Device for RF heating and mechanical massage of biological tissue

A skin treatment device combines an RF treatment arrangement with a mechanical massage arrangement, preferably with the massage device in the form of an annular massage head encircling and rotating around the RF applicator. Also disclosed are configurations with a liquid dispenser for delivering a liquid to the skin under the device. According to one option, the skin contact surface of the RF applicator itself is provided in part by a rolling ball liquid applicator.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for heating biological tissue using radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves.

It is known to employ electromagnetic energy for delivering energy into biological tissue. Of most relevance to the present invention are devices which perform thermal treatment of the skin by delivery of RF energy. Examples believed to be representative of the current state of the art for such devices, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, include: U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,774, US20090171424 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,054.

In the field of massage devices, it is known to employ spherical bodies mounted in a rotating structure to provide a mechanical massage effect. An example of such a device may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,600, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We now disclose that when RF energy is applied to treat biological tissue (for example, skin), it is useful to apply mechanical massage to the tissue in full or partial synchrony with the RF treatment.

In some embodiments, this is carried out using a device including a handpiece including: (i) an RF applicator; and (ii) a “ring-shaped” massager which surrounds the RF applicator.

Although not a limitation, in some embodiments, this is carried out using RF energy provided by any teaching or combination of teachings disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,774.

Mechanical massage of skin is known to affect dermal and subcutaneous connective tissue, promoting blood flow, relieving sore muscles and tension, and stimulating the release of harmful toxins in the skin. Mechanical massage enhances microcirculation and facilitates drainage of trapped intercellular fluid to the lymphatic system and may act to form a callus of thicker more hydrated subcutaneous tissue that has a smoother contour due to fewer local depressions.

RF energy is known to affect the same regions of the skin, progressively increasing heat-inducing thermal effects and local metabolism. RF energy (for example, RF energy delivered in accordance with one or more teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,774, or using a device operating according to one or more teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,774) and mechanical massage applied in near, partial, or full conjunction achieve a synergy, non-limiting examples of which include improved temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite, remodeling of collagen, and alleviation of wrinkles.

In a non-limiting scenario, the device of the present invention is used as follows: (i) an RF applicator is placed in contact with the skin surface; (ii) RF power is delivered from the applicator to the skin, thereby heating underlying tissue layers; (iii) at least partially concomitant with the delivery of RF-power, a massage applicator is applied to the skin, for example a rotating ring of balls arranged around the RF applicator, thereby massaging the underlying tissue layers.

In a non-limiting example, we contemplate modifying a system for skin treatment having an RF subsystem, similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,774, to include a massage subsystem configured to mechanically massage the skin under treatment and/or adjacent skin.

In one example, this modification is carried out so that a given location on the skin is: (i) first subjected to massage; (ii) then subjected to RF energy; and (iii) once again, subjected to massage.

Thus, according to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided, a skin treatment device comprising: (a) an RF treatment arrangement comprising: (i) an RF applicator terminating in a skin contact surface through which RF energy is delivered into the skin, and (ii) an RF energy source capable of directing an RF power signal to the applicator; and (b) a mechanical massage arrangement comprising: (i) a massage manipulator comprising at least one massage head, the massage manipulator defining a skin contact region, and (ii) a motor, mechanically linked in driving relation to the at least one massage head so as to displace the at least one massage head relative to a skin surface, wherein the skin contact region substantially encircles the RF applicator such that, when the device is brought in contact with the skin and the RF treatment arrangement and the mechanical massage arrangement are actuated, mechanical massage is performed on a region of skin adjacent to, or overlapping with, a region treated by the RF energy.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one massage head is an annular massage head deployed so as to encircle the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular massage head includes a plurality of rolling elements deployed to provide rolling engagement with the skin surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular massage head includes a plurality of spherical elements deployed to provide rolling engagement with the skin surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular massage head is rotatably mounted so as to rotate about an axis, and wherein the axis substantially coincides with a central axis of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular massage head is interconnected so as to rotate together with a gear wheel, and wherein the gear wheel has a central opening, at least part of the RF treatment arrangement extending through the central opening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the motor and the RF energy source are deployed within a common housing, and wherein the motor is provided with electrical shielding.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the motor and the RF energy source are deployed within a common housing, the device further comprising a liquid dispenser deployed at least partially within the housing and configured to deliver a liquid to a region of skin underlying the device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dispenser defines a flow path in thermal contact with at least part of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a cooling arrangement deployed within the housing and configured to cool the liquid, thereby cooling the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dispenser defines a flow path passing through at least part of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flow path extends to deliver the liquid at the skin contact surface of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flow path terminates at a rolling ball liquid applicator formed as part of the RF applicator so as to provide at least part of the skin contact surface of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dispenser defines a flow path extending through the massage manipulator so as to deliver the liquid via the at least one massage head.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the massage head includes a plurality of spherical elements deployed to provide rolling engagement with the skin surface, and wherein the flow path delivers the liquid to a surface of at least one of the spherical elements for rolling application to the skin surface.

