Patent Application
20120296402
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) was previously thought to exist only in infants, providing non-shivering thermogenesis for protecting an infant's core temperature. In fact, the conventional wisdom was that brown adipose tissue was consumed in infancy after only a few months. However, more recently, with the improvements in medical imaging, “bright spots,” such as those showing up on PET scans, were noticed in many adults, “interfering” with imaging as medical professionals were trying to read these types of scans for other purposes. With the more recent understanding that brown adipose tissue remains active in many adults, research into is its role with respect to adults is also becoming more understood.
It has been recognized that enhanced activation of brown adipose tissue in adults can provide many health benefits. In accordance with this, a method of activating brown adipose tissue can comprise applying a cooling device to a subject at a supraclavicular or paravertebral region of skin overlying brown adipose tissue. The method also includes maintaining the cooling device in contact with the skin at a temperature from 45° F. to 70° F. for at least 90 minutes so as to cool the region sufficiently to activate the brown adipose tissue.
In another embodiment, a wearable device for activating brown adipose tissue can comprise a cooling member with an outer insulative layer and an inner conductive layer which is shaped to cover a localized region of skin overlying brown adipose tissue at a supraclavicular region or paravertebral region of a subject.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the disclosure.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular process steps and materials disclosed herein because such process steps and materials may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only. The terms are not intended to be limiting because the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to a cooling device includes reference to multiple cooling devices, applied cyclically in rotation or applied simultaneously, for example.
The term “subject” refers to a human or other mammal having brown adipose tissue that is treated with a cooling device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
“Brown adipose tissue” or “BAT” refers to one of the two types of fat tissue found in the body of mammals. Though brown adipose tissue is especially abundant in newborns to generate body heat, it is also present at relatively high concentrations in certain regions of the body in many adults. Brown adipose tissue contains more mitochondria and greater blood supply via capillaries than white adipose tissue. Additionally, brown adipose tissue utilizes both lipids (fats) and glucose (sugar) to generate heat. Thus, there is greater metabolic activity in brown adipose tissue than in some other similar types of tissue.
The term “supraclavicular” refers to the region of the neck mostly on the front of the body that is above the clavicle or collar bone.
The term “paravertebral” refers to the region of the back and neck next to and following the spine. “Cervical paravertebral” refers more specifically to the region that follows the spine next to its cervical portion. “Thoracic paravertebral” refers more specifically to the region following the spine which is next to the thoracic portion thereof.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.
Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of 50-250 should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of 50 and 250, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 60, 70, and 80 micrometers, and sub-ranges such as from 50-100, from 100-200, and from 100-250, etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.
As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximated and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like and other factors known to those of skill. Further, unless otherwise stated, the term “about” shall expressly include “exactly,” consistent with the discussion above regarding ranges and numerical data.
It is recognized and described herein that by enhancing or activating the metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue in adults, many health benefits can be achieved. It is further been recognized and described herein that by focusing on regions of the body that include larger concentrations of brown adipose tissue, effective devices and method of increasing health parameters can be achieved efficiently. This can be achieved because brown adipose tissue utilizes both lipids (fats) and glucose (sugar) to generate heat. Thus, by activating this tissue, desired metabolic activity can be achieved when coupled with exercise, or can be achieved passively without exercise. The devices and methods are even more beneficial for subjects that have higher concentrations of brown adipose tissue. For example, though almost all adults have some brown adipose tissue, younger and/or leaner adults tend to have more brown adipose tissue than older and/or more obese adults. That being said, the methods of the present disclosure are effective for both young and/or lean subjects, as well as older or more obese subjects.
PET scans or other imaging techniques can be used to specifically identify where the greatest concentrations of brown adipose tissue can be found, but more practically, for most adults, the heaviest concentration of brown adipose tissue can be found in the supraclavicular region as well as the paravertebral region. Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of activating brown adipose tissue can include applying cooling temperatures to the supraclavicular and/or paravertebral region(s) to activate brown adipose tissue.
More specifically, a method of activating brown adipose tissue can comprise applying a cooling device to a subject at a supraclavicular region or paravertebral region of skin overlying brown adipose tissue. The method further includes maintaining the cooling device in contact with the skin at a temperature from 45° F. to 70° F. for a duration of at least 90 minutes so as to cool the region sufficiently to activate the brown adipose tissue.
The cooling device can be any cooling device configured for application to the supraclavicular region or the paravertebral region, such as an ice pack, an electric cooling device, a refrigerant cooling device, or the like. In one example, a particular cooling device is specifically disclosed in accordance with one particular embodiment. Specifically, a wearable device for activating brown adipose tissue can comprise a cooling member with an outer insulative layer and an inner conductive layer which is shaped to cover a localized region of skin overlying brown adipose tissue at a supraclavicular region or paravertebral region of a subject.
With these specific embodiments in mind, it is notable that in discussing the methods and devices described herein, discussion each example is also applicable to the other example. Thus, when explicitly describing method embodiments, that discussion is translatable in context to device embodiments, and vice versa.
