Methods of treating cellulite and subcutaneous adipose tissue

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods of inducing therapeutic adipose tissue inflammation using high frequency pressure waves (e.g. high frequency shockwaves) wherein the inflammation results in a reduction in the volume of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Embodiments include applying electrohydraulic generated shockwaves at a rate of between 10 Hz and 1000 Hz to reduce the appearance of cellulite or the volume of subcutaneous fat in a treatment area.

1 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 directing a pressure wave generating probe to a first treatment area of the patient; and   emitting a plurality of pressure waves to the first treatment area at a pulse rate of between 15 Hz and 100 Hz,   where the pressure wave generating probe is configured to emit the plurality of pressure waves each having an acoustic pressure amplitude between 0.5 to 50 MPa;   where the plurality of pressure waves are directed to the first treatment area for a duration substantially between 60 and 240 seconds;   where the plurality of pressure waves are not focused prior to entering into the first treatment area of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first treatment area includes an area of subcutaneous fat comprising fat cells having intracellular fat and interstitial space between the fat cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pressure waves are emitted at a pulse rate of substantially between 20 and 75 Hz. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing the pressure wave generating probe to a second treatment area   emitting a plurality of pressure waves to the second treatment area at a pulse rate of substantially between 15 Hz and 100 Hz; and   where the plurality of pressure waves are directed to the second treatment area for a duration substantially between 60 and 240 seconds.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second treatment area includes an area of subcutaneous fat comprising fat cells having intracellular fat and interstitial space between the fat cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising directing at least a portion of the plurality of pressure waves to the first treatment area and the second treatment area such that delivery of the at least a portion of the plurality of pressure waves to the first and second treatment areas reduces the appearance of cellulite in the treatment areas. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 pressure wave generating probe comprises a pressure wave outlet window,   where the pressure wave generating probe is configured to emit the plurality of pressure waves each having an energy density of less than 2.0 mJ per mm 2  at the pressure wave outlet window, and   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising applying the plurality of pressure waves to an adipose tissue in the treatment area at:
 a pulse rate of between 25 and 500 HZ; and   an energy density of between 0.5 and 2.0 mJ per mm 2  per pressure wave.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , where the plurality of pressure waves emitted by the pressure wave generating probe induce no adipose cell damage when treating the treatment area. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , where the plurality of pressure waves do not induce transient cavitation in an aqueous solution of the pressure wave generating probe. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , where:
 the plurality of pressure waves include a pressure wave energy of between 0.50 and 7.0 mJ per mm 2  at the pressure wave outlet window; and   the pressure wave outlet window has an area of between 0.5 and 20 mm 2 .   
     
     
         12 . A method of inducing inflammation of subcutaneous adipose tissue in a treatment area of a patient, the method comprising:
 directing a pressure wave generating probe to an external treatment area of the patient; and   emitting a plurality of pulses to the treatment area, each pulse including a plurality of pressure waves at a rate of between 15 Hz and 100 Hz;   wherein a time period between pulses of is substantially between 0.5 to 50 microseconds   where the plurality of pulses are directed to the treatment area for a duration substantially between 60 and 240 seconds;   where the plurality of pressure waves are not focused prior to entering into the treatment area of the patient.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , where:
 the pressure wave generating probe comprises a pressure wave outlet window, and   the pressure wave generating probe is configured to emit the plurality of pressure waves having between 0.5 and 7.0 mJ per mm 2  at the pressure wave outlet window.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , where the plurality of pulses are applied to the treatment area at a pulse energy of 4.6 Joules per pulse. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , where each of the plurality of pressure waves includes a rise time of less than 20 nanoseconds. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , where the plurality of pressure waves have an acoustic pressure amplitude between 0.5 to 50 MPa. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , where the treatment area is within a depth of 6 cm from a surface of the treatment area, and where the treatment area is a butt, thigh, stomach, waist, upper arm area, or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , where the plurality of pressure waves emitted from the pressure wave generating probe comprise substantially planar pressure waves. 
     
     
         19 . Acoustic shockwave generation system configured to reduce subcutaneous fat in a treatment area, where fat comprises fat cells having intracellular fat and interstitial space between the fat cells, the apparatus comprising:
 a pressure wave generating probe configured to deliver a series of pressure waves to an external area of the patient, the pressure wave generating probe comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber and a shockwave outlet, the chamber configured to be filled with a liquid; and 
 a plurality of electrodes disposed in the chamber to define one or more spark gaps; 
   where the pressure wave generating probe is configured to emit the series of pressure waves at a pulse rate of between 15 Hz and 1000 Hz;   where the pressure wave generating probe is configured to emit the plurality of pressure waves each having an acoustic pressure amplitude between 0.5 to 50 MPa;   where the plurality of pressure waves are not focused prior to entering into the first treatment area of the patient.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , where the pressure wave generating probe is configured to emit the plurality of pressure waves at an energy density of between 0.5 and 7.0 mJ per mm 2  at the shockwave outlet and induce no transient cavitation bubbles in a water-based medium, and where a pressure wave outlet window associated with the shockwave outlet has an area of 0.5 cm 2  to 20 cm 2 .