Rupture of fat cells using laser-generated ultra short stress waves.
OBJECTIVE
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction has been investigated as an aid to breakup fat for its less traumatic removal, and minimizing the post-operative recovery period. This research focused on understanding the mechanism of fat interaction with laser-generated ultra short stress waves with high amplitudes.


METHODS
Freshly extracted human fat was secured in an Aluminum (Al) cavity. Sixteen nanoseconds duration stress waves were generated by exfoliating the bottom surface of the Al cavity by focusing 3 nanoseconds-long YAG laser pulses over a 2 mm diameter area at 10 Hz with a maximum pulse energy of 0.95 J. The lipids released due to cell rupture were extracted and measured


RESULTS
Four minutes of pulsing released about 0.005 g, which was over 1% of the initial weight of the tissue. In situ temperature rise of only 5 degrees C was measured at the maximum stress wave loading duration of 5 minutes. This was evidenced by histological sections, which showed no burn artifacts.


CONCLUSIONS
This research shows that ultra short stress waves can mechanically cavitate fat in vitro without significant damage to adjacent structures, and forms the basis for future clinical work.
Kuwahara
Kenrick
K
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1597, USA.
Gladstone
Hayes B
HB
Gupta
Vijay
V
Kireev
Vassili
V
Neel
Victor
V
Moy
Ronald L
RL
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods; D014465:Ultrasonics