ADIPOSE TISSUE REDUCTION AND MUSCLE TONING DEVICE

Abstract

A lipolysis apparatus that has a low power light source and an Electronic Muscle Stimulator that is used on a patient to remove adipose tissue while toning the person's muscles. The light source is in a range of red light with wavelength ranging from 620 nm to 629 nm and 10 MW to 50 MW in power output. The pulse rate of the Electronic Muscle Stimulator is between 1 Hz to 500 Hz.

Claims

1. A lipolysis apparatus for fat removal, body shaping, body contouring and muscle toning, the lipolysis apparatus comprises: a treatment applicator, wherein the said treatment applicator comprises at least one low power light source that will emit a wavelength to a patient's treatment area; at least one Electronic Muscle Stimulator that is attached to the treatment applicator; and a dual control unit that powers the treatment applicator and the at least one Electronic Muscle Stimulator.

2. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power output of the at least one low power light source is in the range that is between from about 10 MW to about 50 MW.

3. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 2, wherein the low power light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

4. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 3, wherein the treatment applicator defines an inner and an outer surface and wherein a plurality of transparent windows or lenses are disposed on the inner surface, and a plurality of LED diodes that are located within the transparent windows or lenses.

5. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 4, further comprises of at least one heat dissipating plate, wherein the at least one heat dissipating plate is mechanically connected to the treatment applicator.

6. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the treatment applicator can be bent to conform to the contours of a treatment area.

7. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 6, wherein the treatment applicator comprises: a flexible frame that can be bent up to 360 degrees; and a plurality of treatment panels, wherein each treatment panel comprises of a plurality of LED light sources, a transparent window that allows light to pass through to reach the treatment area.

8. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 7, further comprises a fastener that will attach to a patient's treatment area.

9. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fastener comprises of at least one strap loop on the flexible frame and at least one strap that can be fastened to the patient.

10. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dual control unit has a low power light source operator input control and an Electronic Muscle Stimulator operator input control.

11. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low power light source is a low power laser.

12. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low power light source emits a wavelength in the range from about 620 nm to about 629 nm.

13. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 12, wherein the EMS unit has a pulse rate that is between 1 Hz. to 500 Hz.

14. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 13, wherein the low power light source is a red light.

15. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low power light source emits a wavelength in the range from about 661 nm to about 900 nm.

16. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 15, wherein the EMS unit has a pulse rate that is between 1 Hz. to 500 Hz.

17. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 16, wherein the low power light source is a red light.

18. The lipolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low power light source is either a low power laser or an LED light source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regards to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the main components of an embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the main electronic components of the lipolysis apparatus;

[0014] FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective front view of an embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus;

[0015] FIG. 3 (b) is a perspective back view of an embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lipolysis apparatus when folded,

[0017] FIG. 5 is a photograph of an alternative embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus that shows its dual control unit;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a photograph of the alternative embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus that shows its low power light source and its Electronic Muscle Stimulator;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a photograph of alternative embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus that shows its low power light source;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a photograph of an alternative embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus that shows its Electric Muscle Stimulators placed over the low power light sources; and

[0021] FIG. 9 is a photograph of an alternative embodiment of the lipolysis apparatus that shows its dual control unit

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0022] For a more complete understanding of the present invention parts, reference is now made to the following descriptions: [0023] 100 Control unit. [0024] 102 Operator input. [0025] 103 Display panel. [0026] 104 Timer. [0027] 200 Treatment applicator. [0028] 201 Power inlet. [0029] 202 PCB control board. [0030] 203 Solid state relays. [0031] 204 Light source. [0032] 205 Vibration motor. [0033] 206 Treatment panel. [0034] 207 Motor housing. [0035] 208 Transparent window. [0036] 209 Applicator frame. [0037] 210 strap loop. [0038] 211 Flexible contact frame. [0039] 212 strap. [0040] 300 Connection cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] The following detailed description includes preferred embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the main components of an embodiment of a lipolysis apparatus using a low power laser, a low powered light source or an LED light source. The portable apparatus comprises a control unit (100), a treatment applicator (200), and a connection cable (300) connecting the control unit (100) and the treatment applicator (200). On the control unit (100), there is an operator interface comprising input buttons (102) for entering setting parameters and a display panel (103) for displaying system and timer status.

