Non-invasive fat removal

Abstract

A device for massaging skin, including, a RF generator adapted to generate a radio frequency AC current to heat fat tissue in the adipose layer of the skin, an electrical pulse generator adapted to generate pulses of DC current to provide electrical muscle stimulation for the muscles below the adipose layer, an applicator including one or more heads adapted to be placed in contact with the user's skin; and wherein the heads serve as massage contacts to massage the outer layer of a user's skin above the adipose layer or as electrodes to deliver the AC current and DC current, or as both.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for fat reduction by causing the liquidification and release of fat in fat cells contained in adipose tissue layer into an extra cellular tissue of a patient, comprising:
 an electrical pulse generator to generate pulses of direct current (DC) to provide electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to muscles located below the adipose layer;   an applicator including one or more heads to be placed in contact with the patient's skin;   wherein the one or more heads serve as massage contacts and massage one or both of the epidermal and dermal layers of the patient's skin above the adipose tissue layer;   a radio frequency (RF) generator to generate a radio frequency alternating current (AC) to heat fat tissue in the adipose tissue layer of a patient's skin sufficient to cause liqudification of the fat cells;   wherein the EMS is synchronized with massaging by the one or more heads so that the adipose layer is pressurized simultaneously from above and below;   wherein heating of the fat tissue in the adipose layer by the RF generator is applied simultaneously with the pressurization by the EMS and massaging to cause reduction of the fat tissue in the adipose layer by acceleration of natural fat cell metabolism causing the release of liquefied fat from the fat cells into the patient's extra cellular tissue; and   wherein energy from the RF generator further heats collagen fibers to stimulate fibroblast metabolism, leading to skin tightening and new collagen production.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are adapted to apply the AC current and the DC current intermittently. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are adapted to apply the AC current and the DC current simultaneously. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said massage contact is adapted to apply negative pressure to the skin. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AC current and DC current are adapted to be activated upon placing the device in contact with the patient's skin. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said AC current and DC current are adapted to be activated by activating a switch. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes in the applicator of the device represent both poles to form a closed circuit. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes in the applicator of the device represent a first pole and an electrode external to the applicator provides the opposite pole to form a closed circuit. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the heads only serve as massage contacts and some of the heads only serve as electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein some of the electrodes only deliver AC current and some only deliver DC current. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control board adapted to control operation of the device responsive to temperature measurements from the surface of the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a temperature sensor in said applicator to provide temperature measurements from the surface of the patient's skin. 
     
     
         13 . A method of reducing fat in adipose tissue by causing the liquification and release of liquefied fat from fat cells into the extra cellular tissue of a patient, the method comprising:
 massaging an area of one or both of the epidermal and dermal layers of a user's skin;   heating fat cells contained in the adipose layer of the skin located below the area being massaged by providing radio frequency (RF) energy sufficient to liquefy the fat cells;   stimulating muscles in the muscle layer below the adipose layer by providing electrical direct current (DC) pulses to the muscles;   wherein the massaging, heating and stimulating are performed by an applicator including one or more heads placed in contact with the skin which provide the steps of massaging, heating and stimulating; and   wherein said massaging and said stimulating are synchronized so that the adipose layer of the skin is pressurized simultaneously from above and below by said massaging and said stimulating;   wherein the heating of the fat tissue by RF energy simultaneously with said pressurization by said stimulating and massaging accelerates natural fat cell metabolism causing the release of liquefied fat from the fat cells into the patient's extra cellular tissue; and   wherein the RF energy further heats collagen fibers to stimulate fibroblast metabolism, leading to skin tightening and new collagen production.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said heating and said stimulating are adapted to be activated intermittently. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said heating and said stimulating are adapted to be activated simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said massaging includes applying negative pressure to the skin. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said heating and said stimulating are adapted to be activated when the device is placed in contact with the patient's skin. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said heating is performed by multiple electrodes. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein some of the electrodes perform stimulating and heating and some of the electrodes form a closed circuit through the body of the patient. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein all the electrodes are adapted to perform stimulating and heating. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical pulse generator is adapted to generate pulses in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein stimulating the muscle occurs with electrical current pulses in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the RF energy heats the patient's skin surface to a level of no more than 45° C. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the patient's skin surface temperature is controlled to a level of no more than 45° C.