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  Cooling devices with flexible sensorsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080077201. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]The present application relates to cooling devices, systems, and methods for exchanging heat with subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject. BACKGROUND [0002]As statistics have shown, excess body fat increases the likelihood of developing various diseases and can detract from personal appearance and athletic performance. One conventional technique of controlling excess body fat is liposuction that can selectively remove body fat to sculpt a person's body. One drawback of liposuction is that it is a complex surgical procedure that can have serious and occasionally even fatal complications. [0003]Conventional non-invasive treatments for removing excess body fat typically include topical agents, weight-loss drugs, regular exercise, dieting, or a combination of these treatments. One drawback of these treatments is that they may not be effective or even possible under certain circumstances. For example, when a person is physically injured or ill, regular exercise may not be an option. Similarly, weight-loss drugs or topical agents are not an option when they cause an allergic or negative reaction. [0004]Other non-invasive treatment methods include applying heat to a zone of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells. U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,011 discloses altering subcutaneous body fat and/or collagen by heating the subcutaneous fat layer with radiant energy while cooling the surface of the skin. Another promising method of reducing subcutaneous fat cells is to cool the target cells as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0220674, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0220674 also discloses methods for selective removal of lipid-rich cells, and avoidance of damage to other structures including dermal and epidermal cells. [0005]In any of these non-invasive treatment methods, temperatures at heat transfer interfaces (e.g., between a treatment device and a skin surface) are important for safety reasons. High interface temperatures may cause scorching of the skin surface, and low interface temperatures may cause frostbite. Therefore, effective devices and methods for accurately measuring the interface temperatures would be desirable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006]In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. [0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a system for exchanging heat with a subject in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0008]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded isometric view of a cooling device with flexible sensors in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0009]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded isometric view of a cooling device with flexible sensors in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. [0010]FIG. 4 is a front view of a flexible sensing device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. [0011]FIG. 5 is a back view of a flexible sensing device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. [0012]FIG. 6 is a front view of a flexible sensing device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. [0013]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing computing system software modules for exchanging heat with a subject in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A. Overview [0014]The present disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for exchanging heat with subcutaneous lipid-rich cells. The term "subcutaneous tissue" means tissue lying underneath the dermis and includes adipocytes (fat cells) and subcutaneous fat. It will be appreciated that several of the details set forth below are provided to describe the following embodiments in a manner sufficient to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the disclosed embodiments. Several of the details and advantages described below, however, may not be necessary to practice certain embodiments of the invention. Additionally, the invention can include other embodiments that are within the scope of the claims but are not described in detail with respect to FIGS. 1-7. [0015]Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the occurrences of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. [0016]The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed invention. [0017]One aspect is directed toward a cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject's skin. The cooling device can include a heat exchanging member having a heat transfer surface configured to form a heat conducting interface with the subject's skin to remove heat from the lipid-rich cells such that the lipid-rich cells are affected while non-lipid-rich cells in the epidermis are not affected. The cooling device can further include a substantially flexible sensing device disposed in the interface between the heat exchanging member and the subject's skin, wherein the sensing device is configured to sense a parameter at the interface without substantially impeding heat transfer between the heat exchanging member and the subject's skin. [0018]Another aspect is directed toward a sensing device for measuring parameters of a heat transfer interface between a subject having skin and a cooling device having a substantially flexible substrate positioned in the heat transfer interface between the subject's skin and the cooling device. The substrate can include a temperature sensor disposed on the surface of the substrate. According to aspects, the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the heat transfer interface without substantially impeding heat transfer between the cooling device and the subject's skin. [0019]Another aspect is directed toward a method of applying a cooling device configured for removing heat from a subject having skin, the method including disposing a sensing device proximate to the cooling device, the sensing device being substantially flexible and at least partially conforming to the cooling device. The method can further include positioning the cooling device and the sensing device proximate to the subject's skin, wherein the cooling device and the subject's skin form a heat transfer interface, in which the sensing device is positioned. The method can further include measuring a parameter of the heat transfer interface using the sensing device and removing heat from a region of the subject's skin under the epidermis such that lipid-rich cells are affected while non-lipid-rich cells in the epidermis are not affected. Continue reading... Full patent description for Cooling devices with flexible sensors Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cooling devices with flexible sensors patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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