Patent Description:
<CIT> describes skin treating devices and systems for delivering radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy to the skin. The devices include one or more electromagnetic RF generating units, multiple RF electrode groups and a controller for controllably applying RF energy to the skin through any selected RF electrode group or any selected RF electrode group combination selected from the multiple groups. The electrodes may be stationary and/or movable electrodes. Different RF frequencies and/or frequency bands may be used. <CIT> discloses using a high frequency inverter to form an arc between the output of an electrosurgical generator and tissue of a patient, whereby a surgeon can induce joule heating in the affected cells for causing the desired surgical effects of cutting, coagulation, and dissection.

There is provided, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, which is defined in claim <NUM>, a system including a plurality of electrodes, one or more radiofrequency (RF) generators, and a controller. Any methods disclosed hereinafter do not form part of the scope of the invention, and are mentioned for illustrative purposes only. The controller is configured to treat skin of a user, using one or more decision rules, responsively to multiple ascertained values of at least one parameter, by iteratively ascertaining at least one respective value of the ascertained values, by applying at least one of the decision rules to the ascertained value, identifying a treatment setting from among multiple treatment settings, and causing the RF generators to cause one or more RF currents to pass, through the skin, between at least some of the electrodes in accordance with the identified treatment setting. The controller is further configured to modify at least one of the decision rules in response to the ascertained values.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to modify the at least one of the decision rules using artificial intelligence.

In some embodiments, a different respective one of the RF generators is connected to each one of the electrodes.

In some embodiments, at least some of the treatment settings specify, for activation, different respective ones of the groups.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a surface shaped to define a track,.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to set the boundary to be equidistant from (i) the modified characteristic value of the at least one of the domains, and (ii) the characteristic value of another one of the domains that is adjacent to the at least one of the domains.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to modify the characteristic value of the at least one of the domains by:.

In some embodiments, the skin areas include a cheek and a forehead.

In some embodiments, the domains further include one or more improper-electrical-contact domains corresponding to different respective states in which the electrodes are not in proper electrical contact with the skin, and the controller is further configured to:.

In some embodiments, the states include a state in which the electrodes are not in any electrical contact with the skin.

In some embodiments, the states include a state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact with the skin but not via a layer of gel having a thickness within a predefined range.

In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to generate an output indicating the state to which the improper-electrical-contact domain corresponds.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the skin and to generate a temperature-sensor output responsively thereto, the ascertained values include temperature-values of the temperature, and the controller is configured to ascertain the temperature-values responsively to the temperature-sensor output.

In some embodiments, the system further includes an electric-current sensor configured to measure at least some of the RF currents and to generate an output responsively thereto, and the controller is configured to ascertain the ascertained values responsively to the output.

In some embodiments, the ascertained values include electric-current-property-values of a property of the at least some of the RF currents.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a voltage sensor configured to measure a voltage associated with at least some of the RF currents and to generate a voltage-sensor output responsively thereto, and the controller is configured to ascertain the ascertained values responsively to the voltage-sensor output.

In some embodiments, the ascertained values include voltage-property-values of a property of the voltage.

In some embodiments, the ascertained values include impedance-values of an impedance of the skin.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a server configured to communicate with the controller over a computer network, and the server and the controller are configured to cooperatively carry out a process that includes:.

In some embodiments, the output includes a message indicating an attribute of the skin.

In some embodiments, the output includes a recommendation for a skin-care product.

There is further provided, in accordance with some embodiments a method including, using one or more decision rules, treating skin of a user responsively to multiple ascertained values of at least one parameter, by iteratively ascertaining at least one respective value of the ascertained values, by applying at least one of the decision rules to the ascertained value, identifying a treatment setting from among multiple treatment settings, and causing one or more radiofrequency (RF) currents to pass, through the skin, between at least some of a plurality of electrodes in accordance with the identified treatment setting. The method further includes modifying at least one of the decision rules in response to the ascertained values.

When the dermis layer of skin is heated to around <NUM>-<NUM>, the collagen fibers in the dermis remodel, thus causing the skin to become tightened. Hence, some skin-tightening techniques involve heating the skin by applying RF energy to the skin. The RF energy may be applied, for example, using a handheld treatment head comprising a pair of electrodes. In particular, RF currents may be passed between the pair of electrodes while the electrodes are in electrical contact with the skin, such that the RF currents penetrate the skin.