[0043] FIG. 2 further illustrates the internal components of the lipolysis apparatus. The control unit (100) houses a power source (101) which provides power to the treatment applicator (200) via the connection cable (300) and a power inlet (103). The operator input (102) component of the control unit (100) is connected to the PCB (printed circuit board) control board (202) of the treatment applicator (200) via the connection cable (300) as well. The operator input (102) also sets a timer (104). The display panel (103) displays system status, operator input, and the timer information. The PCB control board (202) is electronically connected to one or more solid state relays (203) that control that switch on and off the light sources (204). The PCB control board (202) is also electronically connected to and controls at least one vibration motor (205) that is/are housed in the treatment applicator (200) or attached to the treatment applicator (200).

[0044] FIG. 3 shows the prospective front and back views of an embodiment of the treatment applicator (200). In this embodiment, the treatment applicator (200) comprises of multiple treatment panels (206). Each treatment panel (206) houses a PCB control board (202), a plurality of solid state relays (203), a plurality of light sources (204), such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), and a vibration motor (205) located in the motor housing (207) at the back of the treatment panel (206). The front of the treatment panel (206) comprises a transparent window (208) that allows light to pass through to reach the skin treatment area. The plurality of treatment panels (206) are arranged in an applicator frame (209) to form a belt-shaped applicator. Each end of the applicator frame comprises a strap loop (210). The applicator frame (209) also comprises a flexible contact frame (211) that is in touch with the patent skin during treatment. The flexible contact frame (211) is made of flexible materials, such as suitable synthetic polymer, and may be shaped to desirable contours to accommodate various sizes of the treatment area.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows the treatment applicator (200) configured in a bent contour to fit a treatment area, such as an abdomen and waist area. A section of strap (212) is fit through the strap loops (210) to fix the treatment applicator to the user's body. Velcro patches, clips, or other mechanisms can be used for fastening the strap.

[0046] Embodiments of the low powered light source (204) can be a light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a low powered laser (s). In some embodiments, their output power ranges from 10 MW to 50 MW. In other embodiments, they operate in the red wavelength range of 620 nm to 629 nm or in the range from 661 nm to 669 nm. There may be an additional heat dissipating plate located in the treatment panel (206) for dissipating heat generated from the light sources. The transparent windows (208) can be embodied as lenses to focus light to desirable intensity on the treatment area. The lipolysis device may be operated in a rhythm mode in which the vibration is repeatedly ran through a multitude of programs at predetermined intervals. The duration and the mode of operation can be setup by the operator using the operator input buttons (102). The applicator frame (209) may have grips formed at appropriate places on one or both sides thereof.

[0047] As seen in FIGS. 5-9, in a further embodiment of the present invention, the lipolysis apparatus 200 eliminates the vibration motor 205 and its controls 100 and substitutes it with a rechargeable battery powered dual control unit 400 that operatively connects to the low powered light source 600 and to at least one Electronic Muscle Stimulator 500 that is attached to the treatment applicator 200. The treatment applicator 200 has an Inner surface 200a and an outer surface 200b. The at least one Electronic Muscle Stimulator 500 will be placed on treatment applicator 200 and the low powered light source 600 are defined on the inner surface 200a of the treatment applicator 200. The low power light source 600 can be either a plurality of low power lasers or a plurality of light emitting diodes. The low powered light source is more fully described above as reference numeral 204.

[0048] The dual control unit 400 defines a low power light source operator input control 402 and an Electronic Muscle Stimulator operator input control 404. The dual control unit 400 is attached to the treatment applicator 200 on its outer surface 200b.

[0049] The Electronic Muscle Stimulator 500 will deliver a pulse rate between 1 Hz to 500 Hz to irradiated areas. The irradiated areas will develop muscle tone while adipose is removed.

[0050] In another embodiment of the present invention, the low power light source shall emit a wavelength in the range from about 620 nm to about 629 nm to a patient's treatment area. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the low power light source shall emit a wavelength in the range from about 661 nm to about 900 nm to a patient's treatment area.

[0051] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred or example embodiments, and modes of assembly and operation, of the invention; however, the Invention is not, and shall not be construed as being exclusive or limited to the specific or particular embodiments set forth hereinabove.