The Contour I System: Plastic Surgery Goes Non-Invasive?

At Globes [online] we read that UltraShape Inc., a privately held Israeli start up, has secured a $15 million round of funding from a venture capital firm. According to the article, the company is specializing in “non-invasive aesthetic medicine.”
Here is what the UltraShape website says about its Contour I System, a technology that has received European CE mark in 2005 and is currently available for patients in Europe, Asia and Africa (not cleared by the FDA for US use yet):

The UltraShape solution is based on proprietary technology with the following components:
— A focused ultrasound beam capable of selectively lysing fat cells without damaging surrounding tissues
— A real time optical tracking and guidance system allowing a simple, safe and efficient procedure

Innovative selective ultrasound technology
UltraShape technology applies focused therapeutic acoustic waves for selective lysis of adipocytes, using a predetermined amount of ultrasound energy across the subdermal fat layer.
The ultrasound waves generate a mechanical effect in the confined focal volume, causing fat cell membranes to rupture. The mechanical effect ensures that only adipose tissue within the targeted area is disrupted. Surrounding tissue (blood and lymph vessels, skin tissue and peripheral nerves) is not impacted by the process and remains intact…
Transducer
The transducer delivers a focused ultrasonic beam and provides real-time optical (via tracking system) and acoustic feedback on treatment. Specific, pre-set ultrasound parameters ensure that disruption is of the fat cells exclusively, within the targeted area. A built-in control verifies acoustic contact during the treatment and is indicated on the user interface. An additional built-in control monitors the temperature of the transducer. The spatial position of the transducer is constantly monitored by the tracking system.
Video tracking and guidance system
The real-time tracking and guidance system creates an immersed environment for treatment control. It minimizes the system training period and learning curve.
The tracking system comprises a state-of-the-art tracking algorithm using a single video camera.
The tracking system ensures:
— Treatment is performed only within the designated area
— Entire treatment area is homogeneously covered
— Every treatment point will be treated only once
The tracking system addresses the dynamic nature of the treated area – a key challenge in body contouring procedures. The patient breathes and moves during the procedure. Fat, flaccid by nature, undergoes spatial deformities in real-time. Contour I solves this problem by recording and synchronizing the body’s position in real-time enabling the patient to move or even walk away mid treatment. The system can then accurately resume treatment when the patient returns.

More at UltraShape…