In general, the depth to which each RF current penetrates is an increasing function of the distance between the electrodes. For example, the penetration depth for a pair of cylindrical electrodes may be approximately half the distance between the pair. Hence, a challenge, when using the same RF device to tighten multiple areas of skin, is that the depth of the skin that is to be treated - and hence the desired penetration depth of the RF currents - may vary from one area to the next. For example, while the deepest portion of the dermis in the cheek or chin may be between <NUM> and <NUM> from the surface of the skin, the dermis in the forehead may be no deeper than between <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, a penetration depth that is appropriate for the cheek may be dangerous for the forehead, while a penetration depth appropriate for the forehead may be ineffective for the cheek.

To overcome this challenge, the inter-electrode distance (or "separation") may be varied in accordance with the depth of the skin. For example, a first pair of electrodes at a larger distance from one another may be used to treat the cheek, while a second pair of electrodes at a smaller distance from one another may be used to treat the forehead. Alternatively, the distance between a single pair of electrodes may be adjusted in accordance with the depth of the skin, by moving one or both of the electrodes.

The above approach necessitates measuring the depth of the skin during the treatment session, or at least measuring a parameter that is indicative of the depth. One such parameter is the impedance of the skin; hence, in theory, the electrodes may be used to measure the impedance of the skin, and the inter-electrode separation may be varied in accordance with the measured impedance. However, the impedance of any given area of skin in one user may be different from that of the same area of skin in a different user. Moreover, even in a single user, the impedance of any given area of skin may vary over time.

To address this challenge, in embodiments of the present invention, the handheld treatment device comprises a controller, configured to apply the RF currents in accordance with particular user-specific decision rules, and to continually update the decision rules over time, using artificial intelligence. In particular, during the treatment session, the controller repeatedly ascertains the value of a parameter, such as the impedance of the user's skin. Based on each ascertained value, the controller, using the decision rules, identifies the appropriate treatment setting - including, for example, the appropriate inter-electrode separation - and then applies one or more RF currents in accordance with the identified treatment setting. Following the treatment session, the controller may revise the decision rules, based on the ascertained parameter values.

For example, for each user, multiple domains of impedance values may be mapped to different respective treatment settings corresponding to different respective areas of skin, each pair of adjacent domains bordering one another at a respective decision boundary. Thus, for example, for one particular hypothetical user, impedances less than <NUM>Ω may be mapped to a treatment setting appropriate for the forehead, while impedances greater than <NUM>Ω may be mapped to another treatment setting appropriate for the cheek. During the treatment session, the controller may identify the domain to which each ascertained impedance value belongs, and then select the treatment setting to which the domain is mapped. Subsequently to the treatment session, the controller may modify at least one of the decision boundaries, based on the ascertained impedance values.

In some embodiments, to modify the decision boundaries, the controller first updates the "characteristic impedance" Zc of each of the skin areas that was treated, based on the impedance values for the skin area that were ascertained during the treatment session. In response to the updated characteristic impedances, the controller may set each decision boundary to be equidistant from the respective characteristic impedances of the two skin areas that meet at the decision boundary.

In some embodiments, to update Zc, the controller first computes the average Za of the impedance values that were acquired while the skin area was treated. Subsequently, the controller computes a weighted average of the current characteristic impedance and Za, i.e., the controller sets the new characteristic impedance, Zc(n), equal to a*Zc(n-<NUM>) + (<NUM>-α)*Za(n), where α is, for example, between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM>. (In some embodiments, the controller does not update Zc unless the skin area was treated for at least a predefined minimum duration, such as one minute, and/or unless a predefined minimum number of impedance values for the skin area were acquired.

Typically, upon the user activating the treatment device, the controller obtains an initial impedance measurement by applying a short RF current, referred to herein as a "prepulse," to the skin. Based on this initial measurement, the controller selects the appropriate treatment setting, and begins the treatment in accordance with this setting. Subsequently, as the regular treatment pulses are applied, the impedance is measured periodically, e.g., with a period of between <NUM> and <NUM> seconds. Based on each periodic measurement, the controller decides whether to use a different treatment setting.

