Devices and methodologies useful in body aesthetics

Abstract

A methodology and system for lysis or induction of apoptosis in cellulite and fat including directing ultrasonic energy at a multiplicity of target volumes within the region, which target volumes contain cellulite and fat, thereby to selectively lyse or induce apoptosis in the cellulite and fat in the target volumes and generally not lyse or not induce apoptosis in non-cellulite and non-fat tissue in the target volumes and computerized tracking of the multiplicity of target volumes notwithstanding movement of the body.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite comprising:
 a focused ultrasonic energy director, adapted to direct focused ultrasonic energy at a target volume in a region of a body containing both cellulite and non-cellulite tissue; and   a modulator adapted to, cooperate with said energy director to produce focused ultrasonic energy so as to selectively lyse said cellulite in said target volume and generally not lyse non-cellulite tissue in said target volume which receives said ultrasonic energy.   
     
     
         58 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 57  and wherein said director is adapted to generally prevent lysis of tissue outside of said target volume. 
     
     
         59 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 57  and also comprising:
 an ultrasonic imager adapted to provide ultrasonic imaging of said region at least—partially concurrently with said director directing said focused ultrasonic energy at said target volume.   
     
     
         60 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 57  and wherein said director comprises:
 at least one ultrasonic transducer; and   
       a positioner adapted to position said at least one ultrasonic transducer relative to said body. 
     
     
         61 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 57  and wherein said director comprises:
 at least one ultrasonic transducer; and a focuser adapted to vary the focus of said at least one ultrasonic transducer.   
     
     
         62 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 61  and wherein said focuser is adapted to change the volume of said target volume. 
     
     
         63 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 61  and wherein said focuser is adapted to change the distance of said target volume from said at least one ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         64 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 57  and also comprising a sensor adapted to sense ultrasonic energy coupled to an external surface of said body adjacent said target volume. 
     
     
         65 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 57  and also comprising a sensor adapted to sense cavitation at said target volume. 
     
     
         66 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said director comprises an ultrasonic transducer located outside of the body. 
     
     
         67 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said target volume comprises a target volume bounded by dermis and fascia. 
     
     
         68 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said ultrasonic energy has a frequency in a range of 50 KHz-1000 KHz. 
     
     
         69 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said ultrasonic energy has a frequency in a range of 100 KHz-500 KHz. 
     
     
         70 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said ultrasonic energy has a frequency in a range of 150 KHz-300 KHz. 
     
     
         71 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides a duty cycle between 1:2 and 1:50. 
     
     
         72 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides a duty cycle between 1:5 and 1:30. 
     
     
         73 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides a duty cycle between 1:10 and 1:20. 
     
     
         74 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides between 2 and 1000 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a
 cavitation threshold.   
     
     
         75 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides between 25 and 500 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a
 cavitation threshold.   
     
     
         76 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides between 100 and 300 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold. 
     
     
         77 . Apparatus according to  claim 57  and wherein said modulator is operative to modulate the amplitude of said ultrasonic energy over time. 
     
     
         78 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite comprising:
 a generator of ultrasonic energy located outside a body; and   an ultrasonic energy director, adapted to employs said ultrasonic energy to selectively generally lyse cellulite and generally not lyse non-cellulite tissue in a target volume in a region of a body containing both cellulite and non-cellulite tissue.   
     
     
         79 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 78  and wherein said director is adapted to generally prevent lysis of tissue outside of said target volume. 
     
     
         80 . Apparatus, for lysing cellulite according to  claim 78  and also comprising:
 an ultrasonic imager, adapted to provide ultrasonic imaging of said region at least partially concurrently with the operation of said director.   
     
     
         81 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 78  and wherein said director comprises:
 at least one ultrasonic transducer; and   
       a positioner, adapted to position said at least one ultrasonic transducer relative to said body in order to direct said ultrasonic energy at said target volume. 
     
     
         82 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 78  and wherein said director comprises:
 at least one ultrasonic transducer; and   a focuser adapted to vary the focus of said at least one ultrasonic   
       transducer in order to direct said ultrasonic energy at said target volume. 
     
     
         83 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 82  and wherein said focuser is adapted to change the volume of said target volume. 
     
     
         84 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 82  and wherein said focuser is adapted to change the distance of said target volume from said at least one ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         85 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 78  and also comprising a sensor adapted to sense ultrasonic energy coupled to an external surface of said body adjacent said target volume. 
     
     
         86 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 78  and
 also comprising a sensor adapted to sense cavitation at said target volume.   
     
     
         87 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and wherein said target volume comprises a target volume bounded by dermis and fascia. 
     
     
         88 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and wherein said ultrasonic energy has a frequency in a range of 50 KHz-1000 KHz. 
     
     
         89 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and wherein said ultrasonic energy has a frequency in a range of 100 KHz-500 KHz. 
     
