfer surface 134 of theapplicator 104, and then bringing theskin 111 and theapplicator 104 into thermal and physical contact with one another. The adhesive 136 can be independent or carried by an absorbent substrate (e.g., the absorbent substrate 160 shown inFIG. 9 ). In at least some embodiments, themethod 200 includes urging theskin 111 into the cavity 132 (block 204). For example, themethod 200 can include urging theskin 111 into thecavity 132 at least partially by suction and/or at least partially by compression. - When the
tissue 135 is in thermal and physical contact with the heat-transfer surface 134 via theskin 111 and via the adhesive 136, themethod 200 can include cooling the adhesive 136 (block 206) and cooling the tissue 135 (block 208). Cooling the adhesive 136 can include cooling the adhesive 136 to a temperature no colder than a glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136, such as a temperature within a range from 1° C. warmer than the glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136 to 10° C. warmer than the glass transition temperature of the adhesive 136, e.g., to a temperature warmer by more than either of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10° C. In at least some cases, the temperature to which the adhesive 136 is cooled is within a range from either −25° C. to −1° C., −25° C. to −5° C., −20° C. to −8° C., or −18° C. to −10° C. Cooling the adhesive 136 can cryogenically strengthen an adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134. Cooling thetissue 135 can occur during cryogenic strengthening of the adhesive bond and/or after cryogenic strengthening of the adhesive bond. Cooling thetissue 135 can include cooling thetissue 135 via a viscous layer of the adhesive 136, via the composite structure including the absorbent substrate 160 and adhesive 136 (FIG. 9 ), and/or via the adhesive 136 in another suitable form for application between theapplicator 104 and theskin 111. In at least some embodiments, thetissue 135 is cooled to a sufficiently low temperature to damage or otherwise disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer. In these and other embodiments, cooling thetissue 135 can include cooling thetissue 135 to colder than 0° C., −5° C., −10° C. or colder than another suitable threshold for at least 15 minutes. - While cooling the
tissue 135, themethod 200 can include maintaining thermal and physical contact between thetissue 135 and the heat-transfer surface 134 (block 210). The adhesive 136 can cause this thermal and physical contact to be more reliable than it would be if the adhesive 136 were not present. In at least some cases, the adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 may become strong enough while cooling thetissue 135 to at least partially or totally substitute for suction and/or compression used to urge thetissue 135 into thecavity 132. In these and other cases, themethod 200 can include reducing or eliminating suction and/or compression after cryogenically strengthening the adhesive bond and while cooling thetissue 135. Themethod 200 can further include maintaining a position of theliner 131 within the cavity 132 (block 212) while cooling thetissue 135. For example, the position of theliner 131 within thecavity 132 can be maintained at least primarily by suction and/or by another adhesive, which can but does not need to have any special properties. If rapid release of thetissue 135 from theapplicator 104 is necessary while a strong adhesive bond between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 is present via the adhesive 136, suction holding theliner 131 within thecavity 132 can be released and thetissue 135 can be removed from thecavity 132 with theliner 131 when a liner adhesive is not present. When a liner adhesive is present or when theliner 131 is not used, if rapid release of thetissue 135 from theapplicator 104 is necessary, theapplicator 104 can be rapidly re-warmed to warm the adhesive 136 to a temperature high enough such that thetissue 135 can be readily removed from thecavity 132. - As shown in
FIG. 22 , themethod 200 can further include warming the adhesive 136 (block 214) after cooling the adhesive 136. This can weaken the adhesion between theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134. In at least some embodiments, warming the adhesive 136 includes warming the adhesive 136 by at least 10° C. Furthermore, warming the adhesive 136 can include actively warming the adhesive 136 (e.g., using the thermoelectric element 152) and/or passively warming the adhesive 136 (e.g., by passing uncooled heat-transfer fluid through the fluid-cooledelement 144. Warming the adhesive 136 can decrease the viscosity of the adhesive 136 to less than 1,000,000 centipoise. After warming the adhesive 136, themethod 200 can include separating theskin 111 and the heat-transfer surface 134 (block 216). - Cooling treatments in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be used to reduce or eliminate targeted tissue in either the skin, subcutaneous layer, or other layers, and thereby cause the tissue to have a desired appearance. For example, treatment systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can perform medical treatments to provide therapeutic effects and/or cosmetic procedures for cosmetically beneficial effects. Without being bound by theory, the selective effect of cooling is believed to result in, for example, membrane disruption, cell shrinkage, disabling, disrupting, damaging, destroying, removing, killing, reducing, and/or other methods of lipid-rich cell and non-lipid rich cell alteration, and alteration of other tissue, either in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, or other tissue. Such alteration is believed to stem from one or more mechanisms acting alone or in combination. It is thought that such mechanism(s) trigger an apoptotic cascade, which is believed to be the dominant form of lipid-rich cell death by non-invasive cooling. In any of these embodiments, the effect of tissue cooling can be the selective reduction of lipid-rich cells by a desired mechanism of action, such as apoptosis, lipolysis, or the like. In some procedures, an
applicator 104 can cool targeted tissue of a subject to a temperature in a range of from about −25° C. to about 20° C. In other embodiments, the cooling temperatures can be from about −20° C. to about 10° C., from about −18° C. to about 5° C., from about −15° C. to about 5° C., or from about −15° C. to about 0° C. In further embodiments, the cooling temperatures can be equal to or less than −5° C., −10° C., −15° C., or in yet another embodiment, from about −15° C. to about −25° C. Other cooling temperatures and temperature ranges can be used. - Apoptosis, also referred to as “programmed cell death”, is a genetically-induced death mechanism by which cells self-destruct without incurring damage to surrounding tissues. An ordered series of biochemical events induce cells to morphologically change. These changes include cellular blebbing, loss of cell membrane asymmetry and attachment, cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and chromosomal DNA fragmentation. Injury via an external stimulus, such as cold exposure, is one mechanism that can induce cellular apoptosis in cells, Nagle, W. A., Soloff, B. L., Moss, A. J. Jr., Henle, K. J. “Cultured Chinese Hamster Cells Undergo Apoptosis After Exposure to Cold but Nonfreezing Temperatures” Cryobiology 27, 439-451 (1990).
- One aspect of apoptosis, in contrast to cellular necrosis (a traumatic form of cell death causing local inflammation), is that apoptotic cells express and display phagocytic markers on the surface of the cell membrane, thus marking the cells for phagocytosis by macrophages. As a result, phagocytes can engulf and remove the dying cells (e.g., the lipid-rich cells) without eliciting an immune response. Temperatures that elicit these apoptotic events in lipid-rich cells may contribute to long-lasting and/or permanent reduction and reshaping of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
- One mechanism of apoptotic lipid-rich cell death by cooling is believed to involve localized crystallization of lipids within the adipocytes at temperatures that do not induce crystallization in non-lipid-rich cells. The crystallized lipids selectively may injure these cells, inducing apoptosis (and may also induce necrotic death if the crystallized lipids damage or rupture the bi-lipid membrane of the adipocyte). Another mechanism of injury involves the lipid phase transition of those lipids within the cell's bi-lipid membrane, which results in membrane disruption or dysfunction, thereby inducing apoptosis. This mechanism is well-documented for many cell types and may be active when adipocytes, or lipid-rich cells, are cooled, Mazur, P., “Cryobiology: the Freezing of Biological Systems” Science, 68: 939-949 (1970); Quinn, P. J., “A Lipid Phase Separation Model of Low Temperature Damage to Biological Membranes” Cryobiology, 22: 128-147 (1985); Rubinsky, B., “Principles of Low Temperature Preservation” Heart Failure Reviews, 8, 277-284 (2003).
- Other possible mechanisms of adipocyte damage, described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,192,474, relate to ischemia/reperfusion injury that may occur under certain conditions when such cells are cooled as described herein. For instance, during treatment by cooling as described herein, the targeted adipose tissue may experience a restriction in blood supply and thus be starved of oxygen due to isolation as a result of applied pressure, cooling which may affect vasoconstriction in the cooled tissue, or the like. In addition to the ischemic damage caused by oxygen starvation and the buildup of metabolic waste products in the tissue during the period of restricted blood flow, restoration of blood flow after cooling treatment may additionally produce reperfusion injury to the adipocytes due to inflammation and oxidative damage that is known to occur when oxygenated blood is restored to tissue that has undergone a period of ischemia. This type of injury may be accelerated by exposing the adipocytes to an energy source (via, e.g., thermal, electrical, chemical, mechanical, acoustic, or other means) or otherwise increasing the blood flow rate in connection with or after cooling treatment as described herein. Increasing vasoconstriction in such adipose tissue by, e.g., various mechanical means (e.g., application of pressure or massage), chemical means or certain cooling conditions, as well as the local introduction of oxygen radical-forming compounds to stimulate inflammation and/or leukocyte activity in adipose tissue may also contribute to accelerating injury to such cells. Other yet-to-be understood mechanisms of injury may exist.
- In addition to the apoptotic mechanisms involved in lipid-rich cell death, local cold exposure is also believed to induce lipolysis (i.e., fat metabolism) of lipid-rich cells and has been shown to enhance existing lipolysis which serves to further increase the reduction in subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, Vallerand, A. L., Zamecnik. J., Jones, P. J. H., Jacobs, I. “Cold Stress Increases Lipolysis, FFA Ra and TG/FFA Cycling in Humans” Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, 70, 42-50 (1999).
- One expected advantage of the foregoing techniques is that the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in the target region can be reduced generally without collateral damage to non-lipid-rich cells in the same region. In general, lipid-rich cells can be affected at low temperatures that do not affect non-lipid-rich cells. As a result, lipid-rich cells, such as those associated with highly localized adiposity (e.g., submental adiposity, submandibular adiposity, facial adiposity, etc.), can be affected while non-lipid-rich cells (e.g., myocytes) in the same generally region are not damaged. The unaffected non-lipid-rich cells can be located underneath lipid-rich cells (e.g., cells deeper than a subcutaneous layer of fat), in the dermis, in the epidermis, and/or at other locations.
- In some procedures, the treatment system can remove heat from underlying tissue through the upper layers of tissue and create a thermal gradient with the coldest temperatures near the cooling surface, or surfaces, of the applicator (i.e., the temperature of the upper layer(s) of the skin can be lower than that of the targeted underlying cells). It may be challenging to reduce the temperature of the targeted cells low enough to be destructive to these target cells (e.g., induce apoptosis, cell death, etc.) while also maintaining the temperature of the upper and surface skin cells high enough so as to be protective (e.g., non-destructive). The temperature difference between these two thresholds can be small (e.g., approximately, 5° C. to about 10° C., less than 10° C., less than 15° C., etc.). Protection of the overlying cells (e.g., typically water-rich dermal and epidermal skin cells) from freeze damage during dermatological and related aesthetic procedures that involve sustained exposure to cold temperatures may include improving the freeze tolerance and/or freeze avoidance of these skin cells by using, for example, cryoprotectants for inhibiting or preventing such freeze damage. In at least some cases, the adhesive 136 acts as such a cryoprotectant. The adhesive can be used when tissue is cooled to temperatures above a freezing point of the tissue, when tissue is cooled to temperatures below a freezing point of the tissue where freezing does not occur due to supercooling, or alternatively be used in procedures where freezing of tissue is intended and caused to occur. Additional details regarding cryotherapies compatible with at least some embodiments of the present invention can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0251120, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- Adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention (e.g., the adhesive 136 described above) can include a bonding agent that significantly increases in viscosity and tack (i.e., stickiness) when cooled. The adhesives can further include a viscosity-reducing agent mixed with the bonding agent to modify the viscosity temperature-dependence of the resulting adhesive, to modify that tack temperature-dependence of the resulting adhesive, and/or to lower the glass transition temperature of the resulting adhesive.
FIG. 23 is a plot of viscosity versus temperature for a pure bonding agent (right) and for a bonding agent diluted with a viscosity-reducing agent (left). As shown inFIG. 23 , the addition of the viscosity-reducing agent lowers the glass transition temperature of the adhesive and shifts the region of highly temperature-dependent viscosity for the adhesive to be between −20° C. and 20° C. In some cases, the bonding agent is a solid at room temperatures, and the viscosity-reducing agent is a liquid solvent at room temperature with a relatively high solubility limit for the bonding agent, such as greater than 50% w/w, 60% w/w, 70% w/w, or a higher threshold. In other cases, the viscosity-reducing agent and the bonding agent can be miscible liquids at room temperature. - The relative proportions of the bonding agent and the viscosity-reducing agent in the adhesive can be selected to cause a cooling temperature range in which the adhesive significantly increases in viscosity and stickiness to correspond to a cooling temperature range of a treatment in which the adhesive is to be used. The targeted temperature range, for example, can extend from an application temperature (e.g., room temperature or body temperature) to a chilled temperature suitable for damaging or otherwise disrupting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer (e.g., −20° C., −15° C., −10° C., or −5° C.). The relative proportions of the bonding agent and the viscosity-reducing agent in the adhesive can additionally or alternatively be selected based on the solubility limit of the bonding agent in the viscosity-reducing agent. For example, the concentration of the bonding agent in the adhesive can be selected to be a maximum concentration (thereby maximizing the viscosity and the tack of the adhesive) that still adequately suppresses recrystallization of the bonding agent during normal storage and use of the adhesive.
- Adhesives in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention have a viscosity less than 500,000 centipoise (e.g., within a range from 5,000 centipoise to 500,000 centipoise) at 20° C. and a viscosity greater than 3,000,000 centipoise at −15° C. In these and other cases, the viscosities of the adhesives at −10° C. can be greater than the viscosities of the adhesives at 20° C. by at least 1,000% (e.g., by at least 3,000%, 5,000%, or 10,000%) on a centipoise scale. Furthermore, the adhesives can have a first level of tensile adhesion to human skin at 20° C. and a second level of tensile adhesion to human skin at −10° C. greater that the first level of tensile adhesion by a factor of more than 1.25×, 1.5×, 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 10×, 20×, or 30×. This tensile adhesion to human skin can be tested by applying a normal pulling force to a flat layer of adhesive disposed between an applicator and a skin analog.
- The bonding agent can be a modified or unmodified saccharide. These compounds can be well suited for this application because they tend to become both increasingly viscous and increasingly sticky when cooled to temperatures above their glass transition temperatures. As discussed above, this behavior is desirable for enhancing adhesion between skin and an applicator during a cooling treatment that involves using the applicator to cool and thereby damage or otherwise disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer. The strength of the bond between the skin and the applicator may benefit from both high viscosity (e.g., for maintaining the internal integrity of the bond) and high tack (e.g., for maintaining the integrity of the bonded interface between the adhesive and the skin). Saccharides also tend to be biocompatible, nontoxic, and water soluble, with the latter being useful to facilitate cleaning. Examples of saccharides suitable for use in methods in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention include modified and unmodified monosaccharides (e.g., glucose and fructose) and modified and unmodified disaccharides (e.g., sucrose, maltose, and trehalose). Although experimental data for glucose, fructose, and sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) are described below, it should be understood that other modified and unmodified saccharides are also expected to be suitable for use in methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
- The tendency of saccharides and saccharide derivatives to become both increasingly viscous and increasingly sticky when cooled typically does not apply below their glass transition temperatures. For example, when pure SAIB, pure glucose, or pure fructose transitions to its glass state, it becomes brittle and no longer sticky. The glass transition temperatures for pure SAIB, pure glucose, and pure fructose are all at or above 0° C. Thus, these saccharides would turn to glass if used in their pure forms in cooling procedures that involve cooling to below 0° C., which is typical of cooling procedures that disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells. To address this problem, the bonding agent can be mixed with a viscosity-reducing agent at a ratio that moves the glass-transition temperature of the resulting adhesive to be colder than a chilled temperature characteristic of a cooling procedure in which the adhesive is to be used. In at least some cases, the glass transition temperature of the bonding agent is modified in this manner such that the glass transition temperature of the corresponding adhesive is colder than −20° C., such as colder than −30° C. Suitable viscosity-reducing agents include glycols (e.g., propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and glycerol) and other polar, biocompatible oil-like compounds. These compounds tend to be good solvents of saccharides and to have relatively low glass transition temperatures.
- Adhesives in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention contain less than 3% w/w water. For example, bonding agents, viscosity-reducing agents, and adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can be anhydrous. The presence of water as a co-solvent tends to reduce the solubility limit of viscosity-reducing agents for modified or unmodified saccharides. Thus, reducing or eliminating water from adhesives including saccharide-based bonding agents may increase the solubility limits of these adhesives for their constituent bonding agents. This, in turn, may increase the maximum viscosity and tack of the adhesives within targeted temperature ranges for cooling procedures while still adequately suppressing recrystallization of the bonding agents during normal storage and use of the adhesives. Reducing or eliminating water from adhesives including saccharide-based bonding agents also may enhance the antimicrobial properties of the adhesives. In the absence of water, saccharide-based bonding agents typically do not support the growth of bacteria and fungi. This can facilitate manufacturing and storage of adhesives including these bonding agents.
- In at least some cases, it is desirable for the adhesives to be as viscous as possible. For example, in addition to having a sufficiently high chilled viscosity to adhere an applicator to a subject's skin during a cooling procedure, it may also be helpful for an adhesive to have a sufficiently high application viscosity (e.g., at room temperature and/or at body temperature) to facilitate application of the adhesive before cooling begins or before significant cooling is achieved. High application viscosity, for example, may suppress excessive dripping of the adhesive and/or squeezing of the adhesive out of an interface between an applicator and a subject's skin. Relatedly, the adhesive can include a gelling agent that enhances its ability to retain its shape upon application. Examples of suitable gelling agents include polysaccharides (e.g., agar) and proteins (e.g., gelatin). The gelling agent can be present at a relatively low concentration (e.g., less than 5% w/w) such that its presence does not unduly interfere with other desirable properties of the adhesive.