Typically, the controller is further configured to identify situations in which the electrodes lack proper electrical contact with the skin, such as where the treatment device was lifted from the skin during the treatment session. In response thereto, the controller may pause or stop the treatment session.

Typically, the impedance of the skin depends on the amount of moisture in the skin. Hence, in some embodiments, the controller, or a cloud-based server, may identify that the skin of the user is dry, based on the impedance values of the skin that were ascertained during the treatment session. For example, the controller or server may compare the current characteristic impedance for a particular skin area to a baseline characteristic impedance for the same user, and/or to a baseline characteristic impedance of a group of other users. If the current characteristic impedance deviates from the baseline, a message recommending use of a moisturizer may be sent to the user.

Reference is initially made to <FIG>, which is a schematic illustration of a system <NUM> for treating skin of a user <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. In general, system <NUM> may be used to treat any suitable area of skin, such as skin of a cheek <NUM>, a forehead <NUM>, another portion of the face, an arm, a leg, or an abdomen.

System <NUM> comprises a handheld skin-tightening device <NUM>, which may be made from plastic and/or any other suitable material. Device <NUM> comprises a shell (or "case") <NUM> coupled to a treatment head <NUM>. Treatment head <NUM>, which is further described below with reference to <FIG>, comprises a plurality of electrodes <NUM>. Electrodes <NUM> are typically disposed on a distal surface <NUM> of the treatment head or within apertures in distal surface <NUM>, e.g., such that the electrodes protrude from distal surface <NUM>.

Shell <NUM> contains one or more RF generators <NUM> connected to electrodes <NUM>, typically via wires <NUM> passing between shell <NUM> and treatment head <NUM>. Typically, shell <NUM> further contains a controller (CTRL) <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a sensor <NUM>. Typically, RF generators <NUM>, controller <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and sensor <NUM>, along with any one or more of the additional components described below, are mounted on an electronic circuit board <NUM>. In some embodiments, two or more of these components are integrated into a single chip. For example, device <NUM> may comprise a chip comprising both controller <NUM> and memory <NUM>, such as the CY8C4247LQI-BL473 chip manufactured by Cypress Semiconductor™. In some embodiments, memory <NUM> comprises both an internal memory, which is integrated with controller <NUM> as described above, and an external memory chip.

Typically, controller <NUM> is configured to perform at least some of the functionality described herein by executing firmware and/or software code. Alternatively, the functionality of controller <NUM> may be implemented entirely in hardware.

To use device <NUM>, user <NUM> first covers distal surface <NUM> (or at least electrodes <NUM>) with a layer of gel having a thickness within a predefined range, such as <NUM>-<NUM>. Subsequently, the user runs treatment head <NUM> over the user's skin such that electrodes <NUM> are in electrical contact with the skin via the gel. As the treatment head is run over the skin, controller <NUM> treats the skin of user <NUM> with one or more RF electric currents, by causing the RF generators to pass the currents through the skin between the electrodes in accordance with feedback from sensor <NUM> and data from memory <NUM>.

More specifically, during and/or immediately after the application of at least some of the electric currents, sensor <NUM> measures a relevant characteristic of the skin or of the electric current, and generates an output signal to controller <NUM> responsively thereto. For example, sensor <NUM> may comprise a temperature sensor, configured to measure the temperature of the skin during and/or immediately after the application of the electric current. (In general, an electric current passed through thinner skin causes a greater increase in temperature, relative to an electric current passed through thicker skin. ) Alternatively or additionally, sensor <NUM> may comprise a current sensor, configured to measure the electric current applied to the skin. Alternatively or additionally, sensor <NUM> may comprise a voltage sensor, configured to measure a voltage associated with the electric current, such as the voltage at one or more of the activated electrodes, as the current is applied. Alternatively or additionally, sensor <NUM> may comprise a moisture sensor, configured to measure the moistness of the skin. Alternatively or additionally, sensor <NUM> may comprise an optical sensor configured to measure optical reflections from the skin, and/or an ultrasound transducer configured to measure ultrasound reflections from the skin.

