Abstract:
A user interface for operating an applicator for medical and aesthetic treatment using RF and ultrasound energies, with or without vacuum, comprising: a display, a plurality of views each configured to occupy at least a section of the display, the views adapted to present data responsive to physiological signals, applicator parameters and treatment parameters, a plurality of icons configured to occupy a portion of the views and adapted to designate the content of the views, wherein one of the views provides parameters setting tools, another of the views presents treatment progress, and at least one of the icons can be selected so as to switch the display between the views.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application being filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) and incorporating by reference United States Provisional Application for patent that was filed on Jul. 16, 2008 and assigned Ser. No. 61/081,110, such application is attached hereto as Appendix A in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The user interface relates to the field of operation of apparatuses for providing to a subject ultrasound and/or RF and/or massage treatment. In particular, the user interface relates to cosmetic and aesthetic treatments. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A user interface for operating aesthetic treatments aids the therapist/caregiver to set up parameters for the specific treatment, body area and patient. The user interface also enables real time monitoring of the on-going treatment, with respect to the patient&#39;s real time measured parameters and the equipment functionality. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A user interface is provided for operating non-invasive devices using a combination of bipolar conductive radio frequency (RF) induced current and low frequency ultrasound energy, with or without mechanical manipulation of the skin using gentle vacuum suction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The user interface and method of operating the applicators are particularly indicated and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The user interface and the method, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the method. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary user interface view for selecting the body area to be treated; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is another exemplary view for selecting the body area to be treated; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are exemplary user interface views for setting the treatment parameters; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are exemplary user interface views for monitoring a treatment in progress; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are exemplary user interface views for performing tissue diagnostic as a pre-treatment step; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary user interface element for indicating fat variation and skin protrusion state; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the user interface for controlling the tissue treatment system or for operating a fat reduction applicator using RF and ultrasound energies. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Non-invasive devices using a combination of bipolar radio frequency (RF) induced current and low frequency ultrasound energy, are designed for use in medical and aesthetic practices and are indicated for a temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite and for temporary reduction of circumferences. The devices may operate with or without mechanical manipulation of the skin using gentle vacuum suction devices. They are also useful for the relief of minor aches and muscle spasms, as well as for the improvement of local blood circulation. In addition, non-invasive body reshaping via circumference reduction can be achieved. 
         [0014]    An exemplary embodiment of the treatment device comprises an applicator for applying the RF and ultrasound energies to a tissue. When a vacuum is applied (such as described in Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/081,110 to the same assignee, said Provisional Application incorporated herein in its entirety), the RF and ultrasound energies are applied to a tissue protrusion which was drawn or sucked into the interior of the applicator by the negative pressure or vacuum. 
         [0015]    The user interface may be operated in a touch-screen mode. 
         [0016]    A preliminary view (not shown) may be displayed for selecting the appropriate applicator to be used, when more than one applicator may be connected to the system. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary user interface view  100  for selecting the body area to be treated by the applicator device and controlling such device. View  100  comprises a gender selection tool  110  and a front/back selection tool  120 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , “male” gender and “front” have been selected, resulting in a front male image being displayed in body area selection box  130 .  FIG. 2  shows the resulting view when selecting “female” gender and “back”. 
         [0018]    The human image in box  130  is super-imposed with one or more circles  140 , denoting various body areas suitable for receiving the treatment. Circles  140  serve as a body area selection tool, e.g. by pressing one of the circles. 
         [0019]    A tissue flexibility box  150  may serve the therapist or caregiver to define the degree of tissue flexibility in the area to be treated, using arrows  160  and  170  to denote greater or lesser degrees of tissue flexibility (laxity), respectively. In another embodiment, as will be described in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , the tissue flexibility may be automatically provided, following a diagnostics pre-treatment procedure. 
         [0020]    Fat thickness box  180  may serve the therapist to define the fat depth in the area to be treated, using arrows  185  and  190  to denote shallower or deeper fat layer, respectively. In another embodiment, as will be described in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , the fat thickness may be automatically provided, following a diagnostics pre-treatment procedure. 
         [0021]    Arrows  186  and  188  serve for changing the displayed view, by going backwards to the preceding view or forwards to the next view, respectively. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  shows an exemplary user interface view  300  for setting the treatment parameters. The treatment parameters are divided into two sections with one section including RF level and RF electrodes temperature  320 , and a second section including ultrasound peak power, average power and scan depth  330 . A schematic drawing of the selected area  340  allows the therapist to more accurately define the size and location of the area to be treated, using arrows  342  and  344  to adjust the area&#39;s height and arrows  346  and  348  to define the area&#39;s width. Rectangle  350  provides an interactive visual indication of the changed dimensions and location. Base on the area calculated and the body area selected the system suggests an appropriate treatment time. 
         [0023]    Total treatment time may be defined in box  360 , using arrows  362  and  364  to shorten or lengthen the treatment time, respectively. 
