Cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells

Abstract

A cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin is provided. The cooling device includes a support having a first portion and a second portion. A first cooling element having a first heat exchanging surface is located at the first portion of the support. A second cooling element having a second heat exchanging surface is located at the second portion of the support. At least one of the first and second cooling elements is movable along the support and is configured to rotate for adjusting an angle between the first and second heat exchanging surfaces.

1 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A cooling system for affecting subcutaneous lipid-rich cells in a fold of tissue of a subject, the cooling system comprising:
 a first cooling element having a first heat exchanging surface, wherein the first cooling element is configured to remove heat from the lipid-rich cells to affect the lipid-rich cells while non-lipid rich cells in skin of the fold of tissue are not substantially affected;   a second cooling element spaced apart from the first cooling element, the second cooling element having a second heat exchanging surface, wherein the second cooling element is configured to remove heat from the lipid-rich cells to affect the lipid-rich cells while non-lipid rich cells in the skin of the fold of tissue are not substantially affected; and   a holder assembly coupled to the first cooling element and the second cooling element such that at least one of the first and second cooling elements is movable to adjust a relative position between the first and second heat exchanging surfaces to accommodate the fold of tissue located between the first and second cooling elements.   
     
     
         43 . The cooling system of  claim 42 , further comprising a portable cooling device comprising the first and second cooling elements, wherein the holder assembly is reconfigurable to move the first and second cooling elements against the fold of tissue after the cooling device has been placed against the subject and the fold of tissue has been drawn between the first and second cooling elements. 
     
     
         44 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the holder assembly includes a first mounting portion coupled to the first cooling element, a second mounting portion coupled to the second cooling element, and a support portion coupled to the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion such that at least one of the first and second mounting portions is movable with respect to the support portion to reposition the first and second cooling elements. 
     
     
         45 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the holder assembly is configured to allow rotation, translation, or both of at least one of the first cooling element and the second cooling element in response to the fold of tissue engaging the at least one of the first cooling element and the second cooling element. 
     
     
         46 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the holder assembly comprises an actuator configured to adjust the relative position between the first and second heat exchanging surfaces while the fold of tissue is held between the first and second cooling elements. 
     
     
         47 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the holder assembly is configured to allow adjustment of a relative position between the first and second heat exchanging surfaces when the first and second cooling elements are pressed against the fold of tissue. 
     
     
         48 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the first cooling element and the second cooling element are movable relative to one another to keep the first and second heat exchanging surfaces laying flat along the fold of tissue. 
     
     
         49 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein at least one of the first heat exchanging surface and the second heat exchanging surface comprises a non-planar surface. 
     
     
         50 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein at least a portion of the first heat exchanging surface is curved and at least a portion of the second heat exchanging surface is curved. 
     
     
         51 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein at least one of the first and second cooling elements includes a thermoelectric cooling element configured to reduce a temperature of the lipid-rich cells. 
     
     
         52 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein at least one of the first and second cooling elements is configured to receive a chilled fluid to cool the lipid-rich cells. 
     
     
         53 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the first cooling element further comprises a fluid chamber in thermal communication with the first heat exchanging surface. 
     
     
         54 . The cooling system of  claim 53 , further comprising a cooling unit in fluid communication with the first cooling element such that fluid from the cooling unit is capable of flowing through the fluid chamber of the first cooling element. 
     
     
         55 . The cooling system of  claim 53  wherein the cooling unit comprises a processor configured to control cooling of the lipid-rich cells by the first and second cooling elements. 
     
     
         56 . A cooling system comprising:
 a cooling device comprising
 a first cooling element configured to remove heat from lipid-rich cells of a subject to affect the lipid-rich cells; 
 a second cooling element configured to remove heat from the lipid-rich cells to affect the lipid-rich cells; and 
 a holder assembly coupled to the first cooling element and coupled to the second cooling element, wherein the holder assembly allows the first cooling element to move relative to the second cooling element to accommodate a fold of the subject's tissue between the first and second cooling elements; and 
   a cooling unit coupled to the cooling device and including a processor programmed to cause the cooling device to affect the lipid-rich cells in the fold of tissue while non-lipid rich cells in the subject's skin are not substantially affected.   
     
     
         57 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the holder assembly is reconfigurable to move the first and second cooling elements against the fold of tissue after the cooling device has been placed against the subject and the fold of tissue has been drawn between the first and second cooling elements. 
     
     
         58 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the holder assembly includes a handhold configured to be grasped by a hand of an operator. 
     
     
         59 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the processor is configured to command the cooling device to control operation at least one of the first cooling element and the second cooling element to adjust cooling of the non-lipid rich cells. 
     
     
         60 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the holder assembly is reconfigurable to provide adjustability of an angle between the first and second cooling elements from about 0° to about 180°. 
     
     
         61 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the first and second cooling elements are rotatable in at least two directions. 
     
     
         62 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the first cooling element includes a first curved heat exchanging surface, the second cooling element includes a second curved heat exchanging surface, wherein at least a part of the first curved heat exchanging surface and at least a part of the second curved heat exchanging surface include a material having a thermal conductivity greater than about 0.1 Watts/Meter ° Kelvin. 
     
     
         63 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein at least one of the first cooling element and the second cooling element includes a fluid chamber through which coolant is capable of flowing to cool the lipid-rich cells. 
     
     
         64 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the first cooling element comprises a thermoelectric element configured to receive energy from a power supply to reduce a temperature of the lipid-rich cells. 
     
     
         65 . The cooling system of  claim 56  wherein the holder assembly has an actuator configured to move the first cooling element relative to the second cooling element based on operation of the actuator. 
     
     
         66 . The cooling system of  claim 42  wherein the holder assembly has a first configuration for placement against the subject and a second configuration for holding the first and second elements against the fold of tissue, wherein the holder assembly is configured to move heat exchanging surfaces of the first and second cooling elements against the fold of tissue when the holder assembly moves from the first configuration to the second configuration.