Based on the output signal from sensor <NUM>, the controller ascertains the value of at least one parameter. For example, based on output from a temperature sensor, the controller may ascertain the temperature of the skin. Alternatively or additionally, based on output from a current sensor, the controller may ascertain a property, such as the amplitude and/or phase, of the applied current. Alternatively or additionally, based on output from a voltage sensor, the controller may ascertain a property, such as the amplitude and/or phase, of the voltage between the activated electrodes. Alternatively or additionally, based on output from the aforementioned current sensor and/or voltage sensor, the controller may ascertain the impedance of the skin; for example, the controller may divide the voltage amplitude measured by the voltage sensor by the current amplitude measured by the current sensor.

Typically, the parameter values are ascertained periodically, e.g., with a period of between several microseconds and one second.

In response to ascertaining each parameter value, the controller identifies a treatment setting from among multiple treatment settings, by applying at least one decision rule to the ascertained value. For example, the controller may input the parameter value to a machine-learned model such as a decision tree or forest, which is configured to select a treatment setting responsively to the input by implementing a set of decision rules. Alternatively, the decision rules may be represented by a mapping from multiple domains of the parameter to the treatment settings, respectively, such that the controller may identify the treatment setting by identifying the domain to which the value belongs. In other words, as further described below with reference to <FIG>, the controller may identify the domain to which the ascertained value belongs, and then identify the treatment setting to which, per the mapping, the domain is mapped.

In response to identifying the treatment setting, the controller causes the RF generators to cause one or more RF currents to pass, through the skin, between the electrodes in accordance with the identified treatment setting. In particular, if, when the treatment setting is identified, an RF current is already being applied in accordance with the identified treatment setting, the controller causes the application of this current to continue. (This causation may be active, in that the controller may communicate an appropriate control signal to the RF generators such that the RF generators continue applying the current, or passive, in that the controller may refrain from stopping the RF generators from applying the current. ) Otherwise, if an RF current is being applied in accordance with a different treatment setting, the controller stops the application of this current by communicating an appropriate control signal to the RF generators. Subsequently, or if no RF current is being applied when the treatment setting is identified, the controller applies a new RF current in accordance with the identified treatment setting by communicating an appropriate control signal to the RF generators.

Typically, the peak-to-peak amplitude of each RF current is between <NUM> and <NUM> V (e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM> V). In some embodiments, the RF currents are pulsed, e.g., such that the duration of each RF current - which, in these embodiments, may also be referred to as a "pulse" - is between <NUM> and <NUM>. (The amplitude and/or duration of each pulse may be varied, so as to deliver a desired amount of energy to the skin. ) Alternatively, a single current may be applied continuously until the next treatment setting is identified, or until the treatment session is terminated.

During or following each treatment session, the controller may modify at least one decision rule in response to the ascertained parameter values. For example, if the decision rules are implemented in a machine-learned model, the controller may retrain the model. Alternatively, as further described below with reference to <FIG>, the controller may modify the boundary of at least one parameter-value domain stored in memory <NUM>.

Alternatively or additionally to the components described above, device <NUM> may comprise any other suitable components, such as a power button or switch, a battery configured to power the device, one or more light-emitting diode (LED) indicators, and/or a movement sensor, such as an accelerometer. In response to the movement sensor ceasing to detect movement of the device across the skin, the controller may cause the device to power off, thus protecting the skin of the user from excessive electric current.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, a different respective RF generator is connected to each one of the electrodes. (Each RF generator also has a connection to ground, which is not shown in the figure. ) In such embodiments, each electric current is typically generated by applying one RF signal to one electrode, and another RF signal with the same amplitude but opposite phase to another electrode. The voltage between the pair may then be ascertained by measuring the voltage at one of the electrodes and multiplying this voltage by two. In other embodiments, a single RF generator is connected to all of the electrodes. As yet another alternative, various sets of multiple electrodes may be connected to different respective RF generators.

In some embodiments, each RF generator operates as a voltage source, in that the RF generator is configured to apply a predetermined voltage. Nonetheless, since the amplitude of the voltage that is actually applied may differ from the predetermined amplitude, e.g., due to the battery that powers the device being depleted, the applied voltage may be measured. Similarly, the applied current may be measured even if the RF generator operates as a current source.

