Devices, application systems and methods with localized heat flux zones for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells

Abstract

Application systems, disposable interface assemblies and methods for cooling subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue. One embodiment of an application system includes a cooling unit, a cryoprotectant vessel, a contact member and an array of selectively addressable heating elements. The cryoprotectant vessel is configured to contain a fluidic cryoprotectant such that at least a portion of the cryoprotectant is cooled by the cooling unit to a desired base temperature. The contact member is attached to the cryoprotectant vessel and includes a backside in contact with the cryoprotectant and a front side opposite the backside. The contact member is configured to allow the cryoprotectant to flow from the backside to the front side. The array of selectively addressable heating elements is carried by the contact member.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An applicator system for cooling a subject's subcutaneous tissue, comprising:
 a treatment device including:
 at least one cooling unit having a temperature-controlled interface with a treatment surface, wherein the at least one cooling unit is operable to cool the treatment surface to cool and reduce the subcutaneous tissue; 
 at least one flow-through feature along which gel flows while the treatment surface cools the subject's tissue; and 
 a gel vessel that holds a dosage amount of the gel, wherein the gel vessel is configured to be in fluid communication with the treatment surface and a control unit coupled to the treatment device by one or more lines. 
   
     
     
         27 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a control unit fluidically coupled to the treatment device and configured to draw a vacuum to pull the subject's tissue into the treatment device.   
     
     
         28 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the treatment device includes a vacuum cup fluidically couplable to the control unit, wherein the at least one cooling unit includes a first cooling unit on a first side of the vacuum cup and a second cooling unit on a second side of the vacuum cup. 
     
     
         29 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one flow-through feature includes holes or a porous material. 
     
     
         30 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , further comprising a vacuum cup with a vacuum port, wherein the treatment device is configured to promote a flow of gel between the treatment surface/skin interface while the treatment device provides a vacuum to hold the subject's tissue in the vacuum cup. 
     
     
         31 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one flow-through feature is located across most of a length of the treatment surface. 
     
     
         32 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the gel vessel is detachably coupled to the treatment device. 
     
     
         33 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the dosage amount is sufficient for application to the subject for a duration of a treatment procedure without providing a second dosage amount during the duration of the treatment procedure. 
     
     
         34 . The applicator system of  claim 26 , wherein the treatment device further comprises a thermal gradient layer having one or more physical discontinuities configured to define one or more units of the thermal gradient layer. 
     
     
         35 . The applicator system of  claim 34 , wherein each unit of the thermal gradient layer is associated with one of a plurality of selectively addressable heating elements. 
     
     
         36 . The applicator system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a controller with a stored profile and being programmed to
 cause the treatment device to cool the subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue, and 
 command one or more heating elements of the array of selectably addressable heating elements to warm tissue, which has been cooled by the applicator system, based on the stored profile while the applicator system cools the subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue to disrupt subcutaneous lipid-rich cells 
   
     
     
         37 . The applicator system of  claim 36 , wherein the stored profile includes a target heat flux profile and/or a target temperature profile. 
     
     
         38 . An applicator assembly for cooling a subject's subcutaneous tissue, comprising:
 a treatment device having —
 at least one cooling unit having a temperature-controlled interface with a treatment surface, wherein the at least one cooling unit is operable to cool the treatment surface to cool and reduce the subcutaneous tissue; 
 at least one flow-through feature along which gel flows while the treatment surface cools the subject's tissue; 
 a vacuum cup fluidically couplable to the control unit, wherein at least one cooling unit includes a first cooling unit on a first side of the vacuum cup and a second cooling unit on a second side of the vacuum cup; and 
 a gel vessel that holds a dosage amount of the gel, wherein the gel vessel is configured to be in fluid communication with the treatment surface and a control unit coupled to the treatment device by one or more lines; and 
   a control unit fluidically coupled to the treatment device and configured to draw a vacuum to pull the subject's tissue into the treatment device.   
     
     
         39 . The applicator system of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one flow-through feature includes holes or a porous material. 
     
     
         40 . The applicator system of  claim 38 , wherein the vacuum cup includes a vacuum port, wherein the treatment device is configured to promote a flow of gel between the treatment surface/skin interface while the treatment device provides a vacuum to hold the subject's tissue in the vacuum cup. 
     
     
         41 . The applicator system of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one flow-through feature is located across most of a length of the treatment surface. 
     
     
         42 . The applicator system of  claim 38 , wherein the gel vessel is detachably coupled to the treatment device. 
     
     
         43 . The applicator system of  claim 38 , wherein the dosage amount is sufficient for application to the subject for a duration of a treatment procedure without providing a second dosage amount during the duration of the treatment procedure.