Monitoring the cooling of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells, such as the cooling of adipose tissue
View Patent ↗A system and method of monitoring, controlling and/or detecting events during the removal of heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich tissue is described. In some examples, the system detects an increase in temperature at a treatment device in contact with the skin of a subject, determines that the increase in temperature is related to a treatment event, and performs an action based on the determination. In some examples, the system shuts off the treatment device, alerts an operator, or reduces the cooling in response to a determined treatment event.
1. A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:
a treatment device configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin;
a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin; and
a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of at least one of the treatment device and the at least a portion of the contacted area of skin.
2. The treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the treatment device comprises:
a cooling unit that removes the heat; and
an interface layer configured to be disposed at least partially between the cooling unit and the contacted area of skin;
wherein the controlling device further determines the at least partial freezing of skin upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the interface layer.
3. The treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the treatment device comprises:
an plate configured to be cooled to a temperature below 0° C.;
an interface layer that partially surrounds the plate and that is configured to contact the area of skin;
wherein the controlling device determines at least a partial freezing of the skin upon detecting an increase in temperature of at least a portion of the interface layer.
4. The treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the controlling device is configured to compare the measured temperature with a threshold value.
5. A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:
a treatment device configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin, wherein the treatment device includes—
a cooling unit that removes the heat; and
an interface layer configured to be located at least partially between the cooling unit and the skin;
a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin; and
a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of at least one of the following: the treatment device, the at least a portion of the contacted area of skin, at least a portion of the interface layer, and at least a portion of the cooling unit.
6. A non-invasive treatment system for transdermally removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject, the treatment system comprising:
a treatment device, configured to contact an area of skin of a patient and remove heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells located below the contacted area of skin, wherein the treatment device includes—
a plate configured to be cooled to a temperature below 0° C.; and
an interface layer that partially surrounds the plate and that is configured to contacts the area of skin;
a sensor that measures a temperature of at least one of the treatment device and at least a portion of the contacted area of skin; and
a controlling device that modifies operation of the treatment device upon determining at least a partial freezing of skin, wherein determining the at least partial freezing of skin is based upon receiving an indication from the sensor of a positive change in temperature of the at least one of the following: the treatment device, at least a portion of the contacted area of skin, at least a portion of the interface layer, and at least a portion of the plate.