     
         90 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and wherein said ultrasonic energy has a frequency in a range of 150 KHz-300 KHz. 
     
     
         91 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and also comprising a
 modulator wherein said modulator is adapted to provides a duty cycle between 1:2 and 1:50.   
     
     
         92 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and also comprising a
 modulator wherein said modulator is adapted to provides a duty cycle between 1:5 and 1:30.   
     
     
         93 . Apparatus according to  claim 78  and also comprising a
 modulator wherein said modulator is adapted to provides a duty cycle between 1:10 and 1:20.   
     
     
         94 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  and wherein said
 modulator is adapted to provides between 2 and 1000 sequential   cycles at an amplitude above a   cavitation threshold.   
     
     
         95 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides between 25 and 500 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold. 
     
     
         96 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  and wherein said modulator is adapted to provides between 100 and 300 sequential cycles at an amplitude above a cavitation threshold. 
     
     
         97 . Apparatus according to  claim 91  and wherein said modulator is adapted to modulate the amplitude of said ultrasonic energy over time. 
     
     
         98 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite comprising:
 a region definer adapted to define a region in a body at least partially by detecting spatial indications on said body; and   an ultrasonic energy director adapted to direct ultrasonic energy at a multiplicity of target volumes containing cellulite within said region, thereby to selectively lyse said cellulite in said multiplicity of target volumes and generally not lyse non-cellulite tissue in said multiplicity of target volumes.   
     
     
         99 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 98  and wherein said director is adapted to directs focused ultrasonic energy at said multiplicity of target volumes in a time sequence. 
     
     
         100 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 98  and wherein said director is adapted to directs focused ultrasonic energy at plural ones of said multiplicity of target volumes for varying independent time periods. 
     
     
         101 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 98  and wherein at least some of said multiplicity of target volumes at least partially overlaps in space. 
     
     
         102 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 98  and wherein said definer is adapted to place at least one mark on at least one surface of said body. 
     
     
         103 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 102  and wherein said definer is adapted to select at least one depth in said body. 
     
     
         104 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 102  and wherein said definer is adapted to detects cellulite in said body. 
     
     
         105 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 104  and wherein said definer is adapted to defines said region at least partially by detecting non-lysed cellulite. 
     
     
         106 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 105  and wherein said director is also adapted to defines said multiplicity of target volumes as unit volumes of non-lysed cellulite within said region. 
     
     
         107 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 106  and wherein said director is adapted to proceeds sequentially in time wherein selective lysis of cellulite in each of said multiplicity of target volumes takes place only following detection of non-lysed cellulite therein. 
     
     
         108 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 107  and wherein said director is also adapted to defines said multiplicity of target volumes as unit volumes of cellulite within said region. 
     
     
         109 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 108  and wherein said director is adapted to proceeds sequentially in time wherein selective lysis of cellulite in each of said multiplicity of target volumes takes place only following detection of cellulite therein. 
     
     
         110 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 98  and also comprising a computerized tracking functionality adapted to provide computerized tracking
 of said multiplicity of target volumes notwithstanding movement of said body.   
     
     
         111 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 110  and wherein said computerized tracking functionality is adapted to sense changes in the position of markings on said body and to employ sensed changes for tracking the positions of said target volumes in said body. 
     
     
         112 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite comprising:
 an ultrasonic energy director adapted to direct ultrasonic energy at a multiplicity of target volumes containing cellulite within a region of a body, thereby to selectively lyse said cellulite in said multiplicity of target volumes and generally not lyse non-cellulite tissue in said multiplicity of target volumes; and
 a computerized tracking functionality adapted to provide computerized tracking of said multiplicity of target volumes notwithstanding movement of said body. 
   
     
     
         113 . Apparatus for lysing cellulite according to  claim 112  and wherein said computerized tracking functionality is operate adapted to sense changes in the position of markings on said body and to employ sensed changes for tracking the positions of said target volumes in said body. 
     
     
         114 - 240 . (canceled) 
     
     
         241 . A system for medical treatment comprising:
 a selectably positionable energy director;
 a real-time tracking subsystem comprising:
 a real-time body region definer, adapted to define in real time a region of a body and at least one target volume therein, the three-dimensional configuration of said region and the location of said at least one target volume being variable over time during said medical treatment, at least partially by detecting at least one spatial indication on said region; and 
 a real-time energy director detector, adapted to detect in real time the location and orientation of said energy director relative to said region and relative to said at least one target volume, at least partially by detecting at least one spatial indicator on said energy director; and 
 a treatment subsystem adapted to direct energy from said energy director to said at least one target volume only when the location and orientation of said energy director relative to said at least one target volume are within predetermined limits. 
 
   
     
     
         242 . A system for medical treatment according to  claim 241  and also including:
 an imaging subsystem adapted to image said region at least partially concurrent with the operation of said treatment subsystem   
     
     
         243 - 287 . (canceled)