- In addition to or instead of reducing or eliminating water as a co-solvent, adhesives in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention include bonding agents that include more than one modified or unmodified saccharide. For example, an adhesive in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention includes a bonding agent that is a combination of a modified or unmodified first saccharide (e.g., one of sucrose, fructose, and glucose) and a modified or unmodified second saccharide (e.g., another of sucrose, fructose, and glucose). Each of the modified or unmodified first saccharide and the modified or unmodified second saccharide can be present at a concentration relative to the overall bonding agent within a range from 5% w/w to 95% w/w. As with reducing or eliminating water, the presence of more than one modified or unmodified saccharide in the bonding agent can increase the solubility limit of the corresponding adhesive for the bonding agent. An adhesive in accordance a particular embodiment of the present invention includes a bonding agent that includes modified or unmodified fructose and modified or unmodified glucose. Other combinations of modified or unmodified saccharides are also expected to be desirable for use as bonding agents.
- As discussed above in relation to the embedded thermal sensor 164 (
FIG. 11 ), it may be useful to detect a thermal signature associated with a skin freeze during a cooling procedure. In at least some cases, the thermal properties of adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention facilitate this detection. For example, the thermal conductivity of the adhesive can increase as the adhesive is cooled from an application temperature (e.g., room temperature or body temperature) to a chilled temperature suitable for suitable for damaging or otherwise disrupting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer (e.g., −20° C., −15° C., −10° C., or −5° C.). Thus, the rate at which the adhesive conveys a thermal signal may be enhanced during the coldest portion of a cooling process, when the need for detecting skin freezes is greatest. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the adhesive can be relatively consistent within a range of chilled temperatures suitable for suitable for damaging or otherwise disrupting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and/or any other targeted structures in the skin or subcutaneous layer (e.g., a range from −5° C. to −20° C.). For example, the thermal conductivity of the adhesive at −5° C. and the thermal conductivity of the adhesive at −20° C. may differ by less than 2% on a watts-per-meter-kelvin scale. This can be useful for facilitating differentiating a thermal signature associated with a skin freeze from background thermal information during a cooling procedure. - Adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can further include additives that enhances their thermal conductivity. For example, a given adhesive can include dispersed particles of a highly thermally conductive material, such as zinc oxide. The thermally conductive particles can be incorporated into the adhesive by sonication or a similar mixing process to avoid aggregation. Furthermore, the adhesive can include a stabilizing agent (e.g., a compatible electrostatic and/or steric stabilizing agent) that promotes even distribution of the particles throughout the adhesive. Accordingly, the adhesive can be a stable suspension at room temperature. In some cases, the particles are configured to enhance the thermal conductivity of the adhesive when in a random distribution within the adhesive. In other cases, the particles are configured to enhance the thermal conductivity of the adhesive when in an ordered distribution within the adhesive. For example, thermally conductive particles within an adhesive in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention are configured to be magnetically shifted in situ to increase the thermal conductivity of the adhesive. An applicator used with the adhesive can be configured to apply a magnetic field that causes the particles to form channels for preferential transmission of thermal energy between the applicator and a subject's skin. These and other thermally conductive particles in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have an average effective diameter greater than 100 nanometers to reduce or eliminate their migration through a subject's skin during a cooling procedure.
- Adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have benefits in addition to providing adhesion between an applicator and a subject's skin during a cooling procedure. For example, the viscosity-reducing agents of some adhesives may suppress skin freezing by deactivating potential ice nucleation sites. As another example, the bonding agents of some adhesives may absorb into or even through a subject's skin and provide cryoprotection to non-targeted cells. Similarly, when a saccharide-based pretreatment is used on a subject's skin for cryoprotection, the presence of a saccharide-based bonding agent in an adhesive applied after the pretreatment may establish a concentration gradient that suppresses outgoing migration of a cryoprotective saccharide absorbed during the pretreatment. Other advantages of adhesives in accordance with embodiments of the present invention in addition to or instead of the foregoing advantages are also possible.
- Adhesives including sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and dipropylene glycol (DPG) were prepared by mixing these two constituent materials at 60° C. Specifically, SAIB/DPG adhesives with 70, 75 and 80% v/v SAIB content were prepared and their viscosities were measured using a Brookfield viscometer. Table 1 below shows that by adding DPG to SAIB, the viscosity of the mixture can be tuned, with more DPG content leading to lower viscosity at a fixed temperature.
-
TABLE 1 Viscosity Dependence on SAIB Concentration SAIB % v/v Viscosity (cP) 70 1700 75 2800 80 9500 - The viscosity of adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was tested using a Brookfield viscometer to determine shear-rate dependence. The results, shown in Table 2 below, indicate that the tested adhesive was shear-rate dependent, and thus could be modeled as a non-Newtonian fluid.
-
TABLE 2 Viscosity Dependence on Shear Rate RPM Viscosity (cP) 1.5 2050 3 2550 6 2780 12 2883 - The viscosity of adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was tested using a Brookfield viscometer to determine temperature dependence. The results, shown in
FIG. 24 , indicate that the viscosity of the tested adhesive increased by 3 orders of magnitude as the temperature of the adhesive decreased from about 20° C. to about 0° C. - Glass transition was observed relative to temperature for SAIB/DPG adhesives of different SAIB concentrations. The results, shown in Table 3 below, indicate that the tested adhesive including 80% v/v SAIB and 20% v/v DPG was capable of supporting cooling treatments at temperatures as cold as −15° C., and that the tested adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was capable of supporting cooling treatments at temperatures as cold as −20° C. In Table 3, Y=glassy state and N=non-glassy state.
-
TABLE 3 Glass Transition of SAIB/DPG SAIB % v/ v 0° C. −5° C. −10° C. −12.5° C. −15° C. −17.5° C. −20° C. −22.5° C. −25° C. 100 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 90 N N N N Y Y Y Y Y 80 N N N N N Y Y Y Y 70 N N N N N N N Y Y 60 N N N N N N N N N - Adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG at −10° C. was found not to trigger an immediate, on-command skin freeze when contacted with supercooled skin at −10° C. The potential for the tested adhesive to cause freezes, therefore, was tested by cooling skin in the presence of the adhesive to −10° C. and holding the tissue at −10° C. until a freeze was detected by a thermal camera. The freezes that were detected in this manner were all initiated within the skin. This indicates that the tested adhesive likely had little if any role in initiating the freezes.
- Adhesive including 70% v/v SAIB and 30% v/v DPG was compared to a non-adhesive cryoprotectant for spontaneous skin freezing temperature and thermal properties. The tested non-adhesive cryoprotectant was a mixture of 50% w/w propylene glycol, 1.5% w/w hydroxymethyl cellulose, and 48.5% w/w water. Skin to be tested was cleaned by pre-treatment skin wipes prior to application of 100 μL of either the tested adhesive or the non-adhesive cryoprotectant over the treatment sites (1 square inch). Cooling was applied using a temperature setpoint profile including an initial drop from 10° C. to −18° C., followed by a drop of 2° C. at about 2.4 minutes, a drop of 2° C. at about 3.6 minutes, a drop of 2° C. at about 4.8 minutes, and a drop of 1° C. at about 6.0 minutes, resulting in a temperature of −25° C. The tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant were found to correspond to mean spontaneous skin freeze temperatures of −22.79° C. and −23.26° C., respectively. The statistical test (two-tailed T-test) gave a p-value of p=0.93 using a significance level of a=0.05, indicating that the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant likely correspond to the same skin spontaneous freezing temperature.
- The profile of skin temperature change over time for the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant were also compared. Test treatments using the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant at a ramping rate of 1.55° C./second and a target temperature of −18° C. were performed. The profiles of skin temperature change over time and the time to reach the target temperature were found to be approximately the same for the tested adhesive and the non-adhesive cryoprotectant.
- Adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol was tested using a Brookfield viscometer to determine temperature dependence. The results, shown in
FIG. 25 , indicate that the viscosity of the adhesive increased several orders of magnitude as the temperature of the adhesive was lowered from about 80° C. to close to 0° C. For sub-zero temperatures, the viscosity of the adhesive was beyond the measurable range of the viscometer. - The glass transition temperature of adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol was determined theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical calculation, shown below, yielded a glass transition temperature of −45.082° C.
-
-
- ω1=weight fraction of 1st component (fructose)=0.571
- ω2=weight fraction of 2nd component (glycerol)=0.429
- k=change in specific heat capacity ratio between 1st and
- 2nd component through their glass transition=1.085/0.75
- Tg1=glass transition temperature of 1st component (fructose)=7° C.
- Tg2=glass transition temperature of 2nd component (glycerol)=−93° C.
- The experimental measurement of the glass transition temperature of the adhesive was performed by Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) Thermal Analysis. In a DSC apparatus, the difference in heat flow to the sample and to a reference sample at the same temperature, was recorded as a function of temperature. This allows the heat effects associated with phase transitions, including glass transition, to be measured as a function of temperature. The experimental measurement yielded a glass transition temperature of −45.35° C. for the tested adhesive, which agreed well with the theoretical calculation.
- Pieces of rayon cloth loaded with adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol were placed between an applicator and a pulling block. The applicator was then used to cool the adhesive-loaded cloth to a pre-determined temperature. After the adhesive-loaded cloth equilibrated at the pre-determined temperature, normal pulling force was applied using an ESM303 Motorized Force Tester (Mark-10 Corporation of Copiague, N.Y.) at a constant velocity of 0.5 in/min and with a travel distance of 0.25 in. The peak force was recorded before the detachment of the pulling block. The results, shown in Table 4 below, indicate that the peak tensile adhesion force increased from 3.4 lbF to 34.3 lbF when the temperature of the adhesive decreased from 40° C. to −22° C.
-
TABLE 4 Adhesion Dependence on Temperature Adhesion Force (lbF) Temperature (° C.) 3.4 40 7.0 25 15.5 10 21.3 −2 27.0 −12 34.3 −22 - The thermal properties of pieces of fabric loaded with adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol were tested using a Linseis Transient Hot Bridge (THB). The THB was able to measure thermal conductivity in the range of 0.01 to 1 W/mK. A cooling chamber was used to measure temperature dependent properties at equilibrium. The density of the tested adhesive was assumed to be 1.363 g/cm3. The results of this testing are shown in
FIG. 26 (plot of specific heat and thermal conductivity versus temperature) andFIG. 27 (plot of thermal diffusivity versus temperature). The thermal data shows that as the tested sample cools, it becomes more efficient as a thermally conductive layer. Moreover, the thermal conductivity is relatively constant below 0° C. The thermal conductivity of about 0.3 W/(m·K) at temperatures below 0° C. is sufficiently high to allow for rapid detection of heat released by a skin freeze. - A piece of paper towel loaded with adhesive including 80% v/v glucose syrup with a dextrose equivalent of 44 and 20% v/v glycerol was placed between an applicator and a 500 g weight. The applicator was then used to cool the adhesive-loaded paper towel from 10° C. to −10° C. at a cooling rate of 0.5° C./s. After the cooling and after being held at −10° C. for 3 minutes, the applicator was inverted and the weight suspended. By this test, the tensile strength of the adhesive-loaded paper towel was found to be sufficient to prevent the weight from detaching from the applicator in response to gravity.
- The viscosity at 21.5° C. of adhesives having three different formulations were tested using a Brookfield viscometer. The results shown in Table 5 below indicate that increasing the total saccharide concentration from 43% w/w to 55% w/w significantly increases the viscosity of the adhesive at 21.5° C. Use of two different saccharides (fructose and glucose in this case) allowed for this increase while still adequately suppressing recrystallization of the saccharides.
-
TABLE 5 Viscosity at 21.5° C. Adhesive Formulation Viscosity (cP) 1 43% w/w fructose, 57% w/w glycerol 29,700 2 29% w/w fructose, 14% w/w glucose, 30,100 57% w/w glycerol 3 33% w/w fructose, 22% w/w glucose, 89,200 45% w/w glycerol - The thermal conductivity at −9.2° C., 6.4° C. and 22.4° C. of adhesives having three different formulations were tested as described in Example 10 above. The results shown in Table 6 below indicate that all three of the tested adhesives had sufficient thermal conductivity to allow for freeze detection during a cooling procedure.
-
TABLE 6 Thermal Conductivity at −9.2° C., 6.4° C. and 22.4° C. Thermal Temperature Conductivity Adhesive Formulation (° C.) (W/(mK)) 1 43% w/w fructose, −9.2° C. 0.3 57% w/w glycerol 1 43% w/w fructose, 6.4° C. 0.3 57% w/w glycerol 1 43% w/w fructose, 22.4° C. 0.3 57% w/w glycerol 2 29% w/w fructose, −9.2° C. 0.3 14% w/w glucose, 57% w/w glycerol 2 29% w/w fructose, 6.4° C. 0.29 14% w/w glucose, 57% w/w glycerol 2 29% w/w fructose, 22.4° C. 0.29 14% w/w glucose, 57% w/w glycerol 3 33% w/w fructose, −9.2° C. 0.31 22% w/w glucose, 45% w/w glycerol 3 33% w/w fructose, 6.4° C. 0.3 22% w/w glucose, 45% w/w glycerol 3 33% w/w fructose, 22.4° C. 0.29 22% w/w glucose, 45% w/w glycerol - In addition to the adhesive formulations discussed above, adhesives having the following formulations were tested for temperature-dependent adhesion: (a) 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w propylene glycol, (b) 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w di-propylene glycol, and (c) 33% w/w glucose and 67% w/w glycerol. These adhesives were all found to have temperature-dependent adhesion similar to that of the adhesive including 43% w/w fructose and 57% w/w glycerol, as described in Example 9 above.
- Various embodiments of the invention are described above. It will be appreciated that details set forth above are provided to describe the embodiments in a manner sufficient to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the disclosed embodiments. Several of the details and advantages, however, may not be necessary to practice some embodiments. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments. Although some embodiments may be within the scope of the invention, they may not be described in detail with respect to the Figures. Furthermore, features, structures, or characteristics of various embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. Moreover, one skilled in the art will recognize that there are a number of other technologies that could be used to perform functions similar to those described above. While processes or acts are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform the processes or acts in a different order, and some processes or acts may be modified, deleted, and/or moved. The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the described invention.
- Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Use of the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. Furthermore, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).
- Any patents, applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the described invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments. These and other changes can be made in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed, various changes can be made. Implementation details may vary considerably, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.
Claims (55)
1.-27. (canceled)
28. A composite structure for use with an applicator, the composite structure comprising:
an adhesive including—
a modified or unmodified saccharide, and
a viscosity-reducing agent,
wherein the adhesive has a first level of tensile adhesion to human skin at 20° C., the adhesive has a second level of tensile adhesion to human skin at −10° C., and the second level of tensile adhesion is greater than the first level of tensile adhesion by a factor of at least 1.25; and
an absorbent substrate carrying the adhesive.
29. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the second level of tensile adhesion is greater than the first level of tensile adhesion by a factor of at least 2.
30. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the modified or unmodified saccharide is a modified or unmodified monosaccharide.
31. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the modified or unmodified saccharide is modified or unmodified fructose.
32. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the modified or unmodified saccharide is modified or unmodified glucose.
33. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein:
the saccharide is a first saccharide; and
the adhesive includes a modified or unmodified second saccharide different than the first saccharide.
34. The composite structure of claim 33 wherein the first saccharide is fructose, and wherein the second saccharide is glucose.
35. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the adhesive contains less than 3% w/w water.
36. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the viscosity-reducing agent is a glycol.
37. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the viscosity-reducing agent is glycerol.
38. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein a viscosity of the adhesive at −10° C. is greater than a viscosity of the adhesive at 20° C. by at least 1,000% on a centipoise scale.
39. The composite structure of claim 38 wherein the viscosity of the adhesive at −10° C. is greater than the viscosity of the adhesive at 20° C. by at least 10,000% on a centipoise scale.
40. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the adhesive has a glass transition temperature colder than −20° C.
41. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein a thermal conductivity of the adhesive at 20° C. is less than a thermal conductivity of the adhesive at −10° C.
42. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein a thermal conductivity of the adhesive at −5° C. and a thermal conductivity of the adhesive at −20° C. differ by less than 2% on a watts-per-meter-kelvin scale.
43. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the substrate is a stretchable fabric including either metal fibers or carbon fibers.
44. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the substrate is a stretchable fabric including fibers having a thermally conductive coating.
45. The composite structure of claim 28 , further comprising a moisture impermeable package containing the adhesive and the substrate.
46. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the adhesive includes a gelling agent.
47. The composite structure of claim 46 wherein the gelling agent is either a polysaccharide or a protein.
48. The composite structure of claim 28 wherein the adhesive includes thermally conductive particles having an average effective diameter greater than 100 nanometers, and wherein the adhesive is a suspension at room temperature.
49. The composite structure of claim 48 wherein the particles are configured to be magnetically shifted in situ to increase a thermal conductivity of the adhesive.
50. A system for cooling a tissue region of a human subject having skin to damage tissue at the tissue region, the system comprising:
an applicator having a heat-transfer surface, wherein the applicator is configured to cool the tissue region via its heat-transfer surface and via the subject's skin to damage tissue at the tissue region; and
an adhesive configured to be disposed between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the subject's skin when the applicator is operably positioned for cooling the tissue region, wherein the adhesive includes a modified or unmodified saccharide and a viscosity-reducing agent.
51. The system of claim 50 wherein the modified or unmodified saccharide is a modified or unmodified monosaccharide.
52. The system of claim 50 wherein the modified or unmodified saccharide is modified or unmodified fructose.
53. The system of claim 50 wherein the modified or unmodified saccharide is modified or unmodified glucose.
54. The system of claim 50 wherein:
the saccharide is a first saccharide; and
the adhesive includes a modified or unmodified second saccharide different than the first saccharide.
55. The system of claim 54 wherein the first saccharide is fructose, and wherein the second saccharide is glucose.
56. The system of claim 50 wherein the adhesive contains less than 3% w/w water.
57. The system of claim 50 wherein the viscosity-reducing agent is a glycol.
58. The system of claim 50 wherein the viscosity-reducing agent is glycerol.
59. The system of claim 50 wherein the adhesive has a glass transition temperature colder than −20° C.
60. A system for cooling a tissue region of a human subject having skin, the system comprising:
an applicator having a heat-transfer surface, wherein the applicator is configured to cool the tissue region via its heat-transfer surface and via the subject's skin; and
an adhesive configured to be disposed between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the subject's skin when the applicator is operably positioned for cooling the tissue region, wherein the adhesive has a viscosity less than 500,000 centipoise at 20° C., a viscosity greater than 3,000,000 centipoise at −15° C., and a glass transition temperature colder than −20° C.
