Methods, devices, and systems for improving skin characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11446175-B2
Application number	US-201916528249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2019
Priority date	Jul 31, 2018
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, compositions, and methods for improving one or more skin characteristics in a subject. These systems, compositions, and methods are configured to cool the subject's skin at a target site to a degree that alters adipocyte signaling but does not produce significant destruction of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells. In some embodiments, alteration of adipocyte signaling produces an improvement in one or more skin characteristics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of improving one or more skin characteristics in a subject comprising:
cooling the subject's skin at a target site with a treatment unit to lower the temperature of the epidermis at the target site to about −15° C. to about 5° C., and
discontinuing cooling when the temperature of the epidermis at the target site has been at a temperature of about −15° C. to about 5° C. for about 10 minutes to about 25 minutes such that adipocyte signaling is altered but less than 10% of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells are destroyed, wherein said alteration of adipocyte signaling produces an improvement in one or more skin characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein less than 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, or 7% of the subcutaneous lipid-rich cells are destroyed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling does not produce any adverse skin effects.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said adverse effects are selected from the group consisting of hyper-pigmentation, hypo-pigmentation, unwanted blistering, unwanted scarring, permanent undesirable alterations, and disfiguring scars.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said alteration in adipocyte signaling results in an increase in expression of one or more cytokines selected from the group consisting of TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, acylation-stimulating protein, alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, pentraxin-3, IL-1 receptor antagonist, macrophage migration inhibitor factor, and SAA3.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said increase in expression occurs in the dermal layer, the subcutaneous layer, or both.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said alteration in adipocyte signaling results in an increase in one or more extracellular matrix components selected from the group consisting of collagen, elastin, proteoglycans (e.g., heparan sulfate, keratin sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate), fibrinogen, laminin, fibrin, fibronectin, hyaluronan, hyaluronic acid, versican, aggrecan, lumican, decorin, glypican, tenascins, syndecans, integrins, discoidin domain receptors, perlecan, N-CAM, ICAM, VCAM, focal adhesion kinases, matrix metalloproteases, and Rho-kinases.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said increase in one or more extracellular matrix components occurs in the epidermal layer, dermal layer, the subcutaneous layer, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said one or more improved skin characteristics are selected from the group consisting of increased skin thickness, increased new collagen content, increased skin firmness, increased skin smoothness, skin tightening, increased dermal/epidermal hydration, dermal remodeling, and fibrous septae thickening.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling is performed by applying a treatment unit proximal to the target site.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the temperature of said treatment unit is about −18° C. to about 0° C.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling is discontinued when the temperature of the subcutaneous fat layer 7 mm below the target site decreases below about 3° C.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling is discontinued when the temperature of the subcutaneous fat layer 7 mm below the target site decreases to about 3° C. to about 30° C.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said cooling is discontinued after the temperature of the subcutaneous fat layer 7 mm below the target site has been at a temperature of about 3° C. to about 30° C. for about 10 minutes to about 25 minutes.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling is discontinued before the temperature of the subcutaneous fat layer 7 mm below the target site falls below 3° C.

16. A method of improving one or more skin characteristics in a subject comprising:
applying a cooling element proximal to a target site on the subject's skin for a period of time sufficient to cool the epidermis at the target site to about −15° C. to about 5° C., wherein said cooling results in an alteration of one or more adipocyte signaling events; and
removing the cooling element before the temperature of the subcutaneous fat layer about 7 mm below the target site decreases below a temperature of 3° C.

Assignees

• Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc

Inventors

• Jimenez Lozano Joel N
• Zeng Like
• Pham Linda
• Frangineas Jr George

Classifications

• A61F2007/0056

  for cooling · CPC title

• A61F2007/029

  Fat cell removal or destruction by non-ablative heat treatment · CPC title

• A61F7/10 Primary

  Cooling bags, e.g. ice-bags · CPC title

• A61B90/98

  using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders · CPC title

• A61F2007/0052

  for treatment of skin or hair · CPC title