Systems and Methods for Aesthetic Treatment

Abstract

Provided herein is a multifunctional aesthetic system including a housing, an electromagnetic array situated in the housing and having a plurality of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) sources, each EMR source configured to generate an EMR beam having a wavelength different than that of an EMR beam generated by another of the EMR sources, a controller in electronic communication with the array to operate two or more of the EMR sources to direct the EMR beam to a treatment area, and a sensor in electronic communication with the controller for providing feedback to the controller based on defined parameters to allow the controller to adjust at least one operating condition of the multifunctional system in response to the feedback.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing adipose tissue in a patient, the method comprising:
 directing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from a source through an optically transparent region of a housing to a treatment region having adipose tissue, the housing being operatively connected to a positioning apparatus and in spaced relation to the treatment region;   directing airflow through a plurality of openings in the optically transparent region of the housing to a surface corresponding to the treatment region; and   permitting the positioning apparatus to change a position of the housing to maintain a treatment region temperature range conducive to creating apoptosis in the adipose tissue;   wherein the positioning apparatus is programmed to permit the housing to follow a contour of the surface of the treatment region.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EMR has a wavelength of about 900 nm to about 1100 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of permitting further comprises moving the housing to a different treatment region. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of permitting further comprises changing a spacing between the housing and the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein changing the spacing comprises increasing the spacing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein changing the spacing comprises decreasing the spacing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment region temperature range is from about 40° C. to about 48° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein following the contour includes maintaining a predetermined spacing between the housing and the surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method for reducing adipose tissue within multiple treatment regions of a patient, the method comprising:
 allowing a positioning apparatus to direct a housing over a first treatment region;   initiating electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and directing it through the housing to the first treatment region;   permitting the positioning apparatus to move the housing along the first treatment region to a second treatment region; and   guiding the housing from the second treatment region back to the first treatment region.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, prior to permitting the positioning apparatus to move the housing, ceasing direction of the EMR to the first treatment region. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, after guiding the housing back to the first treatment region, initiating and directing the EMR to the first treatment region. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, after the step of permitting, initiating and directing EMR to the second treatment region. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of permitting further comprises moving the housing over the first treatment region at a first scanning speed, and wherein the step of guiding further comprises moving the housing over the first treatment region at a second scanning speed different than the first scanning speed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the EMR has a wavelength of about 900 nm to about 1100 nm. 
     
     
         15 . A method for reducing subcutaneous adipose tissue, the method comprising:
 allowing a positioning apparatus to place a housing in spaced relation to a surface of a subcutaneous treatment region;   initiating electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and directing it through the housing to the subcutaneous treatment region;   directing airflow from the housing to the surface; and   determining a temperature of the surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of allowing further comprises placing the housing at a first distance from the surface, and after the step of determining a temperature of the surface moving the housing to a second distance from the surface based on the temperature, so as to maintain the temperature of the surface below a maximum predetermined surface temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first distance and the second distance are larger than 0. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the maximum predetermined surface temperature is 40° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein directing the EMR to the subcutaneous treatment region raises a temperature of the subcutaneous treatment region to a therapeutically acceptable temperature range from about 40° C. to about 48° C. to cause apoptosis in the adipose tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the EMR has a wavelength of about 900 nm to about 1100 nm.