61. The system of claim 60 wherein the adhesive has a first level of tensile adhesion to human skin at 20° C., the adhesive has a second level of tensile adhesion to human skin at −10° C., and the second level of tensile adhesion is greater than the first level of tensile adhesion by a factor of at least 1.25.
62. The system of claim 60 wherein the adhesive has a first thermal conductivity at 20° C., the adhesive has a second thermal conductivity at −10° C., and the second thermal conductivity is greater than the first thermal conductivity.
63. The system of claim 60 wherein the adhesive has a first thermal conductivity at −5° C., the adhesive has a second thermal conductivity at −20° C., and the first and second thermal conductivities differ by less than 2% on a watts-per-meter-kelvin scale.
64. The system of claim 60 wherein the adhesive includes a gelling agent.
65. The system of claim 64 wherein the gelling agent is either a polysaccharide or a protein.
66. The system of claim 60 wherein the adhesive includes thermally conductive particles having an average effective diameter greater than 100 nanometers, and wherein the adhesive is a suspension at room temperature.
67. The system of claim 60 wherein:
the applicator includes a removable liner configured to be disposed between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the subject's skin when the applicator is operably positioned for cooling the tissue region;
the adhesive is a first adhesive; and
the system further comprises a second adhesive configured to be disposed between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the liner when the applicator is operably positioned for cooling the tissue region.
68. The composite structure of claim 31 wherein the viscosity-reducing agent is glycerol.
69. The composite structure of claim 68 wherein the modified or unmodified fructose is present at 43% weight/weight (w/w) of the adhesive.
70. The composite structure of claim 69 wherein the glycerol is present at 57% weight/weight (w/w) of the adhesive.
71. The system of claim 52 wherein the viscosity-reducing agent is glycerol.
72. The system of claim 71 wherein the modified or unmodified fructose is present at 43% weight/weight (w/w) of the adhesive.
73. The system of claim 72 wherein the glycerol is present at 57% weight/weight (w/w) of the adhesive.
74. The system of claim 60 , the adhesive further comprising a modified or unmodified fructose and glycerol.
75. The system of claim 74 wherein the modified or unmodified fructose is present at 43% weight/weight (w/w) of the adhesive.
76. The system of claim 75 wherein the glycerol is present at 57% weight/weight (w/w) of the adhesive.
77. A composite structure for use with an applicator, the composite structure comprising:
an adhesive including—
43% w/w of a modified or unmodified fructose, and
57% w/w of glycerol,
wherein the adhesive has a first level of tensile adhesion to human skin at 20° C., the adhesive has a second level of tensile adhesion to human skin at −10° C., and the second level of tensile adhesion is greater than the first level of tensile adhesion; and
an absorbent substrate carrying the adhesive.
78. A system for cooling a tissue region of a human subject having skin to damage tissue at the tissue region, the system comprising:
an applicator having a heat-transfer surface, wherein the applicator is configured to cool the tissue region via its heat-transfer surface and via the subject's skin to damage tissue at the tissue region; and
an adhesive configured to be disposed between the heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the subject's skin when the applicator is operably positioned for cooling the tissue region, wherein the adhesive includes 43% w/w of a modified or unmodified fructose and 57% w/w of glycerol.
79. The system of claim 78 wherein the adhesive has a viscosity less than 500,000 centipoise at 20° C., a viscosity greater than 3,000,000 centipoise at −15° C., and a glass transition temperature colder than −20° C.
80. A method for cooling a tissue region of a human subject having skin, the method comprising:
applying an applicator to the subject's skin such that an adhesive comprising 43% w/w of a modified or unmodified fructose and 57% w/w of glycerol is disposed between a heat-transfer surface of the applicator and the subject's skin; and
cooling the adhesive via the heat-transfer surface of the applicator.
81. The method of claim 80 wherein cooling the adhesive further comprises cooling the tissue region to a sufficiently low temperature to damage tissue at the tissue region.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/693,273 US20200100935A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2019-11-23 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201662276131P | 2016-01-07 | 2016-01-07 | |
US15/400,885 US10524956B2 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2017-01-06 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
US16/693,273 US20200100935A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2019-11-23 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/400,885 Division US10524956B2 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2017-01-06 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20200100935A1 true US20200100935A1 (en) | 2020-04-02 |
Family
ID=57906991
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/400,885 Active 2038-01-22 US10524956B2 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2017-01-06 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
US16/693,273 Pending US20200100935A1 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2019-11-23 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/400,885 Active 2038-01-22 US10524956B2 (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2017-01-06 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue |
Country Status (10)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US10524956B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3399950A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6833869B2 (en) |
KR (2) | KR102416368B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN108472151B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2017206118B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112018013919A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3009414A1 (en) |
HK (1) | HK1259174A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017120538A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10912599B2 (en) | 2014-01-31 | 2021-02-09 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Compositions, treatment systems and methods for improved cooling of lipid-rich tissue |
WO2022036271A1 (en) * | 2020-08-14 | 2022-02-17 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Multi-applicator system and method for body contouring |
US11938188B2 (en) | 2014-08-28 | 2024-03-26 | The General Hospital Corporation | Injectable slurries and methods of manufacturing and using the same |
US11963559B2 (en) | 2018-03-05 | 2024-04-23 | WIN Human Recorder Co., Ltd. | Electronic heating/cooling garment and electronic heating/cooling device attachable to/detachable from garment |
Families Citing this family (45)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9132031B2 (en) | 2006-09-26 | 2015-09-15 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Cooling device having a plurality of controllable cooling elements to provide a predetermined cooling profile |
US8192474B2 (en) | 2006-09-26 | 2012-06-05 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Tissue treatment methods |
US20080287839A1 (en) | 2007-05-18 | 2008-11-20 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Method of enhanced removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and treatment apparatus having an actuator |
JP5474791B2 (en) | 2007-08-21 | 2014-04-16 | ゼルティック エステティックス インコーポレイテッド | Monitoring of cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells such as cooling of adipose tissue |
EP2424475B1 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2014-04-02 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Device and system for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
US8676338B2 (en) | 2010-07-20 | 2014-03-18 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Combined modality treatment systems, methods and apparatus for body contouring applications |
WO2012103242A1 (en) | 2011-01-25 | 2012-08-02 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Devices, application systems and methods with localized heat flux zones for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
DE102012013534B3 (en) | 2012-07-05 | 2013-09-19 | Tobias Sokolowski | Apparatus for repetitive nerve stimulation for the degradation of adipose tissue by means of inductive magnetic fields |
US9844460B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-12-19 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems with fluid mixing systems and fluid-cooled applicators and methods of using the same |
US10675176B1 (en) | 2014-03-19 | 2020-06-09 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems, devices, and methods for cooling targeted tissue |
US10952891B1 (en) | 2014-05-13 | 2021-03-23 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems with adjustable gap applicators and methods for cooling tissue |
US10568759B2 (en) | 2014-08-19 | 2020-02-25 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems, small volume applicators, and methods for treating submental tissue |
US10935174B2 (en) | 2014-08-19 | 2021-03-02 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Stress relief couplings for cryotherapy apparatuses |
US11491342B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2022-11-08 | Btl Medical Solutions A.S. | Magnetic stimulation methods and devices for therapeutic treatments |
US10695575B1 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2020-06-30 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US10695576B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2020-06-30 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US10709894B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2020-07-14 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US10478633B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2019-11-19 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US11266850B2 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2022-03-08 | Btl Healthcare Technologies A.S. | High power time varying magnetic field therapy |
US10821295B1 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2020-11-03 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US10471269B1 (en) | 2015-07-01 | 2019-11-12 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US20180001107A1 (en) | 2016-07-01 | 2018-01-04 | Btl Holdings Limited | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US11154418B2 (en) | 2015-10-19 | 2021-10-26 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Vascular treatment systems, cooling devices, and methods for cooling vascular structures |
US11253717B2 (en) | 2015-10-29 | 2022-02-22 | Btl Healthcare Technologies A.S. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
CN108472151B (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2020-10-27 | 斯尔替克美学股份有限公司 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during tissue cooling |
US10765552B2 (en) | 2016-02-18 | 2020-09-08 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Cooling cup applicators with contoured heads and liner assemblies |
US11247039B2 (en) | 2016-05-03 | 2022-02-15 | Btl Healthcare Technologies A.S. | Device including RF source of energy and vacuum system |
US11464993B2 (en) | 2016-05-03 | 2022-10-11 | Btl Healthcare Technologies A.S. | Device including RF source of energy and vacuum system |
US11534619B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2022-12-27 | Btl Medical Solutions A.S. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US10555831B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2020-02-11 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Hydrogel substances and methods of cryotherapy |
US11382790B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2022-07-12 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Skin freezing systems for treating acne and skin conditions |
US10709895B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2020-07-14 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
US10682297B2 (en) | 2016-05-10 | 2020-06-16 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Liposomes, emulsions, and methods for cryotherapy |
US10583287B2 (en) | 2016-05-23 | 2020-03-10 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Systems and methods for tissue treatment |
US10556122B1 (en) | 2016-07-01 | 2020-02-11 | Btl Medical Technologies S.R.O. | Aesthetic method of biological structure treatment by magnetic field |
WO2018175111A1 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2018-09-27 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Use of saccharides for cryoprotection and related technology |
US11076879B2 (en) | 2017-04-26 | 2021-08-03 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Shallow surface cryotherapy applicators and related technology |
JP6673556B2 (en) * | 2018-03-05 | 2020-03-25 | 特定非営利活動法人ウェアラブル環境情報ネット推進機構 | Electronic heating and cooling clothes and electronic cooling and heating equipment detachable from clothes |
WO2020028472A1 (en) | 2018-07-31 | 2020-02-06 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Methods, devices, and systems for improving skin characteristics |
KR102176088B1 (en) | 2019-03-12 | 2020-11-09 | (주)클래시스 | Chin wearing apparatus of skin treatment handpiece and skin treatment apparatus having the same |
CN117771550A (en) | 2019-04-11 | 2024-03-29 | 比特乐医疗方案股份有限公司 | Device for providing a time-varying magnetic field and a radio frequency field to a body region of a patient |
MX2022013485A (en) | 2020-05-04 | 2022-11-30 | Btl Healthcare Tech A S | Device and method for unattended treatment of a patient. |
US11878167B2 (en) | 2020-05-04 | 2024-01-23 | Btl Healthcare Technologies A.S. | Device and method for unattended treatment of a patient |
EP3906901A1 (en) * | 2020-05-04 | 2021-11-10 | High Technology Products, SL | Pads and systems for treatment of a subject |
US11896816B2 (en) | 2021-11-03 | 2024-02-13 | Btl Healthcare Technologies A.S. | Device and method for unattended treatment of a patient |
Family Cites Families (648)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US681806A (en) | 1901-05-25 | 1901-09-03 | Armand Mignault | Lung-protector. |
US889810A (en) | 1908-01-04 | 1908-06-02 | Henry Robinson | Medicating and massaging appliance. |
DE532976C (en) | 1930-07-29 | 1931-09-11 | Lorenz Akt Ges C | Transmitter device for spring writers, in which the transmission rails are moved in the direction of movement of the transmission buttons |
GB387960A (en) | 1932-09-17 | 1933-02-16 | William Hipon Horsfield | Electro-therapeutic massaging appliance |
FR854937A (en) | 1939-05-19 | 1940-04-27 | Suction massage device | |
US2516491A (en) | 1945-10-08 | 1950-07-25 | Henry A Swastek | Massage and shampoo device |
US2521780A (en) | 1947-06-12 | 1950-09-12 | Bertha A Dodd | Cushion or receptacle |
US2726658A (en) | 1953-04-27 | 1955-12-13 | Donald E Chessey | Therapeutic cooling devices for domestic and hospital use |
NL177982B (en) | 1953-04-29 | Siemens Ag | INFUSION DEVICE. | |
US2766619A (en) | 1953-06-26 | 1956-10-16 | Tribus Myron | Ice detecting apparatus |
CH333982A (en) | 1954-06-11 | 1958-11-15 | Usag Ultraschall Ag | Ultrasonic irradiation device |
US3093135A (en) | 1962-01-29 | 1963-06-11 | Max L Hirschhorn | Cooled surgical instrument |
US3133539A (en) | 1962-08-06 | 1964-05-19 | Eidus William | Thermoelectric medical instrument |
US3132688A (en) | 1963-04-08 | 1964-05-12 | Welville B Nowak | Electronic cold and/or hot compress device |
US3282267A (en) | 1964-05-05 | 1966-11-01 | Eidus William | Thermoelectric hypothermia instrument |
US3502080A (en) | 1965-06-28 | 1970-03-24 | Max L Hirschhorn | Thermoelectrically cooled surgical instrument |
US3591645A (en) | 1968-05-20 | 1971-07-06 | Gulf Research Development Co | Process for preparing a halogenated aromatic |
US3703897A (en) | 1969-10-09 | 1972-11-28 | Kendall & Co | Hydrophobic non-adherent wound dressing |
US3587577A (en) | 1970-05-09 | 1971-06-28 | Oleg Alexandrovich Smirnov | Device for applying selective and general hypothermy to and reheating of human body through the common integuments thereof |
US3710784A (en) | 1972-04-03 | 1973-01-16 | C Taylor | Massaging device |
US4002221A (en) | 1972-09-19 | 1977-01-11 | Gilbert Buchalter | Method of transmitting ultrasonic impulses to surface using transducer coupling agent |
US3827436A (en) | 1972-11-10 | 1974-08-06 | Frigitronics Of Conn Inc | Multipurpose cryosurgical probe |
US3786814A (en) | 1972-12-15 | 1974-01-22 | T Armao | Method of preventing cryoadhesion of cryosurgical instruments and cryosurgical instruments |
US3942519A (en) | 1972-12-26 | 1976-03-09 | Ultrasonic Systems, Inc. | Method of ultrasonic cryogenic cataract removal |
DE2343910C3 (en) | 1973-08-31 | 1979-02-15 | Draegerwerk Ag, 2400 Luebeck | Cryomedical facility |
US4269068A (en) | 1974-02-21 | 1981-05-26 | Rockwell International Corporation | Ultrasonic couplant compositions and method for employing same |
