Method of enhanced removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells and treatment apparatus having an actuator

Abstract

A treatment device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having an actuator that provides mechanical energy to the tissue. The mechanical energy provided may include a vibratory component that can range between low and ultra-high frequencies, and such energy may include various combinations of two or more frequencies tailored to produce the desired effect on the subcutaneous tissue. Disruption of adipose tissue cooled by an external treatment device may be enhanced by applying mechanical energy to cooled tissue. Furthermore, such mechanical energy may impart a vibratory effect, a massage effect, a pulsatile effect, or combinations thereof on the tissue.

1 . A treatment device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin, comprising:
 at least one of a treatment unit; and   an actuator configured to provide mechanical energy to the treatment units.   
     
     
         2 . The treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator generates a frequency of vibration in the range of about 0.1 Hz to about 50 MHz. 
     
     
         3 . The treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a motor having an eccentric weight. 
     
     
         4 . The treatment device of  claim 1  further comprising a retention device to releasably retain the actuator on the treatment units. 
     
     
         5 . The treatment device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of a housing on one or more of the treatment units wherein the actuator is affixed to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The treatment device of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of actuators affixed to the plurality of treatment units. 
     
     
         7 . The treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator provides a mechanical energy to create a vibratory, oscillating, pulsatile, and/or massage effect. 
     
     
         8 . The treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is rigidly affixed to the treatment units. 
     
     
         9 . The treatment device of  claim 1  further comprising a thermally conductive coupling agent for application to an interface between the treatment device and the skin of the subject to increase thermal conductivity between the treatment device and the skin of the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The treatment device of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of treatment units has a first side in thermal communication with a corresponding interface member and a second side opposite the first side in thermal communication with a corresponding thermoelectric heat exchanger, wherein the treatment unit is configured to reduce a temperature of a target region such that lipid-rich cells in the region are affected while non-lipid-rich cells proximate to a heat exchanging surface are not significantly affected. 
     
     
         11 . The treatment device of  claim 1  having a plurality of treatment devices wherein the treatment devices are moveably connected to adjacent treatment devices. 
     
     
         12 . The treatment device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is a vacuum. 
     
     
         13 . The treatment device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of treatment units and at least one hinge between treatment units, wherein the actuator is coupled to the at least one hinge. 
     
     
         14 . A system for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, comprising:
 a treatment device having a treatment unit configured to reduce a temperature of a target region beneath an epidermis of the subject to reduce the temperature of lipid-rich cells in the target region such that the lipid-rich cells are substantially affected while non-lipid-rich cells in the epidermis are not substantially affected; and   at least one actuator proximate to the treatment units configured to provide mechanical energy, a vacuum, or both mechanical energy and a vacuum to the target region.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a treatment unit in thermal communication with a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber being configured to provide a coolant to the treatment device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a fluid line between the treatment unit and the treatment device such that the treatment device is in fluid communication with the treatment unit. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the treatment device further comprises a sensing element proximate to at least one of a heat exchanging surfaces, and wherein the system further comprises:
 a processor in communication with the sensing element and configured to convert signals from the sensing element into an operating parameter; and   a database connected to the processor to store the operating parameter.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the processor includes a control module for controlling the temperature of the region based on the operating parameter, and wherein the temperature of the region is controlled based on a selected spatial temperature profile. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the processor includes a control module for controlling the temperature of the region based on the operating parameter, and wherein the temperature of the region is controlled based on a predetermined time-varying profile. 
     
     
         20 . A treatment device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the device comprising:
 a plurality of treatment units, each cooling element being movable relative to an adjacent cooling element; and   an actuator proximate to at least one of the treatment units and configured to provide mechanical energy to the treatment device.   
     
     
         21 . The treatment device of  claim 20  wherein the treatment units have edges, and wherein the edges of adjacent treatment units are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         22 . The treatment device of  claim 20  wherein the actuator generates a frequency of vibration in the range of about 0.1 Hz to about 50 MHz. 
     
     
         23 . The treatment device of  claim 20  wherein the actuator uses pneumatic, electric, and/or electromechanical force. 
     
     
         24 . The treatment device of  claim 20  further comprising a flexible substrate, wherein the plurality of treatment units and the actuator are fixedly disposed on the substrate. 
     
     
         25 . The treatment device of  claim 20  wherein each of said plurality of treatment units is positioned adjacent to at least one other treatment units and a rotatable connection coupling the adjacent treatment units, wherein the actuator is affixed to the rotatable connection between treatment units. 
     
     
         26 . The treatment device of  claim 25  wherein the rotatable connection is a hinge.