In some embodiments, device <NUM> further comprises a communication interface, such as a network interface (not shown), a WiFi interface, and/or a Bluetooth interface. Via the communication interface, the controller may communicate with an external processor, such as a processor belonging to the user's smartphone and/or a processor <NUM> belonging to a cloud server <NUM>. (Optionally, the controller may communicate with processor <NUM> via the user's smartphone. ) At least some of this communication may be exchanged over a suitable computer network <NUM>, such as the Internet.

Typically, server <NUM> further comprises a network interface <NUM>, such as a network interface controller (NIC). Via network interface <NUM>, processor <NUM> may communicate with device <NUM>, with the user's smartphone, and/or with any number of other devices belonging to other users.

In general, each of the processors described herein may be embodied as a single processor or as a cooperatively networked or clustered set of processors. In some embodiments, the functionality of at least one of the processors, as described herein, is implemented solely in hardware, e.g., using one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). In other embodiments, the functionality of each processor is implemented at least partly in software. For example, in some embodiments, each processor is embodied as a programmed digital computing device comprising at least a central processing unit (CPU) and random access memory (RAM). Program code, including software programs, and/or data are loaded into the RAM for execution and processing by the CPU. The program code and/or data may be downloaded to the processor in electronic form, over a network, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the program code and/or data may be provided and/or stored on non-transitory tangible media, such as magnetic, optical, or electronic memory. Such program code and/or data, when provided to the processor, produce a machine or special-purpose computer, configured to perform the tasks described herein.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a schematic illustration of a technique for treating skin of a user in accordance with various treatment settings, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the skin-tightening device comprises at least three electrodes, at least one pair of the electrodes being spaced farther apart from one another than is another pair of the electrodes. In the particular example embodiment shown in <FIG>, for example, four electrodes protrude from distal surface <NUM>: a first electrode 28a, a second electrode 28b, a third electrode 28c, and a fourth electrode 28d. Some pairs of these electrodes have a first inter-electrode spacing d1, others have a second inter-electrode spacing d2, which is greater than d1, and another has a third inter-electrode spacing d3, which is greater than d2. (The spacing between first electrode 28a and fourth electrode 28d is not indicated explicitly in the figure. ) As another purely illustrative example, first electrode 28a may be at a distance of d3 from each of second electrode 28b and third electrode 28c, second electrode 28b may be at a distance of d1 from third electrode 28c, and fourth electrode 28d may be at a distance of d2 from each of second electrode 28b and third electrode 28c. (Example values for these distances are <NUM> for d1, <NUM> for d2, and <NUM> for d3. ) Alternatively, the electrodes may be of any other suitable number, and/or may be arranged in any other suitable configuration.

In such embodiments, the treatment settings stored in memory <NUM> specify respective groups of the electrodes for activation. For example, the memory may store a mapping from multiple domains of the relevant parameter, such as the impedance or temperature of the skin, to respective groups of the electrodes for activation. In response to identifying the treatment setting for each ascertained parameter value, the controller causes the RF generators to cause one or more electric currents to pass between the group of electrodes specified, by the identified treatment setting, for activation.

Typically, at least some of the treatment settings specify different respective groups for activation. For example, the hypothetical mapping in <FIG> includes four different groups of activated electrodes: (i) the domain [x0, x1) is mapped to the group consisting of first electrode 28a, second electrode 28b, and third electrode 28c, (ii) the domain [x1, x2) is mapped to the group consisting of first electrode 28a, third electrode 28c, and fourth electrode 28d, (iii) the domain [x2, x3) is mapped to the group consisting of second electrode 28b and fourth electrode 28d, and (iv) the domains [x3, x4) and [x4, x5) are each mapped to the group consisting of all of the electrodes.

In some embodiments, the treatment settings further specify respective sets of phases, at least some of the treatment settings specifying different respective sets of phases for the same group of electrodes. In response to identifying the treatment setting, the controller causes the RF generators to apply respective RF signals to the group of the electrodes specified by the treatment setting, the RF signals having, respectively, the set of phases specified by the identified treatment setting.

