Abstract: A cold slurry syringe with enhanced features is provided for delivering a cold slurry into the human body. The syringe includes a syringe body for holding a volume of cold slurry, a plunger that slides within the syringe body for ejecting the cold slurry, and a tapered syringe head for delivering an even flow of cold slurry. An agitator can be added to keep the cold slurry from agglomerating and clogging the syringe. Insulation added around the syringe can keep the cold slurry from melting too quickly. A ball screw drive can be added to provide a smooth and consistent application of pressure as the cold slurry is delivered. The cold slurry flow can be enhanced by adding a streamline flow feature that reduces the occurrence of eddies or swirls inside the syringe. This feature can also help maintain the composition and consistency of the cold slurry.

Abstract: Delivering cold slurry to internal tissues can be used in therapies for treating a variety or medical diseases and conditions. For example, cold slurry can activate brown adipose tissue to treat obesity. Cold slurry can be delivered to tissue injured by trauma or disease to reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces pain and leads to quicker recovery. Cold slurry therapy can also be used to treat muscular and neurological disorders as well as to manage pain. The cooling effect of cold slurry delivered at or near a nerve reduces innervation that nerve, which in turn reduces spasms or pain. The cooling effect can also cause tissue to undergo the cell death. Advantageously, cold slurry therapies can be used to reduce or remove tissue, for example, to treat fibroadenomas or scar tissue.

Abstract: A cold slurry syringe with enhanced features is provided for delivering a cold slurry into the human body. The syringe includes a syringe body for holding a volume of cold slurry, a plunger that slides within the syringe body for ejecting the cold slurry, and a tapered syringe head for delivering an even flow of cold slurry. An agitator can be added to keep the cold slurry from agglomerating and clogging the syringe. Insulation added around the syringe can keep the cold slurry from melting too quickly. A ball screw drive can be added to provide a smooth and consistent application of pressure as the cold slurry is delivered. The cold slurry flow can be enhanced by adding a streamline flow feature that reduces the occurrence of eddies or swirls inside the syringe. This feature can also help maintain the composition and consistency of the cold slurry.

Abstract: A cold slurry syringe with enhanced features is provided for delivering a cold slurry into the human body. The syringe includes a syringe body for holding a volume of cold slurry, a plunger that slides within the syringe body for ejecting the cold slurry, and a tapered syringe head for delivering an even flow of cold slurry. An agitator can be added to keep the cold slurry from agglomerating and clogging the syringe. Insulation added around the syringe can keep the cold slurry from melting too quickly. A ball screw drive can be added to provide a smooth and consistent application of pressure as the cold slurry is delivered. The cold slurry flow can be enhanced by adding a streamline flow feature that reduces the occurrence of eddies or swirls inside the syringe. This feature can also help maintain the composition and consistency of the cold slurry.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for controlling a cold slurry that is delivered to a target tissue and for limiting heat transferring from surrounding tissue to the target tissue. In particular, a balloon structure is deployed at or near a point of delivery to act as a physical and/or thermal barrier. In some instances, the balloon structure can act as a pressure device obstructing the flow of warm blood into a treatment area, which can melt the cold slurry.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for making a cold slurry at a point of delivery. A point of delivery device delivers cold slurry components to a location at or near a target tissue. The components are combined to form the cold slurry at or near the point of delivery. This approach to generating a cold slurry at the point of delivery allows the characteristics of the cold slurry, such as temperature, particle shape and particle size, to be maintained and controlled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to targeted delivery of a cold slurry underneath a patient's skin to improve the cosmetic appearance of the skin. The “target” tissue can be muscle tissue that when cooled cannot contract and cause wrinkles/lines in the skin to appear. The target tissue can also be adipose tissue that causes overlying tissue to sag and form wrinkles/lines. The cold slurry induces apoptosis, and reduces the size of the tissue, and causes the connective tissue supporting the skin to thicken and tighten, thereby reducing wrinkles/lines. Skin can also be tightened with cold slurry injected into the dermis layer of the skin or within the layers of the oral mucosa making a cold slurry treatment ideal for reducing the appearance of baggy skin after a patient loses weight and or for treating obstructive sleep apnea. Cold slurry can also be used to treat cellulite and acne.

Abstract: The present invention involves the use of a small profile device for preparation and/or delivery of cold slurry into the human body. The cold slurry can be generated within the device itself or within a separate small chamber, both of which produce a cold slurry using a cooling source and an injectable fluid. The delivery device provides continued agitation to the fluid/slurry through rotation and/or vibration of blades within the device. The fluid/cold slurry is cooled/kept cool through the use of an external cooling device, such as a cooling sleeve, that at least partially surrounds the delivery device. The cooling sleeve can cool or maintain the temperature of the cold slurry through a number of mechanisms. The cold slurry can be delivered using a device in accordance with the present invention to any tissue inside the body, including subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and brown fat.