Hemoglobin Assisted Laser Lipolysis

Overview

Objectives/Goals Determine feasibility of a novel concept of non-invasive lipolysis with a 1064nm Nd:YAG laser, a skin penetrating wave-length, far better absorbed by hemoglobin then skin and fat. Investigate if injection of a little blood, will selectively increase fat absorption of 1064nm light delivered to skin surface, raising fat temperature sufficiently to trigger lipolysis, without overheating skin Methods/Materials An experimental model of skin and fat was designed using defatted chicken breast skin over a slab of bacon fat sliced 2 mm apart. A 1064nm Nd:YAG laser was used to deliver energy through skin into fat. Laser settings were five 70J/cm2 pulses, 12mm spot, 100ms pulse-width(PW). Preliminary testing determined ideal parameters. A digital infrared thermometer measured surface and 4mm deep temperature changes. The tests were repeated after blood was injected between 2-4mm into the fat. Temperature differentials between surface and 4mm depth, for plain fat, and blood injected fat were studied Results Temperature readings after increasing the PW 10ms from 10-200ms each set of 5 measurements, suggested 100ms was the best PW. Shorter PW increased surface temperature more then 4mm deep, thus increasing risk of skin injury. Longer PW underheated both. A series of 30 tests with five 70J/cm2 100ms pulses, raised both surface and 4mm deep fat temperature by about 3.4°C. (mean 3.35°C, range 2.9-3.8°C at the surface and 3.42°C, 2.7-3.8°C 4mm deep). No visible changes in appearance of skin or fat were noted. When the procedure was repeated after injecting a little blood 2-4mm deep into the fat, the mean surface temperature increase was 4.92°C vs 8.99°C 4mm deep (range 4.6-5.3 vs 8.5-9.4°C), a 4°C difference surface to deep. Visible burns were noted in the blood infiltrated fat. Conclusions/Discussion The addition of a small amount of blood into fat, significantly increases absorption of 1064nm laser light. In this experimental model using clinically feasible laser parameters, a 4°C temperature difference resulted between surface and 4mm deep hemoglobin laced fat. This temperature differential could likely be increased 3-4°C utilizing simultaneous skin cooling technology available for this laser. Since a temperature difference of 5-10°C is likely ample to achieve selective hemoglobin assisted lipolysis without any injury to overlying skin, this concept appears to have great potential for clinical applications.

Competition history

• CSEF 2011 Mammalian Biology · Entry J1204

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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