There is also provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, a skin treatment device comprising: (a) a housing; (b) an RF treatment arrangement deployed at least partially within the housing, the RF treatment arrangement comprising: (i) an RF applicator terminating in a skin contact surface through which RF energy is delivered into the skin, and (ii) an RF energy source capable of directing an RF power signal to the applicator; and (c) a liquid dispenser deployed at least partially within the housing and configured to deliver a liquid to a region of skin underlying the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dispenser defines a flow path in thermal contact with at least part of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a cooling arrangement deployed within the housing and configured to cool the liquid, thereby cooling the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dispenser defines a flow path passing through at least part of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flow path terminates at a rolling ball liquid applicator formed as part of the RF applicator so as to provide at least part of the skin contact surface of the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a mechanical massage arrangement comprising: (a) a massage manipulator comprising at least one massage head, the massage manipulator defining a skin contact region, and (b) a motor, mechanically linked in driving relation to the at least one massage head so as to displace the at least one massage head relative to a skin surface, wherein the skin contact region substantially encircles the RF applicator such that, when the device is brought in contact with the skin and the RF treatment arrangement and the mechanical massage arrangement are actuated, mechanical massage is performed on a region of skin adjacent to, or overlapping with, a region treated by the RF energy.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one massage head is an annular massage head deployed so as to encircle the RF applicator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular massage head includes a plurality of spherical elements deployed to provide rolling engagement with the skin surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid dispenser defines a flow path extending through the massage manipulator so as to deliver the liquid to a surface of at least one of the spherical elements for rolling application to the skin surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular massage head is rotatably mounted so as to rotate about an axis, and wherein the axis substantially coincides with a central axis of the RF applicator.

While the invention is described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

By way of introduction, the present invention has a number of different aspects, each of which is believed to be of individual importance, but which may be used together in particular synergy. A first aspect of the invention relates to a combination skin treatment device which performs simultaneous mechanical massage and RF energy treatment. A second aspect of the invention relates to a device which delivers a liquid (cream, gel, ointment, paste or other fluid substance) to the skin contact surface of a skin treatment device with RF energy treatment.FIGS. 1-5relate to an illustrative embodiment in which both of these aspects are combined in synergy, whileFIG. 6presents an alternative embodiment in which the liquid delivery aspect is implemented without mechanical massage.

Combination RF Energy and Mechanical Massage

Turning now to the drawings,FIGS. 1-5illustrate a skin treatment device, preferably implemented as a “handpiece”10, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, that is intended for integration in a system for skin treatment. The system for skin treatment includes an RF energy subsystem terminating in an RF applicator14and a massage subsystem terminating in a massage applicator12.

In more detail, the RF energy subsystem (also referred to as an “RF treatment arrangement”) includes RF applicator14terminating in a skin contact surface14athrough which RF energy is delivered into the skin, and an RF energy source40configured to direct an RF power signal to applicator14.

RF skin treatment systems per se are well developed, and are readily commercially available. Examples of commercially available RF treatment systems which could readily be modified according to the teachings of the present invention include Accent XL system available from ALMA Lasers Ltd. (Israel), and Velashape and Velasmooth available from SYNERON Ltd. (Israel). For conciseness of this disclosure, features of the RF treatment subsystem that are not new will not be described here.

By way of a non-limiting but particularly preferred implementation, the RF energy subsystem may be implemented as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,630,774, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this case, substantially the entire skin contact surface14aof the RF applicator14serves as a single electrode for delivering the RF energy into the skin. It should be noted however that systems with two or more electrodes may also be used to implement the present invention. In certain cases, skin contact surface14amay be split into two concentric electrode regions.