For example, in <FIG>, although the domains [x3, x4) and [x4, x5) are mapped to the same group of electrodes, these domains are mapped to different respective sets of phases. In particular, for the domain [x3, x4), first electrode 28a and third electrode 28c have a phase of zero, while second electrode 28b and fourth electrode 28d have a phase of <NUM> degrees. (Thus, in accordance with this treatment setting, the RF signals are applied to the electrodes such that the polarity of first electrode 28a and third electrode 28c is opposite that of second electrode 28b and fourth electrode 28d. ) For the domain [x4, x5), on the other hand, first electrode 28a and fourth electrode 28d have a phase of zero, while second electrode 28b and third electrode 28c have a phase of <NUM> degrees.

Typically, the domains include multiple skin-area domains corresponding to respective skin areas, each of the skin-area domains corresponding to a respective one of the skin areas by virtue of having been defined based on values of the parameter associated with the skin area. For example, one domain may correspond to a cheek, by virtue of having been defined based on parameter values associated with a cheek, such as cheek impedance values. Another domain may correspond to a forehead, by virtue of having been defined based on parameter values associated with a forehead, such as forehead impedance values.

In some embodiments, the parameter values used to define the skin-area domains are collected during a calibration procedure. During this procedure, the user runs the treatment head over the areas of skin for which the skin-area domains are to be defined. For each of these areas, RF currents are applied to the area, while the values of the parameter are ascertained.

For example, prior to using the device for treatment, the user may run the treatment head (with a suitably-thick layer of gel covering the electrodes) over multiple specific skin areas in sequence, indicating to the controller (e.g., by pushing a particular button) each transition from one skin area to the next. For each of the skin areas, the controller may ascertain a plurality of parameter values, and then define the domain for the skin area based on the ascertained values. For example, for each skin area, the controller may compute a respective characteristic value (CV), e.g., by computing the average of the ascertained values (excluding any outliers). The controller may then set the boundaries of the domains such that each boundary between adjacent domains is equidistant from the respective characteristic values of the adjacent domains.

For example, based on the calibration procedure, the controller may compute a characteristic impedance of ZC for the user's cheek and a characteristic impedance of ZF for the user's forehead. Responsively thereto, the controller may set a boundary of (ZC + ZF)/<NUM> between the cheek domain and the forehead domain.

In other embodiments, the values are collected from a suitable population of other users. Based on the values, a processor (e.g., processor <NUM> (<FIG>)) defines a set of default skin-area domains, which may be loaded into the memory of each skin-tightening device during the manufacture thereof.

In any case, regardless of whether the domains are computed from a user-specific calibration procedure or from data obtained from the general population, the boundaries of the domains may be adjusted throughout the lifetime of the device, as further described below.

In some embodiments, the domains in memory <NUM> further include one or more improper-electrical-contact domains corresponding to different respective states in which the electrodes are not in proper electrical contact with the skin. Responsively to ascertaining, during the treatment, a value of the parameter belonging to an improper-electrical-contact domain, the controller ceases treating the skin, or pauses the treatment until proper electrical contact is restored.

Typically, at least one of the improper-electrical-contact domains corresponds to a state in which the electrodes are not in any electrical contact with the skin. For example, a "gel domain," which may include, for example, impedances between <NUM> and <NUM>Ω, may correspond to a state in which the electrodes are covered by a layer of gel having a thickness within the predefined range, but are not in electrical contact with the skin. As another example, an "air domain," which may include, for example, impedances higher than <NUM>Ω, may correspond to a state in which the electrodes are not covered by gel and are not in electrical contact with the skin. As another example, a "short-circuit domain," which may include, for example, impedances less than <NUM>Ω, may correspond to a state in which the electrodes are electrically connected to each other via a low-resistance conductor, such as the user's wristwatch.

Alternatively or additionally, one of the improper-electrical-contact domains may correspond to a state in which the electrodes are in electrical contact with the skin but not via a layer of gel having a thickness within the predefined range; in other words, the electrodes may be covered by too little or too much gel. As a purely illustrative example, a domain corresponding to skin contact with too little intervening gel may include impedances between <NUM> and <NUM>Ω, while a domain corresponding to skin contact with too much intervening gel may include impedances between <NUM> and <NUM>Ω.

