Method and Apparatus for Treatment of Adipose Tissue

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatuses ( 4 ) for the treatment of adipose tissue. The methods comprise application of ultrasound energy to a region of adipose tissue, and the apparatuses comprise at least one source of ultrasound energy ( 42 a , 42 b ) configured to direct ultrasound energy through a skin surface into the subcutaneous adipose tissue. In one embodiment, a pressure gradient is created in the region generating relative movement between fat cell constituents having different densities. In another embodiment, a protrusion of skin and underlying adipose tissue containing is formed and ultrasound energy is radiated into the adipose tissue in the protrusion. In another embodiment, an RF electric field is generated inside a region of adipose tissue together with the ultrasound energy.

1 - 163 . (canceled) 
   
   
       164 . A method for treatment of adipose tissue, said method comprising:
 (a) applying at least one source of moderately focused ultrasound energy to a skin protrusion surface to generate a pressure gradient in said tissue; (page 11, line 4)   (b) enhancing the pressure gradient at the expense of pressure amplitude at the focusing volume by limiting the focusing of said ultrasound energy, such that the desired effects on the adipose tissue will be enhanced;   (c) generating relative movement between said adipose tissue ingredients such as lipid vacuole, cytoplasm fluid cells and intercellular fluids with sufficient intensity to rupture said cell membranes.   
   
   
       165 . The method according to  claim 164 , wherein said moderately focused ultrasound energy is confined to a view angle of less than 120 degrees. 
   
   
       166 . The method according to  claim 164 , wherein said moderately focused ultrasound energy is confined to a view angle of less than 90 degrees. 
   
   
       167 . The method according to  claim 164 , wherein in order to avoid penetration of the ultrasound energy to internal tissues and organs below the adipose tissue, said moderately focused ultrasound energy is radiated into a protrusion formed of said adipose tissue about parallel to the skin surface outside the protrusion. 
   
   
       168 . The method according to  claim 167 , wherein said protrusion is formed by one of vacuum means or mechanical manipulation of the tissue. 
   
   
       169 . The method according to  claim 168 , wherein said protrusion is formed by mechanical manipulation of the tissue. 
   
   
       170 . The method according to  claim 168 , wherein said protrusion is formed by vacuum. 
   
   
       171 . The method according to  claim 167 , wherein said ultrasound energy is transmitted through said skin protrusion. 
   
   
       172 . The method according to  claim 164 , wherein said moderately focused ultrasound energy generates a pressure gradient between 2 GPa/m to 15 GPa/m, and has a frequency lower than 1 MHz. 
   
   
       173 . The method according to  claim 164 , wherein the differences between the density of the tissue ingredients assist in generating said relative movement between them. 
   
   
       174 . The method according to  claim 164 , further comprising controlling the negative pressure generated by said ultrasound such that said pressure level does not cause cavitation in said tissue ingredients. 
   
   
       175 . The method according to  claim 174 , wherein a sensor comprising a receiver tuned to half the ultrasound transmitting frequency detects and controls appearance of cavitations in the tissue. 
   
   
       176 . A method for delivering ultrasound energy to subcutaneous adipose tissue, and selectively treating fat cells, said method comprising:
 (a) forming a protrusion of a skin region and underlying adipose tissue; (page 14, line 12)   (b) applying to said protrusion a moderately focused ultrasound and generating a path of preferred RF absorption path by selectively heating with the ultrasound, fluids   (cytoplasm and intracellular fluids) located in said adipose tissue and; (page 15, line 3 and line 14)   (c) applying RF to said tissue volume, said RF being preferentially absorbed by the preferred RF absorption path generated by the ultrasound application and generating additional stress by charging the cell membranes; and    wherein said RF and ultrasound at least partially operating on the same tissue volume.   
   
