Concurrent Acoustic and Thermal Energy Delivery for Subcutaneous Fat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating subcutaneous fat using thermal and acoustic energy are inefficient, requiring lengthy sessions and risking damage to tissues due to limitations in power delivery and depth penetration, with serial combinations of treatments offering only marginal time savings.
Innovation Solution
Concurrent application of acoustic energy and thermal energy using a device with a sonotrode and RF applicator, where the ultrasound transducer generates acoustic waves and the RF applicator forms a unipolar RF field to deposit thermal energy simultaneously, allowing effective fat reduction with reduced session duration and power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If acoustic energy power is increased to reduce treatment duration, then treatment time is reduced, but penetration depth increases causing damage to other tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic energy delivery with thermal energy deposition by integrating an ultrasound transducer and an RF applicator into a single device. The RF component deposits thermal energy to heat subcutaneous fat while the acoustic component delivers mechanical energy to disrupt adipocytes. This merging allows the acoustic energy to be delivered more safely without causing damage to deeper tissues, as the thermal energy selectively heats the fat layer first, creating a protective effect and enabling shorter treatment sessions without increasing acoustic power to harmful levels.
2Reliability
If acoustic energy is applied to treat subcutaneous fat, then fat reduction is achieved, but treatment session duration becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous concurrent delivery of both acoustic energy and thermal energy throughout the treatment session. Unlike sequential approaches where one energy type is delivered after the other, both energy modes operate simultaneously and continuously on the target tissue. This continuous dual-action approach maintains constant therapeutic effect throughout the session, achieving effective fat reduction in shorter durations by eliminating idle time between treatment phases.
3Temperature
If thermal energy is deposited using RF field, then thermal effect is achieved, but treatment time remains lengthy when used alone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of both RF and acoustic energy parameters during treatment. The system adjusts the intensity and distribution of thermal and acoustic energy in real-time based on tissue response and treatment progress. This dynamic modulation allows for optimized energy delivery that maintains therapeutic effectiveness while reducing overall treatment time, as the energy parameters are continuously adapted to achieve maximum efficacy in the shortest duration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces treatment time to around 30-35 minutes per session while maintaining efficacy, minimizing unwanted side effects and allowing deeper penetration of thermal energy without damaging other tissues.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasound transducer is activated to generate acoustic waves that are directed by the acoustic radiative surface of the sonotrode through the skin surface to convey acoustic energy into a volume of the hypodermis
Implementation Method 2
the RF applicator configured to direct RF waves, generated by an activated RF energy source functionally-associated with the RF applicator, to the RF radiative surface to form a unipolar RF field, the unipolar RF field passing through a second portion of the surface with which the RF radiative surface is coupled to deposit an effective amount of thermal energy in the volume of material
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods for treating a volume of material by concurrently conveying acoustic energy and depositing thermal energy using a unipolar RF (radio-frequency) field. Also disclosed are devices suitable for concurrently conveying acoustic energy and depositing thermal energy using a unipolar RF (radio-frequency) field into the same volume of material. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods and devices are implemented for the treatment of subcutaneous fat.