SU532976A1 (en) | 1974-05-05 | 1978-11-05 | Киевский Государственный Институт Усовершенстовования Врачей Министерства Здравоохранения Ссср | Apparatus for local refrigeration of tissue |
US3993053A (en) | 1974-08-05 | 1976-11-23 | Murray Grossan | Pulsating massage system |
US3986385A (en) | 1974-08-05 | 1976-10-19 | Rosemount Engineering Company Limited | Apparatus for determining the freezing point of a liquid |
JPS5417360B2 (en) | 1974-08-15 | 1979-06-29 | ||
US4026299A (en) | 1975-09-26 | 1977-05-31 | Vari-Temp Manufacturing Co. | Cooling and heating apparatus |
US4202336A (en) | 1976-05-14 | 1980-05-13 | Erbe Elektromedizin Kg | Cauterizing probes for cryosurgery |
US4140130A (en) | 1977-05-31 | 1979-02-20 | Storm Iii Frederick K | Electrode structure for radio frequency localized heating of tumor bearing tissue |
US4149529A (en) | 1977-09-16 | 1979-04-17 | Jobst Institute, Inc. | Portable thermo-hydraulic physiotherapy device |
US4178429A (en) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-12-11 | Scheffer Karl D | Catalyst for curing resins |
DE2851602A1 (en) | 1978-11-29 | 1980-06-12 | Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm | Medical cooling device for localised inflammation - with Peltier element between heat conductive block and cooling pad applied to patient's skin |
US4381009A (en) | 1980-01-28 | 1983-04-26 | Bon F Del | Hand-held device for the local heat-treatment of the skin |
US4428368A (en) | 1980-09-29 | 1984-01-31 | Masakatsu Torii | Massage device |
US4396011A (en) | 1981-01-09 | 1983-08-02 | Clairol Incorporated | Heating pad |
US4459854A (en) | 1981-07-24 | 1984-07-17 | National Research Development Corporation | Ultrasonic transducer coupling member |
US4528979A (en) | 1982-03-18 | 1985-07-16 | Kievsky Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Institut Otolaringologii Imeni Professora A.S. Kolomiiobenka | Cryo-ultrasonic surgical instrument |
JPS58187454A (en) | 1982-04-27 | 1983-11-01 | Nippon Kayaku Co Ltd | Anthraquinone compound |
US4555313A (en) | 1982-10-21 | 1985-11-26 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Method of forming a continuous polymeric skin on a cellular foam material |
US4548212A (en) | 1982-10-29 | 1985-10-22 | Leung Frank K | Apparatus for thermographic examinations |
US4483341A (en) | 1982-12-09 | 1984-11-20 | Atlantic Richfield Company | Therapeutic hypothermia instrument |
US4644955A (en) | 1982-12-27 | 1987-02-24 | Rdm International, Inc. | Circuit apparatus and method for electrothermal treatment of cancer eye |
US4531524A (en) | 1982-12-27 | 1985-07-30 | Rdm International, Inc. | Circuit apparatus and method for electrothermal treatment of cancer eye |
US4961422A (en) | 1983-01-21 | 1990-10-09 | Marchosky J Alexander | Method and apparatus for volumetric interstitial conductive hyperthermia |
DE3308553C2 (en) | 1983-03-10 | 1986-04-10 | Udo Prof. Dr.med. 4130 Moers Smidt | Means for reducing the human body weight |
US4614191A (en) | 1983-09-02 | 1986-09-30 | Perler Robert F | Skin-cooling probe |
AU558943B2 (en) | 1983-10-26 | 1987-02-12 | Nihondenjihachiryokikenkyusho Co. Ltd. | Magnetic field generating therapeutic appliance |
US5158070A (en) | 1983-12-14 | 1992-10-27 | Edap International, S.A. | Method for the localized destruction of soft structures using negative pressure elastic waves |
EP0168483A4 (en) | 1984-01-18 | 1987-01-20 | Bailey David F | Multi-layer disposable medical thermal blanket. |
US4603076A (en) | 1985-03-04 | 1986-07-29 | Norwood Industries, Inc. | Hydrophilic foam |
US4869250A (en) | 1985-03-07 | 1989-09-26 | Thermacor Technology, Inc. | Localized cooling apparatus |
US4664110A (en) | 1985-03-18 | 1987-05-12 | University Of Southern California | Controlled rate freezing for cryorefractive surgery |
US4585002A (en) | 1985-04-22 | 1986-04-29 | Igor Kissin | Method and apparatus for treatment of pain by frequently alternating temperature stimulation |
JPS6282977A (en) | 1985-10-07 | 1987-04-16 | オムロン株式会社 | Heating/cooling low frequency medical treatment apparatus |
US4700701A (en) | 1985-10-23 | 1987-10-20 | Montaldi David H | Sterilization method and apparatus |
JPH0765230B2 (en) | 1986-09-19 | 1995-07-12 | 三菱マテリアル株式会社 | Method for forming porous layer on metal surface |
DE3772339D1 (en) | 1986-05-16 | 1991-09-26 | Termac Sa | THERAPEUTIC DEVICE WITH A MASS FROM A THERMALLY ACTIVE MATERIAL. |
SU1563684A1 (en) | 1986-05-26 | 1990-05-15 | Томский государственный медицинский институт | Cryosurgical scalpel |
GB8620227D0 (en) | 1986-08-20 | 1986-10-01 | Smith & Nephew Ass | Wound dressing |
JPH07107152B2 (en) * | 1986-09-05 | 1995-11-15 | 積水化学工業株式会社 | Adhesive composition |
US4880564A (en) | 1986-09-29 | 1989-11-14 | Ciba-Geigy Corporation | Antifoams for aqueous systems and their use |
US4741338A (en) | 1986-10-06 | 1988-05-03 | Toshiaki Miyamae | Thermoelectric physical remedy apparatus |
US5018521A (en) | 1986-10-24 | 1991-05-28 | Campbell William P | Method of and apparatus for increased transfer of heat into or out of the body |
US4764463A (en) | 1986-10-30 | 1988-08-16 | The University Of Tennessee Research Corporation | Platelet cyropreservation |
US4906463A (en) | 1986-12-22 | 1990-03-06 | Cygnus Research Corporation | Transdermal drug-delivery composition |
CN86200604U (en) | 1987-01-10 | 1987-10-14 | Zhichang Yang | Apparatus for freezing freckle and treating some skin diseases with freezing |
US4962761A (en) | 1987-02-24 | 1990-10-16 | Golden Theodore A | Thermal bandage |
US4846176A (en) | 1987-02-24 | 1989-07-11 | Golden Theodore A | Thermal bandage |
US4935345A (en) | 1987-04-07 | 1990-06-19 | Arizona Board Of Regents | Implantable microelectronic biochemical sensor incorporating thin film thermopile |
US4802475A (en) | 1987-06-22 | 1989-02-07 | Weshahy Ahmed H A G | Methods and apparatus of applying intra-lesional cryotherapy |
US5084671A (en) | 1987-09-02 | 1992-01-28 | Tokyo Electron Limited | Electric probing-test machine having a cooling system |
US5143063A (en) | 1988-02-09 | 1992-09-01 | Fellner Donald G | Method of removing adipose tissue from the body |
JPH01223961A (en) | 1988-03-02 | 1989-09-07 | Kineshio:Kk | Method for improvement of muscle subcutaneous tissue and subcutaneous tissue activating device |
US5065752A (en) | 1988-03-29 | 1991-11-19 | Ferris Mfg. Co. | Hydrophilic foam compositions |
DK161260C (en) | 1988-05-06 | 1991-12-30 | Paul Verner Nielsen | flow measurement |
US4930317A (en) | 1988-05-20 | 1990-06-05 | Temperature Research Corporation | Apparatus for localized heat and cold therapy |
DE3821219C1 (en) | 1988-06-23 | 1989-08-24 | Phywe Systeme Gmbh, 3400 Goettingen, De | |
US5108390A (en) | 1988-11-14 | 1992-04-28 | Frigitronics, Inc. | Flexible cryoprobe |
US4905697A (en) | 1989-02-14 | 1990-03-06 | Cook Pacemaker Corporation | Temperature-controlled cardiac pacemaker responsive to body motion |
US5024650A (en) | 1989-02-15 | 1991-06-18 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Stress dissolving refreshment system |
DE8905769U1 (en) | 1989-05-09 | 1989-07-13 | Schulte, Franz-Josef, Dipl.-Ing., 5787 Olsberg, De | |
US5516505A (en) | 1989-07-18 | 1996-05-14 | Mcdow; Ronald A. | Method for using cryogenic agents for treating skin lesions |
US5200170A (en) | 1989-07-18 | 1993-04-06 | Mcdow Ronald A | Medical process--use of dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2 F2) and chlorodifluoromethane (CHClF2) as cryogens for treating skin lesions |
JP2625548B2 (en) | 1989-07-19 | 1997-07-02 | 沖電気工業株式会社 | Image generation method and image generation device |
US5817149A (en) | 1990-02-26 | 1998-10-06 | Vesture Corporation | Heat application method |
US5575812A (en) | 1990-02-26 | 1996-11-19 | Vesture Corporation | Cooling pad method |
US5339541A (en) | 1990-02-26 | 1994-08-23 | Vesture Corporation | Footwear with therapeutic pad |
JPH03259975A (en) | 1990-03-09 | 1991-11-20 | Matsushita Refrig Co Ltd | Water-repellent coating composition and heat exchanger coated therewith |
FR2659851A1 (en) | 1990-03-20 | 1991-09-27 | Karagozian Serge | MASSAGE APPARATUS. |
JP3194383B2 (en) * | 1990-05-10 | 2001-07-30 | リンテック株式会社 | One-part pressure-sensitive adhesive composition |
JP3065657B2 (en) | 1990-06-08 | 2000-07-17 | 株式会社リコー | Dry type electrophotographic toner |
US5362966A (en) | 1990-06-27 | 1994-11-08 | Rosenthal Robert D | Measurement of finger temperature in near-infrared quantitative measurement instrument |
US5148804A (en) | 1990-06-28 | 1992-09-22 | Hill Dennis M | Device, system, and methods for applying cryotherapy |
JPH0493597A (en) | 1990-08-08 | 1992-03-26 | Matsushita Refrig Co Ltd | Water repellent coating composition and heat exchanger coated with water repellant coating composition |
US5336616A (en) | 1990-09-12 | 1994-08-09 | Lifecell Corporation | Method for processing and preserving collagen-based tissues for transplantation |
GB2248183A (en) | 1990-09-25 | 1992-04-01 | Lin Ju Nin | Facial sauna apparatus |
US5221726A (en) | 1990-10-09 | 1993-06-22 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Hydrophilic materials useful in preparing fluid-absorbent products |
US5342617A (en) | 1990-12-03 | 1994-08-30 | Medical Polymers, Inc. | Water-based human tissue lubricant |
US5139496A (en) | 1990-12-20 | 1992-08-18 | Hed Aharon Z | Ultrasonic freeze ablation catheters and probes |
JP3217386B2 (en) | 1991-04-24 | 2001-10-09 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Diagnostic system |
US5358467A (en) | 1991-05-05 | 1994-10-25 | Anatole Milstein | Method for vacuum mechanothermal stimulation of the body surface |
US5207674A (en) | 1991-05-13 | 1993-05-04 | Hamilton Archie C | Electronic cryogenic surgical probe apparatus and method |
US20010031459A1 (en) | 1991-07-08 | 2001-10-18 | The American National Red Cross | Method of preparing tissues for vitrification |
DE4125463A1 (en) | 1991-08-01 | 1993-02-04 | Deutsches Inst Lebensmitteltec | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS, CONTROLLED STRUCTURING, IN PARTICULAR CRYSTALLIZATION OF SUBSTANCE SYSTEMS IN A FLOWABLE CONDITION, PARTICULARLY FATTY MEASURES, LIKE CHOCOLATE MATERIAL |
US5352711A (en) | 1991-08-12 | 1994-10-04 | The Proctor & Gamble Company | Method for hydrophilizing absorbent foam materials |
US5169384A (en) | 1991-08-16 | 1992-12-08 | Bosniak Stephen L | Apparatus for facilitating post-traumatic, post-surgical, and/or post-inflammatory healing of tissue |
US5514105A (en) | 1992-01-03 | 1996-05-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Resilient plastic web exhibiting reduced skin contact area and enhanced fluid transfer properties |
US5531742A (en) | 1992-01-15 | 1996-07-02 | Barken; Israel | Apparatus and method for computer controlled cryosurgery |
GB9201940D0 (en) | 1992-01-28 | 1992-03-18 | S I Ind Limited | Cooling or heating arrangement |
WO1993019705A1 (en) | 1992-03-31 | 1993-10-14 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Apparatus and method for acoustic heat generation and hyperthermia |
US5954680A (en) | 1992-06-19 | 1999-09-21 | Augustine Medical, Inc. | Near hyperthermic heater wound covering |
DE4224595A1 (en) | 1992-07-23 | 1994-01-27 | Steindorf Susanne Ruth | Surgical instrument for treating diseased tissue esp. prostate - has heating system located in probe within body opening and-or diseased organs adjacent to body openings |
CA2142813A1 (en) | 1992-08-17 | 1994-03-03 | Thomas L. Mehl | Hand held, multipurpose portable steamer having modular components and attachents |
US5327886A (en) | 1992-08-18 | 1994-07-12 | Chiu Cheng Pang | Electronic massage device with cold/hot compress function |
ES2129082T3 (en) | 1992-10-02 | 1999-06-01 | Beiersdorf Ag | HYDROPHYL POLYURETHANE GEL FOAMS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE TREATMENT OF DEEP WOUNDS, DRESSINGS BASED ON HYDROPHYL POLYURETHANE GEL FOAMS AND PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING. |
GB9222335D0 (en) | 1992-10-23 | 1992-12-09 | Unilever Plc | Acyl lactylates as skin elasticity enhancing agents |
US5314423A (en) | 1992-11-03 | 1994-05-24 | Seney John S | Cold electrode pain alleviating tissue treatment assembly |
DE4238291A1 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1994-05-19 | Diehl Gmbh & Co | Cryo-therapy system for small areal freezing of surfaces esp. for skin alterations - has cold probe and heat exchanger which are connected heat-conducting with each other by Peltier elements having heat contact surfaces |
US5333460A (en) | 1992-12-21 | 1994-08-02 | Carrier Corporation | Compact and serviceable packaging of a self-contained cryocooler system |
US5277030A (en) | 1993-01-22 | 1994-01-11 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Preconditioning stand for cooling probe |
US5386837A (en) | 1993-02-01 | 1995-02-07 | Mmtc, Inc. | Method for enhancing delivery of chemotherapy employing high-frequency force fields |
US6620188B1 (en) | 1998-08-24 | 2003-09-16 | Radiant Medical, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for regional and whole body temperature modification |
US5902256A (en) | 1993-02-12 | 1999-05-11 | Jb Research, Inc. | Massage unit with replaceable hot and cold packs |
US5433717A (en) | 1993-03-23 | 1995-07-18 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Magnetic resonance imaging assisted cryosurgery |
US5456703A (en) | 1993-04-28 | 1995-10-10 | Therabite Corporation | Apparatus for application of heat/cold to target regions of the human anatomy |
WO1994026216A1 (en) | 1993-05-12 | 1994-11-24 | Yablon Jeffrey S | Portable therapeutic device |
PT701455E (en) | 1993-06-04 | 2001-09-27 | Biotime Inc | PLASMA SIMPLE SOLUTION |
US5411541A (en) | 1993-08-05 | 1995-05-02 | Oansh Designs Ltd. | Portable fluid therapy device |
US5372608A (en) | 1993-08-12 | 1994-12-13 | Johnson; Bertrand L. | Circulating chilled-fluid therapeutic device |
US5334131A (en) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-08-02 | Omandam Ismael C | Strap-on massager with vibratory unbalanced weight |
US5891617A (en) | 1993-09-15 | 1999-04-06 | Organogenesis Inc. | Cryopreservation of harvested skin and cultured skin or cornea equivalents by slow freezing |
US5871526A (en) | 1993-10-13 | 1999-02-16 | Gibbs; Roselle | Portable temperature control system |
GB2283678B (en) | 1993-11-09 | 1998-06-03 | Spembly Medical Ltd | Cryosurgical catheter probe |
US5885211A (en) | 1993-11-15 | 1999-03-23 | Spectrix, Inc. | Microporation of human skin for monitoring the concentration of an analyte |
JPH07194666A (en) | 1993-12-30 | 1995-08-01 | Daisee Kogyo Kk | Massaging appliance and method |
US5472416A (en) | 1994-01-10 | 1995-12-05 | Very Inventive Physicians, Inc. | Tumescent lipoplastic method and apparatus |
RU2036667C1 (en) | 1994-01-24 | 1995-06-09 | Олег Алексеевич Машков | Method for treating disseminated psoriasis |
US5497596A (en) | 1994-01-27 | 1996-03-12 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Method for reducing penetration of liquid through nonwoven film-fibril sheets pierced by fastening elements |
GB2286660A (en) | 1994-02-01 | 1995-08-23 | David Thorner | Peltier effect cooling apparatus for treating diseased or injured tissue |
US5647868A (en) | 1994-02-02 | 1997-07-15 | Chinn; Douglas Owen | Cryosurgical integrated control and monitoring system and method |
US5725483A (en) | 1994-02-22 | 1998-03-10 | Podolsky; Grigory | Massaging device |
US5363347A (en) | 1994-02-24 | 1994-11-08 | Hap Nguyen | Vending tanning timer |
US5833685A (en) | 1994-03-15 | 1998-11-10 | Tortal; Proserfina R. | Cryosurgical technique and devices |
US5507790A (en) | 1994-03-21 | 1996-04-16 | Weiss; William V. | Method of non-invasive reduction of human site-specific subcutaneous fat tissue deposits by accelerated lipolysis metabolism |
US5505726A (en) | 1994-03-21 | 1996-04-09 | Dusa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Article of manufacture for the photodynamic therapy of dermal lesion |
JPH07268274A (en) | 1994-04-01 | 1995-10-17 | Kansai Paint Co Ltd | Composition and method for imparting hydrophilicity |
JP3263275B2 (en) | 1994-04-05 | 2002-03-04 | ザ リージェンツ オブ ザ ユニバーシティ オブ カリフォルニア | Apparatus for laser treatment of living tissue and laser treatment apparatus for flame-like nevus |
US6230501B1 (en) | 1994-04-14 | 2001-05-15 | Promxd Technology, Inc. | Ergonomic systems and methods providing intelligent adaptive surfaces and temperature control |
US5792080A (en) | 1994-05-18 | 1998-08-11 | Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. | Massaging apparatus having self-adjusting constant strength and non-adjust strength modes |
US5672172A (en) | 1994-06-23 | 1997-09-30 | Vros Corporation | Surgical instrument with ultrasound pulse generator |
US5505730A (en) | 1994-06-24 | 1996-04-09 | Stuart D. Edwards | Thin layer ablation apparatus |
IL110176A (en) | 1994-06-30 | 1999-12-31 | Israel State | Multiprobe surgical cryogenic apparatus |
US5967976A (en) | 1994-08-19 | 1999-10-19 | Novoste Corporation | Apparatus and methods for procedures related to the electrophysiology of the heart |
US5529067A (en) | 1994-08-19 | 1996-06-25 | Novoste Corporation | Methods for procedures related to the electrophysiology of the heart |
US5514170A (en) | 1994-08-25 | 1996-05-07 | Mauch; Rose M. | Cold pack device |
US5486207A (en) | 1994-09-20 | 1996-01-23 | Mahawili; Imad | Thermal pad for portable body heating/cooling system and method of use |
US5628769A (en) | 1994-09-30 | 1997-05-13 | Saringer Research, Inc. | Method and devices for producing somatosensory stimulation using temperature |