RE applicator14is typically roughly symmetrical about a central axis42that, when extrapolated, also corresponds roughly to the center of the RF treatment region for the current position of the device.

Turning now to the massage subsystem (also referred to as a “mechanical massage arrangement”), massage applicator12is preferably implemented as a massage manipulator with at least one massage head. In this context, the term “massage head” refers to a moving body with features, or rolling sub-elements, which perform a massage function as is moves in contact with the skin. The one or more massage heads define a skin contact region of the massage manipulator, i.e., the region of the skin that will be treated with massage by operation of the massage heads while the device is maintained in a given position in contact with the skin. A motor32is mechanically linked in driving relation to the at least one massage head so as to displace the at least one massage head relative to a skin surface.

It is a particular feature of certain embodiments of the present invention that the skin contact region substantially encircles the RF applicator such that, when device10is brought in contact with the skin and the RF treatment arrangement and the mechanical massage arrangement are actuated, mechanical massage is performed on a region of skin adjacent to, or overlapping with, a region treated by the RF energy. It should be mentioned that the device is particularly suited to in-motion treatment where the handpiece is drawn across the skin surface during use. This typically results in a treatment sequence in which the skin passing under the device is massaged, then heated and then massaged again.

In a particularly preferred implementation as illustrated here, massage applicator12is implemented as a single annular massage head (or “ring”)18deployed so as to encircle part of RF applicator14, and is rotatably mounted so as to rotate about an axis, that may be substantially coinciding with the central axis42of the RF applicator. The annular massage head preferably includes a plurality of rolling elements, most preferably spherical elements (balls)16, deployed to provide rolling engagement with the skin surface.

The balls16are preferably retained by a face plate20of the massage head which has openings through which balls16project. The various parts of massage head18and balls16may be made from any suitable material, preferably chosen so as to avoid interactions with the RF energy near RF applicator14. A non-limiting example of a suitable material is an insulating, biocompatible, lightweight, low-friction, and wear-resistant thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (marketed as DELRIN® by the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of DE, USA.), or other plastics, ceramics or the like. Non-limiting exemplary dimensions for the massage subsystem are: a 50 mm diameter of ring18, a 10 mm diameter of ball16, and a ring18rotation speed of 150 rpm. Optionally, it may be advantageous to operate the massage head at a rate of rotation which is synchronized with a pulse width modulation (PWM) frequency of the RF treatment, for example, at the same frequency, or where one is an integer multiple of the other.

Massage head12is rotated by motor32by engagement of a drive gear30of motor32with a gear wheel26interconnected so as to rotate together with ring18. Gear wheel26as shown here is mounted on a bearing28located at a central opening of the gear wheel through which at least part of the RF treatment arrangement extends.

Power for motor32and RF energy for the RF applicator14are supplied via supply tube33. When motor32is powered, it turns drive gear30, which turns gear26, turning ring18and balls16, which massage an annular area of skin around the area in contact with the RF applicator14.

Electric motor32and RF source40are preferably housed in a common housing34. Electric motor32is preferably provided with electrical shielding in order to minimize RE interference on the massage subsystem. Motor32may be a readily commercially available shielded DC brushless motor. For safety, motor32can be operable to detect changes in resistance to rotation of ring18, to adjust its input current to compensate for such changes in resistance, and to interrupt its input current if resistance exceeds a defined threshold.

RF applicator14and massage applicator12are preferably arranged such that when the handpiece10is positioned for treating an area of a subject's skin, each applicator is in contact with the skin. During treatment, the skin treatment system supplies RF energy through RF applicator14to the skin and mechanical force through massage applicator12to the skin.

The massage applicator12and the RE applicator14can be activated separately or simultaneously. In one non-limiting scenario, the massage applicator12is operated continuously while the device is in use, and the RE energy is selectively actuated by an operator actuating a button or trigger24on the device. Typically, the applicators are activated simultaneously as handpiece10is moved over the skin surface, for example, in circular motion, across a desired treatment area, for example, a rectangular area, until RF applicator14has applied a predetermined amount of energy to the treatment area.

In a non-limiting example, a 450 square cm treatment area of a subject's posterior thigh is treated by RE applicator14supplied with 120 W to 160 W at 40.68 MHz until 60 kJ to 100 kJ of total energy have been emitted. Concurrently massage applicator12is rotated at 150 revolutions per minute, massaging the skin.