In accordance with examples of the present disclosure, the duration of daily application can be at least 90 minutes, as previously described; however, often the application time can be from 2 hours to 12 hours. It takes an amount of time to fully or substantially activate brown adipose tissue, and the benefits of the present disclosure can be more readily achieved after the brown adipose tissue is activated more fully and the cooling is maintained once the tissue has reached this state. In another embodiment, the method can comprise repeatedly applying the cooling device as prescribed herein on from 4 to 7 days of a week over a period of at least a month. In still another embodiment, multiple applications in a single 24 hour (daily) period can also provide benefits. In this embodiment, the method can comprise repeatedly applying the cooling device for a duration of 2 hours to 6 hours per cycle at from 2 to 4 times per day. This has practical advantages if it takes time to re-cool a given cooling device for use during a second or third cycle, etc. In one example, multiple devices can be used and alternated for application, e.g., one is used while the other is being prepared in a freezer apparatus for use. Alternatively, if using an electric or refrigerant cooling device that is adapted for supraclavicular or paravertebral application, this consideration may not be as relevant, depending on the technology. It is also noted that there may be some benefit to allowing the skin to warm to room temperature between cycles, to give the tissue time to rest before reactivation. Regardless of the cooling device used, or the various timing options selected for treatment, in one specific embodiment, the cooling device can be adapted to cool the specific region of application by at least 20° F. within 15 minutes, though this is not required.
As mentioned, the application region can be the supraclavicular region or the paravertebral region. However, in one embodiment, the cooing device can be configured for application over both regions simultaneously. In another embodiment, the paravertebral region can include a cervical paravertebral region and/or a thoracic paravertebral region. If a specific subject knows more precisely where the brown adipose tissue is concentrated within the subject's own anatomy, the cooling device can be adapted more specifically to that subject. However, for most individuals, that tissue will be concentrated in the areas described herein.
There are many health benefits of activating brown adipose tissue in accordance examples of the present disclosure. One practical benefit is that of systemic weight loss. Specifically, by activating brown adipose tissue, serum levels of glucose and lipid levels can be dropped in a subject. Other benefits of the treatments described herein can include reduced adiposity, enhanced metabolic rate, reduced serum glucose, reduced insulin resistance, and/or improved lipid profile. Other secondary benefits can include improved (usually lowered) blood pressure, improved cardiovascular risk profile, and/or reduction in the need for anti-diabetic medication and anti-lipid medication.
Turning now to specific cooling devices that are effective in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, it is emphasized that this specific device shown in the FIGS. is not necessary for use in carrying out the methods of the present disclosure. This device (as will be discussed more fully below) is provided and adapted for the methods of the present disclosure because it can retain its coolness for a prolonged period of time, can be more flexible at the surface for comfort, and can maintain an appropriate level of cooling for activating brown adipose tissue. Electric cooling devices, refrigerant-based cooling devices, other types of cooling pads or ice packs, or the like can also be used. For example, technology exists in small packages for cooling laptops and other electronic devices, as well as for cooling animals and humans, e.g., cooling for mattresses and cooling blankets or pillows. To illustrate the flexibility of the methods described herein, an electric or refrigerant system in a cooling pillow could be used to cool the neck and upper back region while a subject sleeps, or could be used on a high back chair or recliner while a subject cools the back of the neck and upper spine while watching television or reading. This would be an embodiment where the paravertebral region is primarily cooled.
In
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As shown, the device provides coverage to skin over concentrated areas of brown adipose tissue in the supraclavicular region 28, and a paravertebral region 30. Other areas can also be covered to activate additional brown adipose tissue, but these regions more universally represent locations within many subjects where brown adipose tissue is found at higher concentrations than in other places in the body. In the embodiment shown in
Turning now specifically to
In examples according to
One of the advantages of the methods of present disclosure is that of efficacy, even in the absence of diet modification and/or exercise. However, moderate diet and/or moderate exercise can assist in weight loss or other health benefits as described herein. More extreme diet and more extreme exercise regimens can have a negative impact on brown adipose tissue, and thus, moderate exercise and/or moderate diet may be more effective in combination with the methods of the present disclosure than more heavy diet and/or extreme exercise regimens. Furthermore, eating also will tend to activate brown adipose tissue, so moderate eating in combination with the implementation of the methods of the present disclosure can also assist in weight loss or other health benefits. One possible regimen may be to eat smaller meals more frequently than 3 times a day, thus keeping the brown adipose tissue activated as long as possible while providing cooling in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.
A female adult weighing approximately 272 pounds for a period of about 10 years wore a cooling device over the supraclavicular and cervical paravertebral regions for a period of several months. During this period of time, no changes were made with respect to typical diet or exercise. The only difference was the almost daily use (averaging 6 hours per day, 5 days per week) of the cooling device.
A female adult weighing approximately 253 pounds wore a cooling device in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure for a period of about seven (7) months, with application of about 30 hours per week (4-7 times per week). During this period of time, no significant changes were made with respect to typical diet or exercise, and if anything, because of noticeable weight loss, the subject increased caloric intake occasionally. After a period of seven months, the subject's weigh was reduced to 240 pounds.
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
