Cryogenic Microprobe Cooling Through Scar-Minimizing Needles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic treatments for conditions like wrinkles, cellulite, and other dermatological defects often involve invasive procedures, injections of potentially harmful substances, and have limited effectiveness or require extensive recovery time, posing risks and discomfort to patients.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic cooling system using small, tissue-penetrating probes with a needle and a fused silica supply tube delivers controlled cooling to remodel target tissues, minimizing skin invasion and reducing the need for injections, with temperature and time control managed by a pressure relief valve and metered cooling fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cosmetic treatments use injections of bioactive substances or mechanical therapy, then cosmetic effects can be achieved, but patient safety risks increase and recovery time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical therapy (endermology using vacuum suction) and pharmacological injections with a cryogenic cooling system that uses controlled thermal energy to remodel target tissues. The system employs a probe delivering cryogenic cooling to achieve tissue remodeling without mechanical trauma or chemical injections, thereby improving safety and reducing collateral injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of temperature to achieve cosmetic effects. By controlling the temperature parameter through cryogenic cooling (lowering tissue temperature to induce controlled thermal injury and subsequent remodeling), the system achieves tissue remodeling without the harmful effects of injections or mechanical trauma.
2Reliability
If invasive procedures are used to treat dermatological conditions, then treatment effectiveness may improve, but patient discomfort and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cryogenic probe delivers localized cooling to specific target tissues through a small insertion point. The cooling effect is concentrated at the treatment site while surrounding tissues remain unaffected, achieving effective treatment with minimal patient discomfort and no extensive recovery needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cryogenic cooling as an intermediary mechanism to achieve tissue remodeling. Instead of directly injecting substances or applying mechanical force, the system uses controlled cooling as an intermediate step to induce thermal injury that triggers natural tissue remodeling processes, reducing direct trauma to the patient.
3Quantity of substance
If larger needles are used for tissue treatment, then fluid delivery may be improved, but skin invasion and visible scarring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the state of the cooling fluid from liquid to vapor within the needle lumen by controlling temperature and pressure parameters. This phase change allows efficient cooling fluid delivery through a small needle gauge without requiring large needle openings that would cause visible scarring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by vaporizing the cooling fluid within the needle lumen. The vaporized cooling fluid is delivered through the needle to the target tissue, allowing effective cooling and fluid delivery through a small-bore needle without the need for large-gauge needles that would cause visible scarring.
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
The system provides effective, controlled tissue remodeling with minimal collateral damage and pain, offering a safer, more precise alternative to traditional cosmetic treatments by immobilizing tissues with cold temperatures, reducing wrinkles, and treating various dermatological conditions without extensive recovery.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling fluid source is coupleable to the supply lumen to direct cooling fluid flow into the needle lumen so that liquid from the cooling flow vaporizes within the target tissue when the needle extends into the target tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices, systems, and methods optionally treat dermatological and/or cosmetic defects, and/or a wide range of additional target tissues. Embodiments apply cooling with at least one small, tissue-penetrating probe, the probe often comprising a needle having a size suitable for inserting through an exposed surface of the skin of a patient without leaving a visible scar. Treatment may be applied along most or all of the insertable length of an elongate needle, optionally by introducing cryogenic cooling fluid into the needle lumen through a small, tightly-toleranced lumen of a fused silica fluid supply tube, with the supply tube lumen often metering the cooling fluid. Treatment temperature and/or time control may be enhanced using a simple pressure relief valve coupled to the needle lumen via a limited total exhaust volume space.