   
       177 . An applicator for treatment of adipose tissue, said applicator comprising:
 (a) a manipulator, said manipulator forms a protrusion of a region of the tissue to be treated;   (b) at least one source of moderately focused ultrasound energy to be applied to the tissue in the protrusion to generate a high conductivity path and pressure gradient in said adipose tissue, said pressure gradient imparts a relative movement between said tissue ingredients such as lipid, cytoplasm and intercellular fluids;   (c) a source of RF for application to said protrusion said RF being preferentially absorbed by the high conductivity path generated by the ultrasound application; and    wherein said RF and ultrasound at least partially operate on the same tissue volume.   
   
   
       178 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said manipulator forms the protrusion by mechanically manipulating the tissue or by application of vacuum. 
   
   
       179 . The applicator according to  claim 178 , wherein said protrusion is formed by mechanically manipulating the tissue. 
   
   
       180 . The applicator according to  claim 178 , wherein said protrusion is formed by application of vacuum. 
   
   
       181 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said applicator directs moderately focused ultrasound energy into said adipose tissue through a protruding region of the skin parallel to non-deformed surrounding said protruding tissue region of the skin. 
   
   
       182 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said source of moderately focused ultrasound energy provides the ultrasound energy at an angle of 90 degrees to said protrusion. 
   
   
       183 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said applicator provides moderately focused ultrasound energy confined to a view angle of less than 120 degrees. 
   
   
       184 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said applicator provides moderately focused ultrasound energy confined to a view angle of less than 90 degrees. 
   
   
       185 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said source of moderately focused ultrasound energy generates a pressure gradient between 2 GPa/m to 15 GPa/m. 
   
   
       186 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , wherein said source of moderately focused ultrasound energy has a frequency lower than 1 MHz. 
   
   
       187 . The applicator according to  claim 186 , wherein said ultrasound energy emitted by said source is transmitted through said protruding tissue region. 
   
   
       188 . The applicator according to  claim 186 , wherein said source of the ultrasound energy is one of a group of a flat transducer, curved transducer or a transducer with a lens. 
   
   
       189 . The applicator according to  claim 177 , further comprising:
 (a) at least one RF electrode   (b) a skin-cooling device, and   (c) a receiver tuned to half the ultrasound transmitting frequency, said receiver senses and detects appearance of cavitations in the treated tissue and controls said pressure level such that it does not cause cavitation in said lipid, cytoplasm and intercellular fluids.   
   
   
       190 . An applicator for treatment of adipose tissue, said applicator comprising:
 (a) a manipulator, said manipulator forms a protrusion of a region of the tissue to be treated;   (b) at least one source of moderately focused ultrasound energy radiating in a direction parallel to undisturbed body surface (page 19 line 22) and generating a high conductivity path and pressure gradient in said adipose tissue, said pressure gradient imparts a relative movement between said tissue ingredients;   (c) a source of RF for application to said protrusion said RF being preferentially absorbed by the high conductivity path generated by the ultrasound application; and    wherein said RF and ultrasound energy absorbed in at least common tissue volume destruct the cells by causing said cell necrosis or apoptosis.   
   
   
       191 . The applicator according to  claim 188 , further comprising:
 (a) at least one RF electrode   (b) a skin-cooling device, and   (c) a receiver tuned to half the ultrasound transmitting frequency, said receiver senses and detects appearance of cavitations in the treated tissue and controls said pressure level such that it does not cause cavitation in said lipid, cytoplasm and intercellular fluids.   
   
   
       192 . A method of selective treatment of fat cells, said method comprising:
 (a) forming a protrusion of a skin region and underlying adipose tissue;   (b) applying to said protrusion at an angle of 90 degrees short pulses of moderately focused low frequency ultrasound;   (c) generating high pressure gradients and high strain in said cell membranes and selectively heating said cell membranes, and;   (d) destructing said fat cells.   
   
   
       193 . The method according to  claim 192 , wherein the length of the pulses is between millisecond and 100 microsecond. 
   
   
       194 . The method according to  claim 192 , wherein the ultrasound frequency is below 1 MHz. 
   
   
       195 . The method according to  claim 192 , wherein the differences in viscosity of cytoplasm and the cell membranes facilitate selective heating of said membranes. 
   
   
       196 . The method according to  claim 192 , wherein the temperature of selectively heated cells is below 44 degrees Celsius.