US5895418A (en) | 1994-09-30 | 1999-04-20 | Saringer Research Inc. | Device for producing cold therapy |
CN1127288C (en) | 1994-11-09 | 2003-11-12 | 塞莱顿科学有限责任公司 | Wound repair dressings and methods for their preservation |
DE4445627A1 (en) | 1994-12-21 | 1996-06-27 | Holland Letz Horst | Heat exchanger for thermal therapy pad |
US6426445B1 (en) | 1995-01-10 | 2002-07-30 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Absorbent members comprising an agglomerate of hydrogel-forming absorbent polymer and particulate hydrophilic foam |
US5735844A (en) | 1995-02-01 | 1998-04-07 | The General Hospital Corporation | Hair removal using optical pulses |
US5647051A (en) | 1995-02-22 | 1997-07-08 | Seabrook Medical Systems, Inc. | Cold therapy system with intermittent fluid pumping for temperature control |
US5635162A (en) | 1995-02-23 | 1997-06-03 | Ultradent Products, Inc. | Hemostatic composition for treating gingival area |
IES950163A2 (en) | 1995-03-01 | 1995-12-27 | Shannon Cool Limited | Cold therapy apparatus |
US5980561A (en) | 1995-03-01 | 1999-11-09 | Kolen; Paul T. | Applying thermal therapy to living tissue |
US5580714A (en) | 1995-03-08 | 1996-12-03 | Celox Laboratories, Inc. | Cryopreservation solution |
ES2204957T3 (en) | 1995-04-28 | 2004-05-01 | Endocare, Inc. | INTEGRATED CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR CRIOCIRUGIA. |
US6461378B1 (en) | 1995-05-05 | 2002-10-08 | Thermage, Inc. | Apparatus for smoothing contour irregularities of skin surface |
US6241753B1 (en) | 1995-05-05 | 2001-06-05 | Thermage, Inc. | Method for scar collagen formation and contraction |
US5755753A (en) | 1995-05-05 | 1998-05-26 | Thermage, Inc. | Method for controlled contraction of collagen tissue |
US5660836A (en) | 1995-05-05 | 1997-08-26 | Knowlton; Edward W. | Method and apparatus for controlled contraction of collagen tissue |
US6425912B1 (en) | 1995-05-05 | 2002-07-30 | Thermage, Inc. | Method and apparatus for modifying skin surface and soft tissue structure |
US5634890A (en) | 1995-05-09 | 1997-06-03 | Aquasage, Inc. | Water massage therapy device and method for using the same |
US5901707A (en) | 1995-05-19 | 1999-05-11 | Hpl Biomedical, Inc. | Silicone mask for cryosurgery and method |
US5741248A (en) | 1995-06-07 | 1998-04-21 | Temple University-Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education | Fluorochemical liquid augmented cryosurgery |
US5769879A (en) | 1995-06-07 | 1998-06-23 | Medical Contouring Corporation | Microwave applicator and method of operation |
WO1997004832A1 (en) | 1995-07-25 | 1997-02-13 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Enhanced transdermal transport using ultrasound |
US5746736A (en) | 1995-08-09 | 1998-05-05 | Lumedics, Ltd. | Cryogenic laser lithotripsy with enhanced light absorption |
US5964749A (en) | 1995-09-15 | 1999-10-12 | Esc Medical Systems Ltd. | Method and apparatus for skin rejuvenation and wrinkle smoothing |
US5654546A (en) | 1995-11-07 | 1997-08-05 | Molecular Imaging Corporation | Variable temperature scanning probe microscope based on a peltier device |
US5733280A (en) | 1995-11-15 | 1998-03-31 | Avitall; Boaz | Cryogenic epicardial mapping and ablation |
US5634940A (en) | 1995-12-13 | 1997-06-03 | Panyard; Albert A. | Therapeutic structure and methods |
US5755755A (en) | 1995-12-13 | 1998-05-26 | Panyard; Albert A. | Therapeutic structure and method |
JPH09164163A (en) | 1995-12-15 | 1997-06-24 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Local part cooler-heater |
WO1997022262A2 (en) | 1995-12-19 | 1997-06-26 | Jie Hao | Soft ice |
AU1349697A (en) | 1995-12-29 | 1997-07-28 | Life Resuscitation Technologies, Inc. | Total body cooling system |
US7229436B2 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2007-06-12 | Thermage, Inc. | Method and kit for treatment of tissue |
US6350276B1 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2002-02-26 | Thermage, Inc. | Tissue remodeling apparatus containing cooling fluid |
US7022121B2 (en) | 1999-03-09 | 2006-04-04 | Thermage, Inc. | Handpiece for treatment of tissue |
US7473251B2 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2009-01-06 | Thermage, Inc. | Methods for creating tissue effect utilizing electromagnetic energy and a reverse thermal gradient |
US7006874B2 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2006-02-28 | Thermage, Inc. | Treatment apparatus with electromagnetic energy delivery device and non-volatile memory |
US7141049B2 (en) | 1999-03-09 | 2006-11-28 | Thermage, Inc. | Handpiece for treatment of tissue |
US7189230B2 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2007-03-13 | Thermage, Inc. | Method for treating skin and underlying tissue |
US7267675B2 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2007-09-11 | Thermage, Inc. | RF device with thermo-electric cooler |
US7115123B2 (en) | 1996-01-05 | 2006-10-03 | Thermage, Inc. | Handpiece with electrode and non-volatile memory |
CA2242596C (en) | 1996-01-11 | 2012-06-19 | Mrj, Inc. | System for controlling access and distribution of digital property |
US5651773A (en) | 1996-01-19 | 1997-07-29 | Perry; Larry C. | Skin protector for ultrasonic-assisted liposuction and accessories |
US5650450A (en) | 1996-01-25 | 1997-07-22 | Foamex L.P. | Hydrophilic urethane foam |
FR2744358B1 (en) | 1996-02-01 | 1998-05-07 | Biogenie Beaute Concept | MASSAGE HEAD COMBINING SUCTION MASSAGE AND ELECTROTHERAPY |
FR2745935B1 (en) | 1996-03-11 | 1998-05-22 | Ygk Holding S A | AUTOMATED TANNING EQUIPMENT |
US5654279A (en) | 1996-03-29 | 1997-08-05 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Tissue destruction in cryosurgery by use of thermal hysteresis |
US6180867B1 (en) | 1996-04-17 | 2001-01-30 | General Electric Company | Thermal sensor array and methods of fabrication and use |
SE510531C2 (en) | 1996-05-02 | 1999-05-31 | Sca Hygiene Prod Ab | Hollow-casing layer for absorbing articles, as well as ways of making the casing layer |
ZA975326B (en) | 1996-06-18 | 1998-01-14 | Alza Corp | Device and method for enhancing transdermal flux of agents being delivered or sampled. |
US5944748A (en) | 1996-07-25 | 1999-08-31 | Light Medicine, Inc. | Photodynamic therapy apparatus and methods |
US5976123A (en) | 1996-07-30 | 1999-11-02 | Laser Aesthetics, Inc. | Heart stabilization |
US5966763A (en) | 1996-08-02 | 1999-10-19 | Hill-Rom, Inc. | Surface pad system for a surgical table |
US6102885A (en) | 1996-08-08 | 2000-08-15 | Bass; Lawrence S. | Device for suction-assisted lipectomy and method of using same |
JPH1043226A (en) * | 1996-08-08 | 1998-02-17 | Kodaka Kogyo Kk | Blood flow promoting device |
US5840080A (en) | 1996-08-15 | 1998-11-24 | Der Ovanesian; Mary | Hot or cold applicator with inner element |
US5665053A (en) | 1996-09-27 | 1997-09-09 | Jacobs; Robert A. | Apparatus for performing endermology with ultrasound |
US5941825A (en) | 1996-10-21 | 1999-08-24 | Philipp Lang | Measurement of body fat using ultrasound methods and devices |
BE1010730A7 (en) | 1996-11-04 | 1998-12-01 | Pira Luc Louis Marie Francis | Cryoprobe based on peltier module. |
US5800490A (en) | 1996-11-07 | 1998-09-01 | Patz; Herbert Samuel | Lightweight portable cooling or heating device with multiple applications |
US20060149343A1 (en) | 1996-12-02 | 2006-07-06 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | Cooling system for a photocosmetic device |
US6517532B1 (en) | 1997-05-15 | 2003-02-11 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | Light energy delivery head |
US8182473B2 (en) | 1999-01-08 | 2012-05-22 | Palomar Medical Technologies | Cooling system for a photocosmetic device |
US7204832B2 (en) | 1996-12-02 | 2007-04-17 | Pálomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | Cooling system for a photo cosmetic device |
US5964092A (en) | 1996-12-13 | 1999-10-12 | Nippon Sigmax, Co., Ltd. | Electronic cooling apparatus |
CA2276312C (en) | 1996-12-31 | 2012-11-27 | Jonathan A. Eppstein | Microporation of tissue for delivery of bioactive agents |
US6102875A (en) | 1997-01-16 | 2000-08-15 | Jones; Rick E. | Apparatus for combined application of massage, accupressure and biomagnetic therapy |
US5830208A (en) | 1997-01-31 | 1998-11-03 | Laserlite, Llc | Peltier cooled apparatus and methods for dermatological treatment |
JPH10216169A (en) | 1997-02-05 | 1998-08-18 | Kanae Kagawa:Kk | Cold-feeling/cooling sheet |
JPH10223961A (en) | 1997-02-10 | 1998-08-21 | Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The | Optical amplifier |
US5925026A (en) | 1997-03-10 | 1999-07-20 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Apertured absorbent pads for use in absorbent articles |
AU6865298A (en) | 1997-03-17 | 1998-10-12 | Boris Rubinsky | The use of cryoprotective agent compounds during cryosurgery |
WO1998041157A1 (en) | 1997-03-17 | 1998-09-24 | Boris Rubinsky | Freezing method for controlled removal of fatty tissue by liposuction |
GB2323659A (en) | 1997-03-25 | 1998-09-30 | Paul Weatherstone | Hand directable chilled air blower |
NL1007696C1 (en) | 1997-05-01 | 1998-11-03 | Inst Voor Agrotech Onderzoek | Controlled-release coated substance. |
ES2226133T3 (en) | 1997-05-15 | 2005-03-16 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | DERMATOLOGICAL TREATMENT DEVICE. |
US5817050A (en) | 1997-05-29 | 1998-10-06 | Klein; Jeffrey A. | Liposuction cannula |
WO1998057588A1 (en) | 1997-06-17 | 1998-12-23 | Cool Laser Optics, Inc. | Method and apparatus for temperature control of biologic tissue with simultaneous irradiation |
US6104959A (en) | 1997-07-31 | 2000-08-15 | Microwave Medical Corp. | Method and apparatus for treating subcutaneous histological features |
AU766783B2 (en) | 1997-08-19 | 2003-10-23 | Philipp Lang | Ultrasonic transmission films and devices, particularly for hygienic transducer surfaces |
FR2767476B1 (en) | 1997-08-25 | 1999-10-15 | Juliette Dubois | PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE SKIN BY VACUUM AND ULTRASOUND SUCTION |
US6023932A (en) | 1997-08-25 | 2000-02-15 | Johnston; Robert | Topical cooling device |
US6113558A (en) | 1997-09-29 | 2000-09-05 | Angiosonics Inc. | Pulsed mode lysis method |
US6623430B1 (en) | 1997-10-14 | 2003-09-23 | Guided Therapy Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for safety delivering medicants to a region of tissue using imaging, therapy and temperature monitoring ultrasonic system |
US6071239A (en) | 1997-10-27 | 2000-06-06 | Cribbs; Robert W. | Method and apparatus for lipolytic therapy using ultrasound energy |
GB9724186D0 (en) | 1997-11-14 | 1998-01-14 | British Tech Group | Low temperature coatings |
US6113559A (en) | 1997-12-29 | 2000-09-05 | Klopotek; Peter J. | Method and apparatus for therapeutic treatment of skin with ultrasound |
US6104952A (en) | 1998-01-07 | 2000-08-15 | Tu; Lily Chen | Devices for treating canker sores, tissues and methods thereof |
DE19800416C2 (en) | 1998-01-08 | 2002-09-19 | Storz Karl Gmbh & Co Kg | Device for the treatment of body tissue, in particular soft tissue close to the surface, by means of ultrasound |
US6251129B1 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 2001-06-26 | Innercool Therapies, Inc. | Method for low temperature thrombolysis and low temperature thrombolytic agent with selective organ temperature control |
IL126783A0 (en) | 1998-03-05 | 1999-08-17 | M T R E Advanced Technology Lt | System and method for heat control of a living body |
US6047215A (en) | 1998-03-06 | 2000-04-04 | Sonique Surgical Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for electromagnetically assisted liposuction |
ES2245506T3 (en) | 1998-03-12 | 2006-01-01 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION APPLICATION SYSTEM ON SKIN. |
US6551349B2 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 2003-04-22 | Innercool Therapies, Inc. | Selective organ cooling apparatus |
AU3363999A (en) | 1998-03-27 | 1999-10-18 | General Hospital Corporation, The | Method and apparatus for the selective targeting of lipid-rich tissues |
FR2776920B3 (en) | 1998-04-03 | 2000-04-28 | Elie Piana | VACUUM MASSAGE DEVICE |
US6569189B1 (en) | 1998-04-06 | 2003-05-27 | Augustine Medical, Inc. | Tissue treatment apparatus including a bandpass filter transparent to selected wavelengths of IR electromagnetic spectrum |
US6264649B1 (en) | 1998-04-09 | 2001-07-24 | Ian Andrew Whitcroft | Laser treatment cooling head |
US5997530A (en) | 1998-04-13 | 1999-12-07 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Apparatus and method to control atmospheric water vapor composition and concentration during dynamic cooling of biological tissues in conjunction with laser irradiations |
US6354297B1 (en) | 1998-04-16 | 2002-03-12 | The Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences | Method and device for destroying fat cells by induction of programmed cell death |
ES2316185T3 (en) | 1998-04-23 | 2009-04-01 | The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Texas System | HEAT AND METHOD TRANSFER TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE OF A PATIENT. |
US6375673B1 (en) | 1998-04-23 | 2002-04-23 | The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Texas System | Heat transfer blanket for and method of controlling a patient's temperature |
US6113626A (en) | 1998-04-23 | 2000-09-05 | The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Texas System | Heat transfer blanket for controlling a patient's temperature |
US6151735A (en) | 1998-05-05 | 2000-11-28 | Imak Corporation | Zone inflatable orthopedic pillow |
US6015390A (en) | 1998-06-12 | 2000-01-18 | D. Krag Llc | System and method for stabilizing and removing tissue |
US6039694A (en) | 1998-06-25 | 2000-03-21 | Sonotech, Inc. | Coupling sheath for ultrasound transducers |
US6312453B1 (en) | 1998-07-16 | 2001-11-06 | Olympic Medical Corp. | Device for cooling infant's brain |
US6673098B1 (en) | 1998-08-24 | 2004-01-06 | Radiant Medical, Inc. | Disposable cassette for intravascular heat exchange catheter |
US6620189B1 (en) | 2000-02-28 | 2003-09-16 | Radiant Medical, Inc. | Method and system for control of a patient's body temperature by way of a transluminally insertable heat exchange catheter |
US6093230A (en) | 1998-10-12 | 2000-07-25 | Allegiance Corporation | Filter assembly comprising two filter elements separated by a hydrophobic foam |
US6059820A (en) | 1998-10-16 | 2000-05-09 | Paradigm Medical Corporation | Tissue cooling rod for laser surgery |
TW514521B (en) | 1998-10-16 | 2002-12-21 | Coolsystems Inc | Compliant heat exchange splint and control unit |
US6150148A (en) | 1998-10-21 | 2000-11-21 | Genetronics, Inc. | Electroporation apparatus for control of temperature during the process |
IL126723A0 (en) | 1998-10-22 | 1999-08-17 | Medoc Ltd | Vaginal probe and method |
US6120519A (en) | 1998-12-02 | 2000-09-19 | Weber; Paul J. | Advanced fulcrum liposuction device |
US7785359B2 (en) | 1998-12-18 | 2010-08-31 | Traumatec, Inc. | Therapeutic cooling devices |
US6183773B1 (en) | 1999-01-04 | 2001-02-06 | The General Hospital Corporation | Targeting of sebaceous follicles as a treatment of sebaceous gland disorders |
WO2000040185A1 (en) | 1999-01-04 | 2000-07-13 | Medivance, Incorporated | Improved cooling/heating pad and system |
US6306119B1 (en) | 1999-01-20 | 2001-10-23 | Pearl Technology Holdings, Llc | Skin resurfacing and treatment using biocompatible materials |
US6635053B1 (en) | 1999-01-25 | 2003-10-21 | Cryocath Technologies Inc. | Cooling system |
US6592577B2 (en) | 1999-01-25 | 2003-07-15 | Cryocath Technologies Inc. | Cooling system |
EP1031346B1 (en) | 1999-01-27 | 2002-05-02 | Idea Ag | Noninvasive vaccination through the skin |
AU3286299A (en) | 1999-01-29 | 2000-08-18 | Gerard Hassler | Lowering skin temperature |
US6200308B1 (en) | 1999-01-29 | 2001-03-13 | Candela Corporation | Dynamic cooling of tissue for radiation treatment |
FR2789893B1 (en) | 1999-02-24 | 2001-05-11 | Serge Karagozian | COMBINATION DERMOTONY AND MAGNETOTHERAPY MASSAGE APPARATUS |
AU779100B2 (en) | 1999-03-09 | 2005-01-06 | Thermage, Inc. | Apparatus and method for treatment of tissue |
US6678558B1 (en) | 1999-03-25 | 2004-01-13 | Genetronics, Inc. | Method and apparatus for reducing electroporation-mediated muscle reaction and pain response |
WO2000065770A1 (en) | 1999-04-22 | 2000-11-02 | Veridicom, Inc. | High security biometric authentication using a public key/private key encryption pairs |
US20040009936A1 (en) | 1999-05-03 | 2004-01-15 | Tang De-Chu C. | Vaccine and drug delivery by topical application of vectors and vector extracts |
WO2000067685A1 (en) | 1999-05-12 | 2000-11-16 | Burns Terrence R | Thermoregulation systems |
US20020198518A1 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2002-12-26 | Mikus Paul W. | Entry position grid for computer guided cryosurgery |
US6139544A (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2000-10-31 | Endocare, Inc. | Computer guided cryosurgery |
US6643535B2 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2003-11-04 | Endocare, Inc. | System for providing computer guided ablation of tissue |
US6694170B1 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2004-02-17 | Endocare, Inc. | Computer guided surgery for prostatic nerve sparing |
US6357907B1 (en) | 1999-06-15 | 2002-03-19 | V & P Scientific, Inc. | Magnetic levitation stirring devices and machines for mixing in vessels |
WO2003053266A2 (en) | 1999-06-30 | 2003-07-03 | Thermage, Inc. | Liquid cooled rf handpiece |
