Large area body shaping applicator

Abstract

A method and apparatus that affect vacuum to massage a volume of the skin and one or more types of skin treatment energies coupled to the massaged volume to treat the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and produce a desired treatment effect. The method and apparatus are based on coupling an array or a number of arrays being an assembly of skin treatment units with each skin treatment unit including a hollow cavity and a number of different energy to skin applying elements operative to receive skin treatment energy from a source of such energy and couple or apply the received energy to a treated segment of skin.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A system for treating skin of a subject, the system comprising:
 a first energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin;   a second energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin;   a third energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin, wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, and the third energy delivery element are separable from each other and are selectively connectable in at least one array;   at least one connecting element for joining a plurality of the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element and the third energy delivery element in the at least one array, wherein the at least one connecting element is configured to permit the at least one array to adapt to a skin contour;   at least one skin treatment energy source, separate from the at least one array, for supplying energy to the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, and the third energy delivery element;   at least one cable for interconnecting the at least one skin treatment energy source to at least one of the plurality of the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element and the third energy delivery element in the at least one array; and   a belt configured to fix the at least one array to the subject's skin.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising a fourth energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one connecting element includes a first connecting element and a second connecting element, wherein the at least one array includes a first array and a second array, wherein the first connecting element is configured to maintain the first energy delivering element and the second energy delivering element in the first array, and wherein the second connecting element is configured to maintain the third energy delivering element and the fourth energy delivering element in the second array. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the belt includes a segment configured to interconnect the first array and the second array. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one skin treatment energy source is configured to individually control the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, and the third energy delivery element. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one connecting element includes a plurality of hinge joints for interconnecting adjacent energy delivery elements in the at least one array. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one cable includes a first cable connecting the first energy delivery element to the at least one skin treatment energy source, a second cable connecting the second energy delivery element to the at least one skin treatment energy source, a third cable connecting the third energy delivery element to the at least one skin treatment energy source, and a fourth cable connecting the fourth energy deliver element to the at least one skin treatment energy source. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element and the fourth energy delivery element each contain a laser diode. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one skin treatment energy source is configured to deliver energy in pulses to the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element, and the fourth energy delivery element. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element, and the fourth energy delivery element are configured to deliver energy non-invasively to adipose tissue in order to cause adipose tissue reduction. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one array has a variable length. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein each of the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, and the third energy delivery element are contained within separate housings, and where the at least one connecting element includes a first flexible connector for disposition between a housing of the first energy delivery element and a housing of the second energy delivery element, and a second flexible connector for disposition between the housing of the second energy delivering element and a housing of the third energy delivering element. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising a processor configured to regulate the at least one skin treatment energy source. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein each of the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, and the third energy delivery element include a temperature sensor, and wherein the processor is configured to regulate energy supplied to the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element based on temperature sensor feedback. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising a subject emergency button configured to enable a subject undergoing treatment to interrupt the treatment. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 40 , further including a splitter card for distributing energy to each of the energy delivery elements. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the belt is configured to be worn by a subject undergoing treatment. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one cable includes three flexible hoses, each hose being associated with a differing energy delivery element. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the processor is configured to supply energy only when a firm contact with the subject's skin is established. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one array and the belt are constructed to be configurable in a variety of patterns. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element and the fourth energy delivery element are sized and shaped to be arranged in the at least one array on an abdomen of the subject. 
     
     
         61 . A system for treating skin of a subject, the system comprising:
 a first energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin;   a second energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin;   a third energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin;   a fourth energy delivery element configured to deliver laser energy to the subject's skin, wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element and the fourth energy delivery element are separable from each other and are selectively connectible in at least a first array and a second array;   at least one connecting element for flexibly joining the first energy delivery element and the second energy delivery element in the first array;   at least one connecting element for flexibly joining the third energy delivery element and the fourth energy delivery element in the second array;   a first belt portion for interconnecting a first end of the first array to a first end of the second array; and   a second belt portion for interconnecting a second end of the first array to a second end of the second array, and for maintaining the first array and the second array in spaced apart relation to each other when the first array, the second array, the first belt portion and the second belt portion are fixed to the subject.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising a skin treatment energy source, separate from the first array and the second array, for supplying energy to the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element, and the fourth energy delivery element. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element, and the fourth energy delivery element are configured to deliver energy non-invasively to adipose tissue in an abdomen of the subject in order to cause adipose tissue reduction in the abdomen. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the first energy delivery element, the second energy delivery element, the third energy delivery element, and the fourth energy delivery element each contain a laser diode. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 63 , further comprising a processor configured to regulate the skin treatment energy source to supply energy only when a firm contact with the subject's skin is established. 
     
     
         66 . A method of treating skin, comprising:
 flexibly interconnecting a first laser energy delivery element and a second laser energy delivery element to establish a flexible array;   arranging the flexible array on a skin area of a subject such that the array flexes to conform to a contour of the skin area;   affixing the array to the skin area using a belt;   delivering energy to the first laser energy delivery element and the second laser energy delivery element via at least one cable energetically connecting the first laser energy delivery element and the second laser energy delivery element to at least one skin treatment energy source;   supplying laser energy to the skin area via the first laser energy delivery element while the first laser energy delivery element is maintained in the array with the second laser energy delivery element; and   supplying laser energy to the skin area via the second laser energy delivery element while the second laser energy delivery element is maintained in the array with the first laser energy delivery element.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the laser energy is supplied noninvasively from the first laser energy delivery element and the second laser energy delivery element in a manner targeting subcutaneous adipose tissue. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising mechanically interconnecting a third laser energy delivery element and a fourth laser energy delivery element in the flexible array with the first laser energy delivery element and the second laser energy delivery element. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising mechanically interconnecting a third laser energy delivery element and a fourth laser energy delivery element in an additional array spaced from the flexible array containing the first laser energy delivery element and the second laser energy delivery element.