         [0024]    Buttons P 1  through P 3  may be used to load previously stored sets of treatment parameters. Button C may be used to create a new set of treatment parameters, which may be saved for later reuse by selecting the Save button. 
         [0025]    Arrow  366  serves for returning to the previous view and button  368  serves for indicating that the treatment may be started. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3B  shows an alternative exemplary user interface view  380  for setting the treatment parameters, for applicators using vacuum. All the elements of  FIG. 3A  participate or are included in the embodiment illustrated in view  380 , with the addition of a vacuum level and time indicators  310 , which may be used to define vacuum application parameters. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, as will be described in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5 , the vacuum application parameters may be automatically provided, following a diagnostics pre-treatment procedure. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4A  shows an exemplary user interface view  400  for monitoring a treatment in progress. View  400  shows the previously selected applicator&#39;s operating parameters, including RF energy level and RF electrodes temperature  430 , as well as the ultrasound peak power, average power and scan depth  440 . View  400  additionally provides real time data updates including total accumulated energy  450  and patient&#39;s physiological parameters relevant to the treatment, including tissue resistance to RF induced current  460 , absorption level, i.e. percentage of work done  480  and temperature variation graph  495 , showing the patient&#39;s body temperature variation along the treatment time axis. Progress bar  496  provides a visual indication of the treatment progress. Arrows  497  and  498  may be used to shorten or lengthen the treatment time, respectively. Button  499  serves for stopping the treatment. 
         [0029]    Tissue resistance indicator  460  is used to show a current level of tissue resistance under the current settings. In an exemplary embodiment, the indicator  460  may include a value scale  472  and a current value pointer  464 . The current value pointer or arrow  464  points at the current level of tissue resistance and area  472  shows the history of average resistance values. Tissue resistance indicator  460  may comprise extreme areas  461  and  462 , indicating that when the current resistant value  464  is pointing in these areas, the tissue resistance level to RF induced current is not suitable for treatment. Additionally, the tissue resistance indicator  460  may comprise a zones  463   a  and  463   b  indicating maximum and minimum tissue resistance to RF induced current encountered during the treatment session, respectively. Boxes  473  and  474  may show the RF impedance at the limit of the extreme areas  461 ,  462  respectively. 
         [0030]    An absorption level indicator  480  includes a current level pointer  481  that indicates the percentage of work done. Arrow  481  indicates current absorption level (percentage of work done) and a numeric value is portrayed on the top of the meter (i.e. 60%). 
         [0031]      FIG. 4B  shows an alternative exemplary user interface view  420  for monitoring a treatment in progress, for applicators using vacuum. All the elements of  FIG. 4A  can also be utilized in view  420  of  FIG. 4B  if desired, with the addition of tissue flexibility indicator  470 , current vacuum level indicator  410  and fat variation indicator  490 . These three parameters ( 410 ,  470 , and  490 ) are provided by the applicator, as described in Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/081,110. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5A  shows an exemplary user interface view  500  for performing tissue diagnostic as a pre-treatment step. Advantageously, the display elements illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  can be removed during such a pre-treatment step to greatly simply the user interface from the operator&#39;s perspective. This also helps to reduce errors in readings. View  500  comprises tissue RF resistance indicator  510 . 
         [0033]    The measured diagnostics parameters may subsequently be used by the treatment process to establish suitable treatment parameters such as described in conjunction with  FIG. 3A . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5B  shows an alternative exemplary user interface view  570  for performing tissue diagnostic as a pre-treatment step for applicators using vacuum pressure. All the elements illustrated in  FIG. 5A  can be included in view  570  of  FIG. 5B , with the addition of tissue flexibility indicator  520  and fat variation indicator  580 . These two parameters ( 520 ,  580 ) are provided by the applicator, as described in Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/081,110. The measured diagnostics parameters may subsequently be used by the treatment process to establish suitable treatment parameters such as described in conjunction with  FIG. 3B . 
         [0035]    Thus, one aspect and/or embodiment of the present user interface is a user interface, such as one that can control and monitor the operations of an applicator such as the one described in Appendix A. The physical user interface, in general includes a display, such as a CRT monitor, LCD monitor or the like. The logical user interface includes a series of screens or views with each including various controls, status indicators and/or adjustments. The views can be rendered on the display device in such a manner that a single view occupies the entire display space or only a portion of the display space. Two or more views may be displayed simultaneously or, only one view can be displayed at a time. 
         [0036]    Although the views can vary greatly, one or more of the views includes display elements that present data responsive to physiological signals obtained from the applicator, applicator parameter settings and treatment parameter settings. Physiological signals, in general, include signals that are obtained from the applicator device. More specifically, non-limiting examples of physiological signals may include a tissue RF resistance, a tissue firmness or flexibilty, temperature, moisture levels, and/or a fat thickness. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other signals may also be included. 