KR200173222Y1 (en) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-03-15 | 이강민 | Supersonic skin massager |
US6547811B1 (en) | 1999-08-02 | 2003-04-15 | Arch Development Corporation | Method for inducing hypothermia |
JP2001046416A (en) | 1999-08-10 | 2001-02-20 | Try Company:Kk | Body cooling apparatus |
US6548728B1 (en) | 1999-08-11 | 2003-04-15 | Medical Products, Inc. | Wound dressing garment |
US6290713B1 (en) | 1999-08-24 | 2001-09-18 | Thomas A. Russell | Flexible illuminators for phototherapy |
US7113821B1 (en) | 1999-08-25 | 2006-09-26 | Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. | Tissue electroperforation for enhanced drug delivery |
IL131834A0 (en) | 1999-09-09 | 2001-03-19 | M T R E Advanced Technology Lt | Method and system for improving cardiac output of a patient |
US6471693B1 (en) | 1999-09-10 | 2002-10-29 | Cryocath Technologies Inc. | Catheter and system for monitoring tissue contact |
US6226996B1 (en) | 1999-10-06 | 2001-05-08 | Paul J. Weber | Device for controlled cooling of a surface |
GB9923804D0 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 1999-12-08 | Hewlett Packard Co | Electronic commerce system |
WO2001032114A1 (en) | 1999-11-02 | 2001-05-10 | Wizcare Ltd. | Skin-gripper |
GB2356145B (en) | 1999-11-10 | 2004-07-28 | Mas Mfg Ltd | Dressing |
US6743222B2 (en) | 1999-12-10 | 2004-06-01 | Candela Corporation | Method of treating disorders associated with sebaceous follicles |
US6402775B1 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2002-06-11 | Augustine Medical, Inc. | High-efficiency cooling pads, mattresses, and sleeves |
JP2004159666A (en) | 1999-12-21 | 2004-06-10 | Ya Man Ltd | Laser epilation device |
JP4723707B2 (en) | 1999-12-22 | 2011-07-13 | パナソニック電工株式会社 | Slimming equipment |
US6699237B2 (en) | 1999-12-30 | 2004-03-02 | Pearl Technology Holdings, Llc | Tissue-lifting device |
JP2001190586A (en) | 2000-01-11 | 2001-07-17 | Ohiro Seisakusho:Kk | Facial treatment implement |
US6840955B2 (en) | 2000-01-27 | 2005-01-11 | Robert J. Ein | Therapeutic apparatus |
FR2805989B1 (en) | 2000-03-10 | 2003-02-07 | Prod Ella Bache Laboratoire Su | PROCESS FOR TREATING INESTHETISMS OF SILHOUETTE OF THE HUMAN BODY AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD |
AU2001252914A1 (en) | 2000-03-14 | 2001-09-24 | Alnis Bioscience, Inc. | Cryoprotective system |
KR100367639B1 (en) | 2000-03-20 | 2003-01-14 | 안문휘 | Cryogenic stimulating device of acupuncture points |
US6311497B1 (en) | 2000-03-22 | 2001-11-06 | Young-Chun Chung | Device for cold and warm formentations |
US20020188478A1 (en) | 2000-03-24 | 2002-12-12 | Joe Breeland | Health-care systems and methods |
US6354099B1 (en) | 2000-04-11 | 2002-03-12 | Augustine Medical, Inc. | Cooling devices with high-efficiency cooling features |
ATE372754T1 (en) | 2000-04-20 | 2007-09-15 | Univ Leland Stanford Junior | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COOLING THE BODY CORE |
US20020151830A1 (en) | 2000-04-28 | 2002-10-17 | Rocky Kahn | Hydrotherapy system with water pervious body support |
US6494844B1 (en) | 2000-06-21 | 2002-12-17 | Sanarus Medical, Inc. | Device for biopsy and treatment of breast tumors |
AU2001276895A1 (en) | 2000-07-13 | 2002-01-30 | Medtronic, Inc. | Non-invasive carotid cooler brain hypothermia medical device |
EP1463437B1 (en) | 2000-07-31 | 2012-01-04 | Galil Medical Ltd. | Facilitation system for cryosurgery |
US8251986B2 (en) | 2000-08-17 | 2012-08-28 | Angiodynamics, Inc. | Method of destroying tissue cells by eletroporation |
US6892099B2 (en) | 2001-02-08 | 2005-05-10 | Minnesota Medical Physics, Llc | Apparatus and method for reducing subcutaneous fat deposits, virtual face lift and body sculpturing by electroporation |
WO2002014774A2 (en) | 2000-08-17 | 2002-02-21 | Ocean Power Corporation | Heat exchange element with hydrophilic evaporator surface |
US6795728B2 (en) | 2001-08-17 | 2004-09-21 | Minnesota Medical Physics, Llc | Apparatus and method for reducing subcutaneous fat deposits by electroporation |
US6697670B2 (en) | 2001-08-17 | 2004-02-24 | Minnesota Medical Physics, Llc | Apparatus and method for reducing subcutaneous fat deposits by electroporation with improved comfort of patients |
US6458888B1 (en) | 2000-09-15 | 2002-10-01 | Isp Investments Inc. | Rheology modifier for use in aqueous compositions |
US6527765B2 (en) | 2000-10-06 | 2003-03-04 | Charles D. Kelman | Cryogenic surgical system and method of use in removal of tissue |
US6579281B2 (en) | 2000-10-11 | 2003-06-17 | Popcab, Llc | Instrument stabilizer for through-a-port surgery |
US6540694B1 (en) | 2000-10-16 | 2003-04-01 | Sanarus Medical, Inc. | Device for biopsy tumors |
JP3655820B2 (en) | 2000-10-23 | 2005-06-02 | 繁雄 小林 | Head cooling and heating device |
EP1201266A1 (en) | 2000-10-26 | 2002-05-02 | Compex SA | Method for programming stimulation data into a stimulation device |
DE10056242A1 (en) | 2000-11-14 | 2002-05-23 | Alstom Switzerland Ltd | Condensation heat exchanger has heat exchanger surfaces having a coating consisting of a alternating sequence of layers made up of a hard layer with amorphous carbon or a plasma polymer |
US6821274B2 (en) | 2001-03-07 | 2004-11-23 | Gendel Ltd. | Ultrasound therapy for selective cell ablation |
US7549987B2 (en) | 2000-12-09 | 2009-06-23 | Tsunami Medtech, Llc | Thermotherapy device |
US6645162B2 (en) | 2000-12-27 | 2003-11-11 | Insightec - Txsonics Ltd. | Systems and methods for ultrasound assisted lipolysis |
US6626854B2 (en) | 2000-12-27 | 2003-09-30 | Insightec - Txsonics Ltd. | Systems and methods for ultrasound assisted lipolysis |
CN1836639B (en) | 2000-12-28 | 2012-03-21 | 帕洛玛医疗技术有限公司 | Method and apparatus for therapeutic emr treatment of the skin |
US6607498B2 (en) | 2001-01-03 | 2003-08-19 | Uitra Shape, Inc. | Method and apparatus for non-invasive body contouring by lysing adipose tissue |
US7347855B2 (en) | 2001-10-29 | 2008-03-25 | Ultrashape Ltd. | Non-invasive ultrasonic body contouring |
KR100948543B1 (en) | 2001-01-03 | 2010-03-18 | 울트라쉐이프 엘티디 | Non-invasive ultrasonic body contouring |
US6551348B1 (en) | 2001-01-26 | 2003-04-22 | Deroyal Industries, Inc. | Temperature controlled fluid therapy system |
JP2002224051A (en) | 2001-01-30 | 2002-08-13 | Yamaguchi Prefecture | Nonrestraint life monitor |
US20050145372A1 (en) | 2004-01-02 | 2005-07-07 | Noel Thomas P. | Method and thermally active multi-phase heat transfer apparatus and method for abstracting heat using liquid bi-phase heat exchanging composition |
US6904956B2 (en) | 2002-10-18 | 2005-06-14 | Thomas P. Noel | Method and thermally active convection apparatus and method for abstracting heat with circulation intermediate three dimensional-parity heat transfer elements in bi-phase heat exchanging composition |
JP4027049B2 (en) | 2001-02-28 | 2007-12-26 | 株式会社ニデック | Laser therapy device |
US6948903B2 (en) | 2001-03-15 | 2005-09-27 | Maxon Lift Corporation | Unitary liftgate |
JP4938177B2 (en) | 2001-03-22 | 2012-05-23 | 小林製薬株式会社 | Cold / warm pad |
JP2002290397A (en) | 2001-03-23 | 2002-10-04 | Iryo Joho Syst Kaihatsu Center | Secure communication method |
US7083580B2 (en) | 2001-04-06 | 2006-08-01 | Mattioli Engineering Ltd. | Method and apparatus for skin absorption enhancement and transdermal drug delivery |
US20020156509A1 (en) | 2001-04-23 | 2002-10-24 | Stephen Cheung | Thermal control suit |
WO2002087700A1 (en) | 2001-04-26 | 2002-11-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Method, kit and device for the treatment of cosmetic skin conditions |
US6438954B1 (en) | 2001-04-27 | 2002-08-27 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Multi-directional thermal actuator |
FR2823973B1 (en) | 2001-04-27 | 2003-12-26 | Alain Meunier | MASSAGE APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING "PRESS-PRESS-TIRE" MASSAGE |
US6430956B1 (en) | 2001-05-15 | 2002-08-13 | Cimex Biotech Lc | Hand-held, heat sink cryoprobe, system for heat extraction thereof, and method therefore |
GB0111986D0 (en) | 2001-05-16 | 2001-07-04 | Optomed As | Cryosurgical apparatus and methods |
CN2514795Y (en) | 2001-05-18 | 2002-10-09 | 郑晓丹 | Multi-contact freezing beautifying pencil |
US7192426B2 (en) | 2001-05-31 | 2007-03-20 | Endocare, Inc. | Cryogenic system |
US20020188286A1 (en) | 2001-06-06 | 2002-12-12 | Quijano Rodolfo C. | Methods for treating vulnerable plaque |
US6551341B2 (en) | 2001-06-14 | 2003-04-22 | Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. | Devices configured from strain hardened Ni Ti tubing |
FR2826107A1 (en) | 2001-06-19 | 2002-12-20 | M D I C | Cold pack useful for cryotherapy or food preservation comprises sealed flexible casing containing aqueous composition, hydrocolloid thickener and freezing point depressant |
TW476644B (en) | 2001-06-28 | 2002-02-21 | Wen-Hu Liau | Portable first-aid cold hot compress pack |
JP3393128B1 (en) | 2001-07-18 | 2003-04-07 | 正雄 酒井 | Female wearing condom |
CN2514811Y (en) | 2001-07-31 | 2002-10-09 | 尹旭光 | Electrothermal device for heatig foot |
US20040260210A1 (en) | 2003-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | Engii (2001) Ltd. | System and method for face and body treatment |
US20040260209A1 (en) | 2003-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | Engli (2001) Ltd. | System and method for face and body treatment |
US20030032900A1 (en) | 2001-08-08 | 2003-02-13 | Engii (2001) Ltd. | System and method for facial treatment |
US6438964B1 (en) | 2001-09-10 | 2002-08-27 | Percy Giblin | Thermoelectric heat pump appliance with carbon foam heat sink |
US6572450B2 (en) | 2001-09-21 | 2003-06-03 | Iphotonics, Inc. | Roll format polishing process for optical devices |
US20030062040A1 (en) | 2001-09-28 | 2003-04-03 | Lurie Keith G. | Face mask ventilation/perfusion systems and method |
US20030114885A1 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2003-06-19 | Nova Richard C. | System and device for implementing an integrated medical device component package |
US7183360B2 (en) | 2001-10-05 | 2007-02-27 | Basf Aktiengesellschaft | Method for crosslinking hydrogels with morpholine-2,3-diones |
US6699267B2 (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2004-03-02 | Medivance Incorporated | Patient temperature control system with fluid temperature response |
US6660027B2 (en) | 2001-10-11 | 2003-12-09 | Medivance Incorporated | Patient temperature control system with fluid preconditioning |
US7112340B2 (en) | 2001-10-19 | 2006-09-26 | Baxter International Inc. | Compositions of and method for preparing stable particles in a frozen aqueous matrix |
US20030125649A1 (en) | 2001-10-31 | 2003-07-03 | Mcintosh Laura Janet | Method and system apparatus using temperature and pressure for treating medical disorders |
CA2725655C (en) | 2001-11-20 | 2015-01-20 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Access and control system for network-enabled devices |
US6889090B2 (en) | 2001-11-20 | 2005-05-03 | Syneron Medical Ltd. | System and method for skin treatment using electrical current |
US6648904B2 (en) | 2001-11-29 | 2003-11-18 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a surface |
US6849075B2 (en) | 2001-12-04 | 2005-02-01 | Estech, Inc. | Cardiac ablation devices and methods |
US20030109910A1 (en) | 2001-12-08 | 2003-06-12 | Lachenbruch Charles A. | Heating or cooling pad or glove with phase change material |
US6755852B2 (en) | 2001-12-08 | 2004-06-29 | Charles A. Lachenbruch | Cooling body wrap with phase change material |
US6699266B2 (en) | 2001-12-08 | 2004-03-02 | Charles A. Lachenbruch | Support surface with phase change material or heat tubes |
US7762965B2 (en) | 2001-12-10 | 2010-07-27 | Candela Corporation | Method and apparatus for vacuum-assisted light-based treatments of the skin |
EP1627662B1 (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2011-03-02 | Candela Corporation | Apparatus for vacuum-assisted light-based treatments of the skin |
JP2003190201A (en) | 2001-12-26 | 2003-07-08 | Lion Corp | Body cooler and body warmer |
US7258674B2 (en) | 2002-02-20 | 2007-08-21 | Liposonix, Inc. | Ultrasonic treatment and imaging of adipose tissue |
US6523354B1 (en) | 2002-03-08 | 2003-02-25 | Deborah Ann Tolbert | Cooling blanket |
DE60335753D1 (en) | 2002-03-15 | 2011-02-24 | Gen Hospital Corp | Method for the selective cleavage of fatty tissue by controlled cooling |
US8840608B2 (en) | 2002-03-15 | 2014-09-23 | The General Hospital Corporation | Methods and devices for selective disruption of fatty tissue by controlled cooling |
US6662054B2 (en) | 2002-03-26 | 2003-12-09 | Syneron Medical Ltd. | Method and system for treating skin |
US20030236487A1 (en) | 2002-04-29 | 2003-12-25 | Knowlton Edward W. | Method for treatment of tissue with feedback |
US20040176667A1 (en) | 2002-04-30 | 2004-09-09 | Mihai Dan M. | Method and system for medical device connectivity |
US20030220594A1 (en) | 2002-05-24 | 2003-11-27 | United States Manufacturing Company, Inc. | Torso orthosis apparatus and method |
US6746474B2 (en) | 2002-05-31 | 2004-06-08 | Vahid Saadat | Apparatus and methods for cooling a region within the body |
WO2003105400A1 (en) | 2002-06-07 | 2003-12-18 | ソニー株式会社 | Data processing system, data processing device, data processing method, and computer program |
JP3786055B2 (en) | 2002-06-07 | 2006-06-14 | ソニー株式会社 | Data processing system, data processing apparatus and method, and computer program |
EP1539013A4 (en) | 2002-06-19 | 2005-09-21 | Palomar Medical Tech Inc | Method and apparatus for treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous conditions |
WO2004000150A1 (en) | 2002-06-19 | 2003-12-31 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for photothermal treatment of tissue at depth |
JP2004073812A (en) | 2002-06-20 | 2004-03-11 | Ya Man Ltd | Massager |
EP1538980B1 (en) | 2002-06-25 | 2017-01-18 | Ultrashape Ltd. | Device for body aesthetics |
US6820961B2 (en) | 2002-06-28 | 2004-11-23 | Lexmark International, Inc. | Stationary ink mist chimney for ink jet printer |
US6969399B2 (en) | 2002-07-11 | 2005-11-29 | Life Recovery Systems Hd, Llc | Apparatus for altering the body temperature of a patient |
US7250047B2 (en) | 2002-08-16 | 2007-07-31 | Lumenis Ltd. | System and method for treating tissue |
US6860896B2 (en) | 2002-09-03 | 2005-03-01 | Jeffrey T. Samson | Therapeutic method and apparatus |
US6789545B2 (en) | 2002-10-04 | 2004-09-14 | Sanarus Medical, Inc. | Method and system for cryoablating fibroadenomas |
CN1723058A (en) | 2002-10-07 | 2006-01-18 | 帕洛玛医疗技术公司 | Apparatus for performing photobiostimulation |
US8226698B2 (en) | 2002-10-08 | 2012-07-24 | Vitalwear, Inc. | Therapeutic cranial wrap for a contrast therapy system |
US6994151B2 (en) | 2002-10-22 | 2006-02-07 | Cooligy, Inc. | Vapor escape microchannel heat exchanger |
KR20050071618A (en) | 2002-10-23 | 2005-07-07 | 팔로마 메디칼 테크놀로지스, 인코포레이티드 | Phototreatment device for use with coolants and topical substances |
US20040082886A1 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2004-04-29 | Timpson Sandra Tee | Therapeutic device for relieving pain and stress |
GB2396109B (en) | 2002-12-12 | 2006-04-19 | Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd | Absorbent multilayer hydrogel wound dressings |
CN1511503A (en) | 2002-12-30 | 2004-07-14 | 中国科学院理化技术研究所 | Fat reducer by applying cold and hot stimulation to skin alternatively |
US7976519B2 (en) | 2002-12-31 | 2011-07-12 | Kci Licensing, Inc. | Externally-applied patient interface system and method |
US7083612B2 (en) | 2003-01-15 | 2006-08-01 | Cryodynamics, Llc | Cryotherapy system |
US7410484B2 (en) | 2003-01-15 | 2008-08-12 | Cryodynamics, Llc | Cryotherapy probe |
US7273479B2 (en) | 2003-01-15 | 2007-09-25 | Cryodynamics, Llc | Methods and systems for cryogenic cooling |
US20050143781A1 (en) | 2003-01-31 | 2005-06-30 | Rafael Carbunaru | Methods and systems for patient adjustment of parameters for an implanted stimulator |
US20040176754A1 (en) | 2003-03-06 | 2004-09-09 | Island Tobin C. | Method and device for sensing skin contact |
US20060234899A1 (en) | 2003-03-05 | 2006-10-19 | H.H. Brown Shoe Technologies Inc. D/B/A Dicon Technologies | Hydrophilic polyurethane foam articles comprising an antimicrobial compound |
US7037326B2 (en) | 2003-03-14 | 2006-05-02 | Hee-Young Lee | Skin cooling device using thermoelectric element |
DE10314138A1 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2004-10-07 | Krüger & Gothe GmbH | Heating / cooling device |
US20040206365A1 (en) | 2003-03-31 | 2004-10-21 | Knowlton Edward Wells | Method for treatment of tissue |
US9149322B2 (en) | 2003-03-31 | 2015-10-06 | Edward Wells Knowlton | Method for treatment of tissue |
GB0307963D0 (en) | 2003-04-05 | 2003-05-14 | Eastman Kodak Co | A foamed material and a method of making thereof |
US7659301B2 (en) | 2003-04-15 | 2010-02-09 | The General Hospital Corporation | Methods and devices for epithelial protection during photodynamic therapy |
US7220778B2 (en) | 2003-04-15 | 2007-05-22 | The General Hospital Corporation | Methods and devices for epithelial protection during photodynamic therapy |
US20040210287A1 (en) | 2003-04-21 | 2004-10-21 | Greene Judy L. | Portable cooling or heating device for applying cryotherapy |
KR20040094508A (en) | 2003-05-02 | 2004-11-10 | 김창선 | Apparatus for Skin Treatment Using Ultra-sonic And Cold-Hot |
US20040249427A1 (en) | 2003-06-06 | 2004-12-09 | Yunes Nabilsi | Medical cooler device |