The arrangement of massage applicator12annularly around RF applicator14ensures that no matter which direction handpiece10is moved, skin passes under massage applicator12immediately before and after it passes under RF applicator14, contributing to the effective synergy of the two applications. Furthermore, without in any way limiting the scope of the present invention, in certain preferred implementations where a continuous-rotation massage motion used, it is believed that this motion is particularly effective at inducing a net flow of body fluids in the region undergoing massage, thereby effectively mobilizing body fluids and enhancing uniformity of the RF treatment.

In some embodiments, handpiece10further comprises a skin detector operative to detect physical characteristics of the skin in contact with massage applicator16and a control circuit operative to alter the ring rotation speed according to input from the skin detector.

In some embodiments, handpiece10comprises a velocity detector operative to detect the handpiece velocity and a control circuit operative to alter the ring18rotation speed according to input from the velocity detector.

Combination RF Energy and Liquid Dispensing

Turning now to a second aspect of the present invention, this relates to dispensing of a liquid to the skin contact surface of a skin treatment device which performs RF energy treatment. As mentioned above, this feature may be used to advantage in synergy with the RF-and-massage combination described above. Accordingly, this aspect of the invention will be described primarily with reference toFIGS. 1-5in a combined embodiment. Thereafter, brief reference will be made toFIG. 6which relates to an implementation of this second aspect of the invention without a massage applicator.

Referring now again toFIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention, the device includes a liquid dispenser36deployed at least partially within housing34and configured to deliver a liquid along a flow path38to a region of skin underlying the device, i.e., within the outer perimeter of the skin contact region of massage applicator12, whether actually in the skin contact region of the massage system or the skin contact region of the RF applicator, or therebetween.

Although not limited to any particular liquid, this aspect of the present invention is believed to be of particular advantage when implemented using oil. Specifically, the oil serves to lubricate contact between the RF applicator and/or massage applicator against the skin, and may help to disperse heat at the skin surface, rendering the treatment more uniform. Optionally, mineral oil or other oils or lotions providing a soothing effect and/or other beneficial effects to the skin may be used.

In certain preferred implementations of the RF subsystem, a cooling arrangement, typically employing thermoelectric coolers (TEC)50(FIG. 2), is deployed to cool RF applicator14to below body temperature. According to an optional feature of the present invention, a part of flow path38(denoted38a) is deployed in thermal contact with at least part of the RF applicator. Flow path38amay pass adjacent to the outside surface of RF applicator14, or as shown in the examples ofFIGS. 4 and 5, may pass within RF applicator14. A cooling arrangement44(preferably TEC-based) is deployed within housing34so as to cool the liquid. The liquid flowing through flow path38athen contributes to the overall cooling of RF applicator14.

FIG. 4illustrates one particularly preferred option for implementing flow path38aaccording to which the flow path extends to deliver the liquid at the skin contact surface of the RF applicator. In the example illustrated here, the flow path terminates at a rolling ball liquid applicator formed as part of the RF applicator so as to provide at least part of a skin contact surface of the RF applicator. This ensures that the liquid is dispensed exactly at the skin contact surface of RF applicator14.

The rolling ball liquid applicator is typically implemented using one or more balls46retained within, but projecting from, the tip of the RF applicator. By way of one non-limiting example, as with the main body of RF applicator14, ball46may be formed from aluminum coated with aluminum oxide or some other insulating material such as Teflon or other plastics. Alternatively, other non-magnetic metals, such as copper, stainless steel, brass, bronze, and beryllium brass, may be used. An insulating coating is desirable for decreasing the likelihood of spark generation, and for homogenization of the RF current distribution.

Turning now toFIG. 5, this shows an alternative implementation in which a part of flow path38, designated38b, extends through rotating massage applicator12to dispense the liquid via the rotating balls16of the massage device. Connection between the non-rotating flow path38aand the rotating part of the flow path38bmay be achieved at an annular manifold48extending around the periphery of RF applicator14.

Turning finally toFIG. 6, as mentioned earlier, the liquid dispensing aspect of the present invention may also be used to advantage in an RF energy skin treatment device which does not include a massage subsystem.FIG. 6illustrates schematically the terminal portion of the RF applicator14of such an implementation. The structure and function of the device shown is fully analogous to that ofFIG. 4described above, with similar components being labeled similarly, and need not be described again.