         [0037]    Applicator parameters, in general, include parameters that can be set by an operator for controlling the operating characteristics of the applicator. As non-limiting examples, the applicator parameters may include a vacuum pressure level, an RF power level, an RF temperature, an RF electrodes temperature, an ultrasound frequency, an ultrasound time-averaged power, an ultrasound peak power and an ultrasound scan depth. 
         [0038]    The treatment parameters, in general, may be used to control the overall treatment session. Non-limiting examples of treatment parameters include a total treatment time, a treatment progress and an on-line measurements of said physiological signals. The on-line measurements can then be fed back into the system and heuristically used to determine further treatments, augment the treatment, or otherwise adjust the treatment. In various embodiments, a treatment area definition may be included as a treatment parameter to instruct/control the area to be treated. In other embodiments, the treatment area may be a physiological signal that is received based on the physical location of the applicator. Yet in other embodiments, the treatment area may be defined by applicator parameters. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments of the invention, one or more of the parameters, including the applicator parameters and/or the treatment parameters can be manually set, automatically set, a combination of both manually and automatically set, automatically set in response to detected physiological settings and/or automatically set in response to detected physiological settings and/or manual settings. 
         [0040]    The views may also include one or more icons that occupy a portion of one or more of the various views. The icons, when actuated, may operate to invoke actions and settings of the system. For instance, the icons can be used to modify various treatment and applicator parameters. In addition, icons may be used simply as indicators or gauges. 
         [0041]    As another non-limiting example, a first view may provide parameters setting tools while a second view presents treatment progress. An icon may be included in each of these views and when actuated, causes the display to toggle between these views. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows in detail the exemplary user interface element  600  for indicating fat variation ( FIG. 4B ,  490 ;  FIG. 5B ,  580 ), for applicators using vacuum pressure, such as described in Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/081,110. The interface element  600  could be incorporated into embodiments such as those illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 5B . Fat variation indicator  600  comprises an external contour  610 , simulating the applicator&#39;s inner cavity into which tissue is drawn by vacuum pressure, fat layer  620  and muscle layer  630 , schematically drawn when the sucked tissue has reached the bottom  640  of the inner cavity. A numerical indication of the fat layer thickness may be provided in box  650 . In operation, as the tissue is drawing into the cavity, interface element  600  shows the amount of tissue that has been drawn in by gradually filling the cavity interior with the drawn replication of fat and muscle. 
         [0043]    Thus, this aspect of the present invention is a user interface element used in operating a fat reduction applicator that incorporates the use of RF and ultrasound energies and vacuum pressure. The graphical element  600  represents the actual applicator. As vacuum pressure applied to the applicator increases, the user interface element shows a filling of the cavity of element  610  with fat tissue  620  and muscle tissue  630 . In the state illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the vacuum pressure has been increased to a point to fully draw the tissue into the cavity. It will be appreciated that for lower levels of vacuum pressure, the tissue may be only partially drawing into the cavity. It will also be appreciated that in some embodiments, sensors may be used on the inside of the cavity to sense when the tissue has been drawn into the cavity. These sensors may be used in lieu of or in addition to the vacuum pressure level to determine at what level the tissue has been drawn into the cavity. Regardless, the user interface element can be configured as a Boolean function to indicate that the tissue is fully drawn or not fully drawn into the cavity. Alternatively, the user interface element may show a gradual indication that the inner cavity of the applicator is being filled as the vacuum pressure increases. 
         [0044]    In addition, the user interface element  600  can provide an indication with regards to the fat depth of the tissue sucked into the cavity. As shown by element  650 , the fat tissue  620  can be graphically illustrated as a different color or shading layered over the muscle tissue  630 . At the top of the cavity, ultrasound technology can be used to determine the depth of the fat before muscle tissue is encountered. In the illustrated embodiment, this is shown as being 8 mm. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the user interface for controlling the tissue treatment system or for operating a fat reduction applicator using RF and ultrasound energies. The user interface  700  initially allows and operator to define an area to be treated in a first display view  702 . In some embodiments, this may include displaying a depiction of a human body, or even scanning and displaying the actual human body being treated, and then displaying this data. From the displayed information, an operator may select various regions or portions of the body for treatment. This selection is provided to the system as a definition of the area to be treated. In some embodiments, the user interface may allow the operator to make a selection between gender, body styles (thin, athletic, fat, stocky), body sizes, age (infant, toddler, child, teen, adult) etc. 
         [0046]    Physiological signals of the defined area to be treated can be obtained or derived  704  and then displayed in a second display view  706 . The applicator parameters for the treatment can be displayed, selected, adjusted and set in a third display view  708 . Once the system is set up, the treatment can be monitored in the fourth display view  710 . 
         [0047]    The user interface may operate as a daisy chain between each of these successive views or, the views can be combined in various manners or all displayed such as a card deck onto a display. 
         [0048]    A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the method. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.