US7147610B2 (en) | 2003-06-19 | 2006-12-12 | Tarek Maalouf | Multiple combination heat/massage devices |
JP4504099B2 (en) | 2003-06-25 | 2010-07-14 | 株式会社リコー | Digital certificate management system, digital certificate management apparatus, digital certificate management method, update procedure determination method and program |
US7479104B2 (en) | 2003-07-08 | 2009-01-20 | Maquet Cardiovascular, Llc | Organ manipulator apparatus |
EP1646351B1 (en) | 2003-07-18 | 2011-03-30 | Thermotek, Inc. | Thermal system for a blanket |
US8100956B2 (en) | 2006-05-09 | 2012-01-24 | Thermotek, Inc. | Method of and system for thermally augmented wound care oxygenation |
US20050043723A1 (en) | 2003-08-19 | 2005-02-24 | Schering-Plough Healthcare Products, Inc. | Cryosurgery device |
JP2005065984A (en) | 2003-08-25 | 2005-03-17 | Nikon Corp | Massage machine |
US20050049661A1 (en) | 2003-09-03 | 2005-03-03 | Koffroth Shirley B. | Ice belt to reduce body temperature |
US20050049526A1 (en) | 2003-09-03 | 2005-03-03 | Baer Mark P. | Massage devices and methods thereof |
CA2441489A1 (en) | 2003-09-12 | 2005-03-12 | Jocelyn Tortal | Inducing and contouring ice formation |
US7077858B2 (en) | 2003-09-22 | 2006-07-18 | Coolhead Technologies, Inc. | Flexible heat exchangers for medical cooling and warming applications |
JP4640610B2 (en) | 2003-09-30 | 2011-03-02 | ソニー株式会社 | Content acquisition method, acquisition / use information provision method, content acquisition device, acquisition / use information provision device, content acquisition program, and acquisition / use information provision program |
JP2005110755A (en) | 2003-10-03 | 2005-04-28 | Shinko Denshi Kk | Heating/cooling apparatus for reducing muscular fatigue |
US7282036B2 (en) | 2003-10-24 | 2007-10-16 | Masatoshi Masuda | Cosmetic device having vibrator |
EP1527760A1 (en) | 2003-10-29 | 2005-05-04 | Normand, Jacques | Thermal pad and its use |
US7613523B2 (en) | 2003-12-11 | 2009-11-03 | Apsara Medical Corporation | Aesthetic thermal sculpting of skin |
EP1699397A4 (en) * | 2003-12-23 | 2012-02-15 | Hemcon Inc | Tissue dressing assemblies, systems, and methods formed from hydrophilic polymer sponge structures such as chistosan |
US7532201B2 (en) | 2003-12-30 | 2009-05-12 | Liposonix, Inc. | Position tracking device |
WO2005065409A2 (en) | 2003-12-30 | 2005-07-21 | Liposonix, Inc. | Ultrasound therapy head with movement control |
JP2007516809A (en) | 2003-12-30 | 2007-06-28 | ライポソニックス, インコーポレイテッド | Ultrasonic transducer components |
US7857773B2 (en) | 2003-12-30 | 2010-12-28 | Medicis Technologies Corporation | Apparatus and methods for the destruction of adipose tissue |
KR20060113930A (en) | 2003-12-30 | 2006-11-03 | 리포소닉스 인코포레이티드 | Systems and methods for the destruction of adipose tissue |
WO2005074627A2 (en) | 2004-02-02 | 2005-08-18 | Hydrophilix Corporation | Process for controlling the density, conformation and composition of the hydrophilic layer of a polyurethane composite |
JP2005237908A (en) | 2004-02-12 | 2005-09-08 | Tamotsu Nishizaki | Cryosurgical unit using heat exchanger |
JP4109640B2 (en) | 2004-02-25 | 2008-07-02 | 株式会社エム・アイ・ラボ | Automatic excitation massager |
US7052167B2 (en) | 2004-02-25 | 2006-05-30 | Vanderschuit Carl R | Therapeutic devices and methods for applying therapy |
US20060035380A1 (en) | 2004-03-12 | 2006-02-16 | L'oreal | Fake-proof marking of a composition |
JP2005312950A (en) | 2004-03-31 | 2005-11-10 | Terumo Corp | Medical tool for energy irradiation and medical energy irradiation device |
JP4971133B2 (en) | 2004-04-01 | 2012-07-11 | ザ ジェネラル ホスピタル コーポレイション | Equipment for dermatological treatment |
US8268332B2 (en) | 2004-04-01 | 2012-09-18 | The General Hospital Corporation | Method for dermatological treatment using chromophores |
US8571648B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2013-10-29 | Aesthera | Apparatus and method to apply substances to tissue |
US7842029B2 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2010-11-30 | Aesthera | Apparatus and method having a cooling material and reduced pressure to treat biological external tissue |
US20070179482A1 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2007-08-02 | Anderson Robert S | Apparatuses and methods to treat biological external tissue |
US20050251117A1 (en) | 2004-05-07 | 2005-11-10 | Anderson Robert S | Apparatus and method for treating biological external tissue |
JP2005323716A (en) | 2004-05-13 | 2005-11-24 | Takeshi Shimizu | Cold spot stimulation device |
US20050277859A1 (en) | 2004-05-27 | 2005-12-15 | Carlsmith Bruce S | Joint protection device |
US7959657B1 (en) | 2004-07-07 | 2011-06-14 | Harsy Douglas R | Portable thermal therapeutic apparatus and method |
JP4579603B2 (en) | 2004-07-14 | 2010-11-10 | 株式会社リブドゥコーポレーション | Non-woven fabric for skin cleaning |
US20060036300A1 (en) | 2004-08-16 | 2006-02-16 | Syneron Medical Ltd. | Method for lypolisis |
US7171508B2 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2007-01-30 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Dual port memory with asymmetric inputs and outputs, device, system and method |
US8535228B2 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2013-09-17 | Guided Therapy Systems, Llc | Method and system for noninvasive face lifts and deep tissue tightening |
US20060111744A1 (en) | 2004-10-13 | 2006-05-25 | Guided Therapy Systems, L.L.C. | Method and system for treatment of sweat glands |
ES2630221T3 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2017-08-18 | Guided Therapy Systems, L.L.C. | Procedure and system for the treatment of tissues by ultrasound |
US8663112B2 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2014-03-04 | Guided Therapy Systems, Llc | Methods and systems for fat reduction and/or cellulite treatment |
US8690779B2 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2014-04-08 | Guided Therapy Systems, Llc | Noninvasive aesthetic treatment for tightening tissue |
US8133180B2 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2012-03-13 | Guided Therapy Systems, L.L.C. | Method and system for treating cellulite |
US20120046547A1 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2012-02-23 | Guided Therapy Systems, Llc | System and method for cosmetic treatment |
EP2279699B1 (en) | 2004-10-06 | 2019-07-24 | Guided Therapy Systems, L.L.C. | Method for non-invasive cosmetic enhancement of cellulite |
US20060094988A1 (en) | 2004-10-28 | 2006-05-04 | Tosaya Carol A | Ultrasonic apparatus and method for treating obesity or fat-deposits or for delivering cosmetic or other bodily therapy |
JP4324673B2 (en) | 2004-11-05 | 2009-09-02 | 国立大学法人東北大学 | Cryotherapy device with Peltier module |
US20060122509A1 (en) | 2004-11-24 | 2006-06-08 | Liposonix, Inc. | System and methods for destroying adipose tissue |
US7828831B1 (en) | 2004-12-06 | 2010-11-09 | Deroyal Industries, Inc. | Hot and cold fluid therapy system |
US7780656B2 (en) | 2004-12-10 | 2010-08-24 | Reliant Technologies, Inc. | Patterned thermal treatment using patterned cryogen spray and irradiation by light |
GB2422109B (en) | 2005-01-13 | 2007-02-21 | Richard Mills | Apparatus for providing a heating and cooling effect |
US20090112134A1 (en) | 2005-01-24 | 2009-04-30 | Kineticure Limited | Devices and method for applying vibrations to joints |
WO2006086513A2 (en) | 2005-02-08 | 2006-08-17 | Carewave, Inc. | Apparatus and method for using a portable thermal device to reduce accommodation of nerve receptors |
AU2006222547A1 (en) | 2005-03-09 | 2006-09-14 | Ronald Allan Greenberg | An apparatus and method of body contouring and skin conditioning |
US20060206040A1 (en) | 2005-03-09 | 2006-09-14 | Greenberg Ronald A | aparatus and method of body contouring and skin conditioning using a mobile suction device |
WO2006106836A1 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-10-12 | Nikon Corporation | Exposure method, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method |
US7975702B2 (en) | 2005-04-05 | 2011-07-12 | El.En. S.P.A. | System and method for laser lipolysis |
US7399800B2 (en) | 2005-04-15 | 2008-07-15 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Temperature switchable adhesives comprising crystallizable abietic acid derivative-based tackifiers |
CA2606454C (en) | 2005-04-27 | 2014-02-11 | Radiant Medical, Inc. | Apparatus and method for providing enhanced heat transfer from a body |
US7217265B2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2007-05-15 | Cooltouch Incorporated | Treatment of cellulite with mid-infrared radiation |
US7713266B2 (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2010-05-11 | Myoscience, Inc. | Subdermal cryogenic remodeling of muscles, nerves, connective tissue, and/or adipose tissue (fat) |
US7850683B2 (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2010-12-14 | Myoscience, Inc. | Subdermal cryogenic remodeling of muscles, nerves, connective tissue, and/or adipose tissue (fat) |
WO2006127897A2 (en) | 2005-05-24 | 2006-11-30 | Uab Research Foundation | Surgical delivery devices and methods |
CN2843367Y (en) | 2005-07-01 | 2006-12-06 | 李铁军 | The refrigerating plant that is used for the treatment of skin vegetations |
CA2616072A1 (en) | 2005-07-20 | 2007-01-25 | Verimatrix, Inc. | Network user authentication system and method |
US7955262B2 (en) | 2005-07-26 | 2011-06-07 | Syneron Medical Ltd. | Method and apparatus for treatment of skin using RF and ultrasound energies |
US20070032561A1 (en) | 2005-08-05 | 2007-02-08 | I-Sioun Lin | Modified hydrophilic polyurethane memory foam, application and manufacturing method thereof |
US20070055173A1 (en) | 2005-08-23 | 2007-03-08 | Sanarus Medical, Inc. | Rotational core biopsy device with liquid cryogen adhesion probe |
CN2850584Y (en) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-12-27 | 李钟俊 | Freezing skin-softening cosmetic instrument |
CN2850585Y (en) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-12-27 | 李钟俊 | Novel freezing skin-softening cosmetic instrument with magnetic field |
GB2431108A (en) | 2005-09-07 | 2007-04-18 | Mohammed Firoz Hussein | Applicator for dispensing cryogenic fluid |
US8518069B2 (en) | 2005-09-07 | 2013-08-27 | Cabochon Aesthetics, Inc. | Dissection handpiece and method for reducing the appearance of cellulite |
US7967763B2 (en) | 2005-09-07 | 2011-06-28 | Cabochon Aesthetics, Inc. | Method for treating subcutaneous tissues |
EP2796168B1 (en) | 2005-09-28 | 2017-09-06 | Candela Corporation | Treating cellulite |
US20070078502A1 (en) | 2005-10-05 | 2007-04-05 | Thermage, Inc. | Method and apparatus for estimating a local impedance factor |
US7572268B2 (en) | 2005-10-13 | 2009-08-11 | Bacoustics, Llc | Apparatus and methods for the selective removal of tissue using combinations of ultrasonic energy and cryogenic energy |
US7729773B2 (en) | 2005-10-19 | 2010-06-01 | Advanced Neuromodualation Systems, Inc. | Neural stimulation and optical monitoring systems and methods |
WO2007056493A1 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2007-05-18 | Schumann Daniel H | Device and method for the treatment of pain with electrical energy |
US20080014627A1 (en) | 2005-12-02 | 2008-01-17 | Cabochon Aesthetics, Inc. | Devices and methods for selectively lysing cells |
US9248317B2 (en) | 2005-12-02 | 2016-02-02 | Ulthera, Inc. | Devices and methods for selectively lysing cells |
US20070135876A1 (en) | 2005-12-08 | 2007-06-14 | Weber Paul J | Acne and skin defect treatment via non-radiofrequency electrical current controlled power delivery device and methods |
US7799018B2 (en) | 2006-01-06 | 2010-09-21 | Olga Goulko | Cryogenic applicator for rejuvenating human skin and related method |
US20090312676A1 (en) | 2006-02-02 | 2009-12-17 | Tylerton International Inc. | Metabolic Sink |
CN100362067C (en) | 2006-02-08 | 2008-01-16 | 舒宏纪 | Interface paint with high hydrophobicity, heat conductivity and adhesion |
US7824437B1 (en) | 2006-02-13 | 2010-11-02 | Gina Saunders | Multi-functional abdominal cramp reducing device and associated method |
US8133191B2 (en) | 2006-02-16 | 2012-03-13 | Syneron Medical Ltd. | Method and apparatus for treatment of adipose tissue |
US7854754B2 (en) | 2006-02-22 | 2010-12-21 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
JP4903471B2 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2012-03-28 | 東急建設株式会社 | Building wall material and wireless transmission system |
US20070249519A1 (en) | 2006-04-20 | 2007-10-25 | Kalypsys, Inc. | Methods for the upregulation of glut4 via modulation of ppar delta in adipose tissue and for the treatment of disease |
US20070255187A1 (en) | 2006-04-26 | 2007-11-01 | Branch Alan P | Vibrating therapy device |
KR101039758B1 (en) | 2006-04-28 | 2011-06-09 | 젤티크 애스세틱스, 인코포레이티드. | Cryoprotectant for use with a treatment device for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
US7615036B2 (en) | 2006-05-11 | 2009-11-10 | Kalypto Medical, Inc. | Device and method for wound therapy |
US20070282318A1 (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2007-12-06 | Spooner Gregory J | Subcutaneous thermolipolysis using radiofrequency energy |
US20070270925A1 (en) | 2006-05-17 | 2007-11-22 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Method and apparatus for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells including a coolant having a phase transition temperature |
KR100746322B1 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2007-08-06 | 주식회사 바이오스마트 | Rod type skin treatment device for cryo-surgery and cryo-skin treatment |
KR100746323B1 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2007-08-06 | 주식회사 바이오스마트 | Roller type skin treatment device for cryo-surgery and cryo-skin treatment |
US8246611B2 (en) | 2006-06-14 | 2012-08-21 | Candela Corporation | Treatment of skin by spatial modulation of thermal heating |
US8460352B2 (en) | 2006-07-05 | 2013-06-11 | Kaz Usa, Inc. | Site-specific pad with notch |
US20080046047A1 (en) | 2006-08-21 | 2008-02-21 | Daniel Jacobs | Hot and cold therapy device |
US8758786B2 (en) | 2006-08-28 | 2014-06-24 | Gerard Hassler | Preparation for reducing and/or preventing body fat and respective uses, in particular together with a dressing material |
US20090171253A1 (en) | 2006-09-06 | 2009-07-02 | Cutera, Inc. | System and method for dermatological treatment using ultrasound |
US20080140061A1 (en) | 2006-09-08 | 2008-06-12 | Arbel Medical Ltd. | Method And Device For Combined Treatment |
US20080097207A1 (en) | 2006-09-12 | 2008-04-24 | Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. | Ultrasound therapy monitoring with diagnostic ultrasound |
US9132031B2 (en) | 2006-09-26 | 2015-09-15 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Cooling device having a plurality of controllable cooling elements to provide a predetermined cooling profile |
US8192474B2 (en) | 2006-09-26 | 2012-06-05 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Tissue treatment methods |
US20080077201A1 (en) | 2006-09-26 | 2008-03-27 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Cooling devices with flexible sensors |
CA2667964A1 (en) | 2006-10-31 | 2008-05-08 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Method and apparatus for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich cells or tissue |
CN200970265Y (en) | 2006-11-09 | 2007-11-07 | 韩秀玲 | Freezing therapeutic device |
US20080140371A1 (en) | 2006-11-15 | 2008-06-12 | General Electric Company | System and method for treating a patient |
CN101573156A (en) | 2006-12-18 | 2009-11-04 | 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 | Cell lysis or electroporation device comprising at least one pyroelectric material |
US20080161892A1 (en) | 2006-12-28 | 2008-07-03 | John Anthony Mercuro | Facial Cold -Pack Holder |
US8414631B2 (en) | 2007-02-13 | 2013-04-09 | Thermotek, Inc. | System and method for cooled airflow for dermatological applications |
EP2104462A4 (en) | 2007-02-16 | 2009-11-04 | Paul K Perl | Non-invasive ultrasound-guided body contouring using skin contact cooling |
CN101259329A (en) | 2007-03-08 | 2008-09-10 | 德切勒·克里斯托夫·迪亚特曼 | Plush toy warming device |
WO2009075903A1 (en) | 2007-04-19 | 2009-06-18 | The Foundry, Inc. | Systems and methods for creating an effect using microwave energy to specified tissue |
WO2009075879A1 (en) | 2007-12-12 | 2009-06-18 | Miramar Labs, Inc. | Systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy |
EP2532320A3 (en) | 2007-04-19 | 2013-04-03 | Miramar Labs, Inc. | Apparatus for reducing sweat production |
US20080287839A1 (en) | 2007-05-18 | 2008-11-20 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Method of enhanced removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and treatment apparatus having an actuator |
EP2155100A4 (en) | 2007-06-08 | 2013-11-06 | Cynosure Inc | Thermal surgery safety suite |
US20080312651A1 (en) | 2007-06-15 | 2008-12-18 | Karl Pope | Apparatus and methods for selective heating of tissue |
US20090012434A1 (en) | 2007-07-03 | 2009-01-08 | Anderson Robert S | Apparatus, method, and system to treat a volume of skin |
KR20090000258U (en) | 2007-07-06 | 2009-01-09 | 주식회사 바이오스마트 | Roller type skin treatment device for cryo-surgery and cryo-skin treatment |
WO2009011708A1 (en) | 2007-07-13 | 2009-01-22 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | System for treating lipid-rich regions |
US20090018627A1 (en) | 2007-07-13 | 2009-01-15 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Secure systems for removing heat from lipid-rich regions |
