System and method for low-power laser treatment of adipose cells

Abstract

A lipolysis system comprises a laser applicator that contacts a subject's body surface and provides laser irradiation thereto in communication and cooperation with a laser control device. The laser applicator is controlled to provide low-power laser irradiation to a targeted portion of a subject's body surface for the purpose of liquefying fats in adipose cells in the subcutaneous region underlying the contacted portion of the body surface. A method for liquefying fats in a subject's adipose cells comprises contacting a portion of a subject's body surface with a laser applicator and controllably irradiating a target portion with laser wavelengths for a selected period of time. Laser applicators in one embodiment comprise low-power laser diodes having power outputs in the range of 10 mW to 100 mW with light waves in the range of 635 nm to 680 nm.

1 . A laser applicator configured for contacting a portion of a subject's body surface and controllably applying a laser irradiation thereto for the purpose of liquefying fats in adipose cells in the subcutaneous region underlying the contacted portion of the body surface, the laser applicator comprising at least one laser diode selected for emission of power outputs in the range comprising about 10 mW to about 150 mW with light waves in the range of 635 nm to 680 nm, said laser applicator communicable and cooperable with a laser control device. 
     
     
         2 . A laser applicator according to  claim 1 , wherein the laser applicator comprises a plurality of laser diodes, each laser diode selected for emission of power outputs in the range comprising about 10 mW to about 150 mW with light waves in the range of 635 nm to 680 nm. 
     
     
         3 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for liquefying fats in a subject's adipose cells in subcutaneous regions underlying their body surfaces using the laser applicator of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 a first step of contacting at least one target portion of the subject's body surface with the laser applicator; and   a second step of controllably irradiating the at least one target portion with laser wavelengths for a selected period of time.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first step and second step are repeated at least once during a treatment session. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A lipolysis system configured for concurrently contacting and controllably providing low-power laser irradiation to a plurality of targeted portions of a subject's body surface for the purpose of liquefying fats in adipose cells in subcutaneous regions underlying the targeted body surface portions; the lipolysis system comprising:
 a first laser applicator configured to contact a subject's body surface for providing laser irradiation thereto, the first laser applicator comprising a plurality of low-power laser diodes;   a second laser applicator configured to contact a subject's body surface for providing laser irradiation thereto, the second laser applicator comprising at least one low-power laser diode; and   a laser control device configured for controllably communicating and cooperating with said first laser applicator and said second laser applicator.   
     
     
         22 . A lipolysis system according to  claim 21 , provided with a plurality of said first laser applicators, and with a plurality of said second laser applicators. 
     
     
         23 . A lipolysis system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first laser applicator comprises a laser diode selected for emission of power outputs in the range comprising about 10 mW to about 100 mW with light waves in the range of 635 nm to 680 nm. 
     
     
         24 . A lipolysis system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first laser applicator comprises at least one low-power laser diode selected for emission of power outputs in the range comprising about 10 mW to about 100 mW with light waves in the range of 635 nm to 680 nm, and at least one laser diode selected for emission of power outputs in the range comprising about 80 mW to about 160 mW with light waves in the range of 780 nm to 980 nm. 
     
     
         25 - 40 . (canceled)