US20090018624A1 (en) | 2007-07-13 | 2009-01-15 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Limiting use of disposable system patient protection devices |
US8523927B2 (en) | 2007-07-13 | 2013-09-03 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | System for treating lipid-rich regions |
US20090018625A1 (en) | 2007-07-13 | 2009-01-15 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | Managing system temperature to remove heat from lipid-rich regions |
US20090018626A1 (en) | 2007-07-13 | 2009-01-15 | Juniper Medical, Inc. | User interfaces for a system that removes heat from lipid-rich regions |
JP5474791B2 (en) | 2007-08-21 | 2014-04-16 | ゼルティック エステティックス インコーポレイテッド | Monitoring of cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells such as cooling of adipose tissue |
US8433400B2 (en) | 2007-10-24 | 2013-04-30 | Marina Prushinskaya | Method and portable device for treating skin disorders |
US20090149930A1 (en) | 2007-12-07 | 2009-06-11 | Thermage, Inc. | Apparatus and methods for cooling a treatment apparatus configured to non-invasively deliver electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue |
JP5545668B2 (en) | 2007-12-12 | 2014-07-09 | ミラマー ラブズ, インコーポレイテッド | System, apparatus method, and procedure for non-invasive tissue treatment using microwave energy |
EP2252369B1 (en) | 2008-02-01 | 2013-06-26 | Alma Lasers Ltd | Apparatus for selective ultrasonic damage of adipocytes |
JP2009189757A (en) | 2008-02-15 | 2009-08-27 | Akira Hirai | Fever relieving device |
US20090228082A1 (en) * | 2008-03-07 | 2009-09-10 | Smiths Medical Asd, Inc. | Patient heat transfer device |
EP2271276A4 (en) | 2008-04-17 | 2013-01-23 | Miramar Labs Inc | Systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy |
WO2009135054A1 (en) | 2008-04-30 | 2009-11-05 | Eric William Brader | Apparatus and method for preventing brain damage during cardiac arrest, cpr, or severe shock |
WO2009137699A2 (en) | 2008-05-07 | 2009-11-12 | Sanuwave, Inc. | Medical treatment system including an ancillary medical treatment apparatus with an associated data storage medium |
US20180104094A9 (en) | 2008-05-16 | 2018-04-19 | Seth A. Biser | Thermal eye compress systems and methods of use |
US20090299234A1 (en) | 2008-05-28 | 2009-12-03 | Nuga Medical Co., Ltd | Fat remover |
PL2282675T3 (en) | 2008-06-06 | 2017-02-28 | Ulthera, Inc. | System for cosmetic treatment and imaging |
US20090306749A1 (en) | 2008-06-07 | 2009-12-10 | Damalie Mulindwa | Therapeutic hot and cold water belt |
US20090312693A1 (en) | 2008-06-13 | 2009-12-17 | Vytronus, Inc. | System and method for delivering energy to tissue |
KR102237164B1 (en) | 2008-08-07 | 2021-04-08 | 더 제너럴 하스피탈 코포레이션 | Skin cosmetic device for dermatological hypopigmentation |
WO2010017556A1 (en) | 2008-08-08 | 2010-02-11 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc | Method and apparatus for fractional deformation and treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue |
US8672931B2 (en) | 2008-08-18 | 2014-03-18 | 3JT Enterprises, LLC | Cryosurgical device with metered dose |
US9149386B2 (en) | 2008-08-19 | 2015-10-06 | Niveus Medical, Inc. | Devices and systems for stimulation of tissues |
US8409184B2 (en) | 2009-09-09 | 2013-04-02 | Cpsi Holdings Llc | Cryo-medical injection device and method of use |
WO2010028409A1 (en) | 2008-09-03 | 2010-03-11 | Dobson, Melissa, K. | A cryogenic system and method of use |
US8275442B2 (en) | 2008-09-25 | 2012-09-25 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment planning systems and methods for body contouring applications |
US20100087806A1 (en) | 2008-10-07 | 2010-04-08 | Vandolay, Inc. | Automated Cryogenic Skin Treatment |
US8603073B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2013-12-10 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Systems and methods with interrupt/resume capabilities for treating subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
US20120259322A1 (en) | 2008-12-22 | 2012-10-11 | Michael Fourkas | Skin protection for subdermal cryogenic remodeling for cosmetic and other treatments |
US20100168726A1 (en) | 2008-12-31 | 2010-07-01 | Marc Arthur Brookman | Cryogenic Dispensing System and Method for Treatment of Dermatological Conditions |
US8882758B2 (en) | 2009-01-09 | 2014-11-11 | Solta Medical, Inc. | Tissue treatment apparatus and systems with pain mitigation and methods for mitigating pain during tissue treatments |
US8372130B2 (en) | 2009-01-23 | 2013-02-12 | Forever Young International, Inc. | Temperature controlled facial mask with area-specific treatments |
JP5650137B2 (en) | 2009-02-20 | 2015-01-07 | ニヴェウス メディカル, インコーポレーテッド | Electric muscle stimulation system and method using energy induction area |
US20110313412A1 (en) | 2009-02-23 | 2011-12-22 | Miramar Labs, Inc. | Tissue interface system and method |
DE102009014976B3 (en) | 2009-03-30 | 2010-06-02 | Jutta Munz | Applicator device for applying e.g. cream on eye portion of human body, has activator device provided in upper housing part, and producing heat or coldness that is transmitted to substance contained in substance chamber |
EP2424475B1 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2014-04-02 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Device and system for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
FR2946845B1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2011-08-19 | Oreal | DEVICE FOR TREATING HUMAN KERATINIC MATERIALS |
US9919168B2 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2018-03-20 | Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. | Method for improvement of cellulite appearance |
US8523791B2 (en) | 2009-08-11 | 2013-09-03 | Laboratoire Naturel Paris, Llc | Multi-modal drug delivery system |
US8425435B2 (en) | 2009-09-29 | 2013-04-23 | Liposonix, Inc. | Transducer cartridge for an ultrasound therapy head |
US20110112520A1 (en) | 2009-11-11 | 2011-05-12 | Invasix Corporation | Method and device for fat treatment |
US20110300079A1 (en) | 2010-01-21 | 2011-12-08 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Compositions for use with a system for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue |
EP2528436A4 (en) | 2010-01-25 | 2013-07-10 | Enanta Pharm Inc | Hepatitis c virus inhibitors |
JP2013517897A (en) | 2010-01-25 | 2013-05-20 | ゼルティック エステティックス インコーポレイテッド | Home applicator and associated devices, systems and methods for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous multilipid cells via phase change coolant |
DE102010007177B4 (en) | 2010-02-08 | 2017-06-22 | Siemens Healthcare Gmbh | Display method for an image of the interior of a vessel located in front of a widening device and display device corresponding thereto |
US20110196438A1 (en) | 2010-02-10 | 2011-08-11 | Lukas Mnozil | Therapy device and method for treating underlying tissue using electrical and acoustic energies |
US20110202048A1 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2011-08-18 | Solta Medical, Inc. | Methods for pain reduction with functional thermal stimulation and tissue treatment systems |
WO2011100692A1 (en) | 2010-02-15 | 2011-08-18 | The General Hospital Corporation | Methods and devices for selective disruption of visceral fat by controlled cooling |
US20110257642A1 (en) | 2010-04-16 | 2011-10-20 | Griggs Iii Charles Sherman | Method for producing a permanent or nearly permanent skin image, design or tattoo by freezing the skin |
US20120158100A1 (en) | 2010-06-21 | 2012-06-21 | Kevin Schomacker | Driving Microneedle Arrays into Skin and Delivering RF Energy |
US8676338B2 (en) | 2010-07-20 | 2014-03-18 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Combined modality treatment systems, methods and apparatus for body contouring applications |
FR2967893B1 (en) | 2010-11-25 | 2013-10-18 | Zadeh David Khorassani | MASSAGE APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUCTION SYSTEM |
AU2011253768B2 (en) | 2010-12-01 | 2016-08-11 | Gold Rythmn Pty Ltd | Product or process for modifying skin |
WO2012094426A2 (en) | 2011-01-04 | 2012-07-12 | Schwartz Alan N | Gel-based seals and fixation devices and associated systems and methods |
WO2012103242A1 (en) | 2011-01-25 | 2012-08-02 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Devices, application systems and methods with localized heat flux zones for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
US20120209363A1 (en) | 2011-02-10 | 2012-08-16 | R2T2 Solutions Llc | Hot and cold therapy device |
US9021614B2 (en) | 2011-02-18 | 2015-05-05 | Medical Techology, Inc. | Leg protector for sports activities |
US9038640B2 (en) | 2011-03-31 | 2015-05-26 | Viora Ltd. | System and method for fractional treatment of skin |
US20120310232A1 (en) | 2011-06-06 | 2012-12-06 | Danny Erez | System and method for treating a tissue using multiple energy types |
WO2013013059A1 (en) | 2011-07-20 | 2013-01-24 | Scr Inc. | Athletic cooling and heating systems, devices and methods |
ES2562990T3 (en) | 2011-09-05 | 2016-03-09 | Venus Concept Ltd | Improved aesthetic device to beautify the skin |
US20130073017A1 (en) | 2011-09-15 | 2013-03-21 | Fong Yu Liu | Thermal vacuum therapy and apparatus thereof |
KR20130043299A (en) | 2011-10-20 | 2013-04-30 | 김기태 | Medical skin beauty care apparatus for heating and stimulating skin using thermoelectric module and ultra-sonic vibrator |
CN107874896A (en) | 2011-11-16 | 2018-04-06 | 通用医疗公司 | Method and apparatus for low-temperature treatment skin histology |
US9974684B2 (en) | 2011-11-16 | 2018-05-22 | The General Hospital Corporation | Method and apparatus for cryogenic treatment of skin tissue |
US8397518B1 (en) | 2012-02-20 | 2013-03-19 | Dhama Innovations PVT. Ltd. | Apparel with integral heating and cooling device |
US20130331914A1 (en) | 2012-06-11 | 2013-12-12 | Martin Lee | Thermal therapy system and method of use |
GB2505289A (en) | 2012-06-22 | 2014-02-26 | Physiolab Technologies Ltd | Thermal and/or pressure regulation control system for a thermoregulation assembly |
KR20140038165A (en) | 2012-09-20 | 2014-03-28 | (주)휴톤 | Multi function apparatus for treating skin |
KR20140092121A (en) | 2013-01-15 | 2014-07-23 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Method for cooling ultrasound treatment apparatus, ultrasound treatment apparatus by using the same |
US9710607B2 (en) | 2013-01-15 | 2017-07-18 | Itrace Biomedical Inc. | Portable electronic therapy device and the method thereof |
US9545523B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-01-17 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Multi-modality treatment systems, methods and apparatus for altering subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue |
US9844460B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-12-19 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems with fluid mixing systems and fluid-cooled applicators and methods of using the same |
RU2015155845A (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2017-07-05 | Конинклейке Филипс Н.В. | NON-INVASIVE DEVICE FOR REJUVENATING THE SKIN TISSUE USING THE PRESSURE OF THE TREATMENT BELOW THE PRESSURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT |
US8764693B1 (en) | 2013-11-20 | 2014-07-01 | Richard A. Graham | Systems and methods for decompression and elliptical traction of the cervical and thoracic spine |
RU2585787C2 (en) * | 2013-12-09 | 2016-06-10 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Умные адгезивы" | Hydrophilic thermally switched pressure-sensitive adhesive composition reversibly coming off in water at elevated temperatures |
WO2015117005A1 (en) | 2014-01-31 | 2015-08-06 | The General Hospital Corporation | Cooling device to disrupt function sebaceous glands |
WO2015117001A1 (en) | 2014-01-31 | 2015-08-06 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Compositions, treatment systems and methods for improved cooling of lipid-rich tissue |
EP3104796B1 (en) | 2014-02-12 | 2019-04-10 | The General Hospital Corporation | Method and apparatus for affecting pigmentation of tissue |
CN104127279B (en) * | 2014-08-06 | 2019-03-15 | 珠海横琴早晨科技有限公司 | A kind of film of multi-functional spontaneous adjusting temperature and its application |
US10935174B2 (en) | 2014-08-19 | 2021-03-02 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Stress relief couplings for cryotherapy apparatuses |
US10568759B2 (en) | 2014-08-19 | 2020-02-25 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems, small volume applicators, and methods for treating submental tissue |
WO2016048721A1 (en) | 2014-09-25 | 2016-03-31 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Treatment systems, methods, and apparatuses for altering the appearance of skin |
EP3352716A1 (en) | 2015-09-21 | 2018-08-01 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Transcutaneous treatment systems and cooling devices |
US11154418B2 (en) | 2015-10-19 | 2021-10-26 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Vascular treatment systems, cooling devices, and methods for cooling vascular structures |
CN108472151B (en) | 2016-01-07 | 2020-10-27 | 斯尔替克美学股份有限公司 | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during tissue cooling |
US10765552B2 (en) | 2016-02-18 | 2020-09-08 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Cooling cup applicators with contoured heads and liner assemblies |
-
2017
- 2017-01-06 CN CN201780006039.6A patent/CN108472151B/en active Active
- 2017-01-06 CA CA3009414A patent/CA3009414A1/en active Pending
- 2017-01-06 WO PCT/US2017/012626 patent/WO2017120538A1/en active Application Filing
- 2017-01-06 JP JP2018554644A patent/JP6833869B2/en active Active
- 2017-01-06 AU AU2017206118A patent/AU2017206118B2/en active Active
- 2017-01-06 BR BR112018013919A patent/BR112018013919A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2017-01-06 EP EP17701767.0A patent/EP3399950A1/en active Pending
- 2017-01-06 KR KR1020187022452A patent/KR102416368B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2017-01-06 US US15/400,885 patent/US10524956B2/en active Active
- 2017-01-06 KR KR1020227022273A patent/KR20220098285A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2019
- 2019-01-24 HK HK19101223.6A patent/HK1259174A1/en unknown
- 2019-11-23 US US16/693,273 patent/US20200100935A1/en active Pending
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10912599B2 (en) | 2014-01-31 | 2021-02-09 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Compositions, treatment systems and methods for improved cooling of lipid-rich tissue |
US11819257B2 (en) | 2014-01-31 | 2023-11-21 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Compositions, treatment systems and methods for improved cooling of lipid-rich tissue |
US11938188B2 (en) | 2014-08-28 | 2024-03-26 | The General Hospital Corporation | Injectable slurries and methods of manufacturing and using the same |
US11963559B2 (en) | 2018-03-05 | 2024-04-23 | WIN Human Recorder Co., Ltd. | Electronic heating/cooling garment and electronic heating/cooling device attachable to/detachable from garment |
WO2022036271A1 (en) * | 2020-08-14 | 2022-02-17 | Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. | Multi-applicator system and method for body contouring |
US11964017B2 (en) | 2023-10-16 | 2024-04-23 | The General Hospital Corporation | Compositions and methods for treatment of neurological disorders |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2017206118A1 (en) | 2018-07-12 |
US10524956B2 (en) | 2020-01-07 |
CN108472151B (en) | 2020-10-27 |
HK1259174A1 (en) | 2019-11-29 |
AU2017206118B2 (en) | 2021-09-30 |
JP2019505349A (en) | 2019-02-28 |
EP3399950A1 (en) | 2018-11-14 |
KR20220098285A (en) | 2022-07-11 |
KR20180102600A (en) | 2018-09-17 |
US20170196731A1 (en) | 2017-07-13 |
CN108472151A (en) | 2018-08-31 |
JP6833869B2 (en) | 2021-02-24 |
BR112018013919A2 (en) | 2018-12-11 |
CA3009414A1 (en) | 2017-07-13 |
WO2017120538A1 (en) | 2017-07-13 |
KR102416368B1 (en) | 2022-07-04 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10524956B2 (en) | Temperature-dependent adhesion between applicator and skin during cooling of tissue | |
US20230285260A1 (en) | Use of saccharides for cryoprotection and related technology | |
US11819257B2 (en) | Compositions, treatment systems and methods for improved cooling of lipid-rich tissue | |
US20200155215A1 (en) | Cryoprotectant for use with a treatment device for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells | |
US20110300079A1 (en) | Compositions for use with a system for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue | |
AU2013207657B2 (en) | Cryoprotectant for use with a treatment device for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells | |
US9314368B2 (en) | Home-use applicators for non-invasively removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells via phase change coolants, and associates devices, systems and methods | |
US20200069458A1 (en) | Compositions, treatment systems, and methods for fractionally freezing tissue | |
MX2008001841A (en) | Cryoprotectant for use with a treatment device for improved cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ZELTIQ AESTHETICS, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DEBENEDICTIS, LEONARD C.;ZENG, LIKE;FRANGINEAS, GEORGE, JR.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:051232/0905 Effective date: 20170119 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION ENTERED AND FORWARDED TO EXAMINER |