In some embodiments, responsively to identifying a state in which the electrodes are not in proper electrical contact with the skin, the controller generates an output indicating the state. For example, in response to identifying an improper amount of gel, the controller may cause an appropriate LED indicator to be lit, such that the user realizes the need to increase or decrease the amount of gel. Alternatively or additionally, the controller may communicate a message indicating the state to an external device, such as server <NUM> (<FIG>) or the user's smartphone. Responsively to receiving this message, the external device may generate an output to the user indicating the state, along with any action required to resume treatment. For example, in the case of an improper amount of gel, the user may be instructed to increase or decrease the amount of gel.

Each of the improper-electrical-contact domains may be defined by passing RF currents between the electrodes, and ascertaining values of the relevant parameter, while the electrodes are in the associated state of improper electrical contact. Alternatively, at least one of the improper-electrical-contact domains may be defined based on preexisting data, such as tables of impedance values for different types of materials. In any case, typically, the same set of improper-electrical-contact domains is loaded into the memory of each skin-tightening device during the manufacture thereof.

During each treatment session, the controller may store, in memory <NUM>, each ascertained value belonging to each domain. Subsequently, following the treatment session, based on the stored values, the controller may modify the respective characteristic values of one or more of the domains. The controller may then reset at least one of the domain boundaries responsively to the modified characteristic values. For example, the controller may set each boundary to be equidistant from the two nearest characteristic values.

In some embodiments, the controller modifies the characteristic value of a domain by computing the mean of the ascertained values belonging to the domain and then setting the characteristic value to a weighted average of the (current) characteristic value and the mean. In other words, given a characteristic value CVi and a mean M of the ascertained values, the controller may compute a new characteristic value CVi+<NUM> as αCVi + (<NUM>-α)M, where α is a suitable constant between zero and one, such as a constant between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Alternatively to assigning a single characteristic value to each domain, the controller may assign multiple characteristic values to each domain, e.g., by computing several local averages of a plurality of parameter values belonging to the domain. In such embodiments, responsively to a plurality of parameter values ascertained during a treatment session, the controller may update one or more of the local averages. Subsequently, the controller may modify the boundary between two adjacent domains by minimizing the sum of squared distances between the boundary and the local averages in the adjacent domains, or using any other suitable technique.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a schematic illustration of another technique for treating skin of a user in accordance with various treatment settings, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

In some embodiments, surface <NUM> is shaped to define a track <NUM>, and at least one electrode 28e is moveable along track <NUM>, such that the inter-electrode separation "s" between electrode 28e and another electrode 28f is adjustable. For example, the moveable electrode may be situated within the track, with the proximal end of the moveable electrode, which lies beneath surface <NUM>, threaded onto a screw lying parallel to the track and coupled to a motor. By using the motor to turn the screw, controller may move the moveable electrode along the track, toward or away from electrode 28f.

In such embodiments, at least some of the treatment settings stored in memory <NUM> specify different respective inter-electrode separations. For example, <FIG> shows, for the same set of hypothetical domains shown in <FIG>, different respective inter-electrode separations s1, s2, s3, s4, and s5. During the treatment session, in response to identifying the appropriate treatment setting, the controller moves electrode 28e along the track such that electrode 28e and electrode 28f are spaced apart from one another by the inter-electrode separation specified by the treatment setting. Subsequently to moving electrode 28e, the controller causes the RF generators to cause one or more electric currents to pass between electrode 28e and electrode 28f. (It is noted that a treatment setting may specify an inter-electrode separation implicitly, by specifying the position of the moveable electrode with respect to any coordinate system.

In general, for such embodiments, the controller may modify the characteristic values and/or the boundaries for the domains as described above with reference to <FIG>.

In some embodiments, treatment head <NUM> comprises one or more pairs of fixed-location electrodes, as in <FIG>, together with at least one moveable electrode, as in <FIG>. A treatment setting may thus specify a group of activated electrodes (along with, optionally, respective phases for the group), together with an inter-electrode separation for the moveable electrode.

It is noted that the treatment settings may specify additional treatment parameters not described above with reference to <FIG>. For example, two treatment settings may specify different respective voltage or current amplitudes.

In some cases, a combination of domains may be mapped to a single treatment setting. Thus, for example, a particular domain of impedance values in combination with a first domain of temperature or moistness values may be mapped to a first treatment setting, while the same domain of impedance values in combination with a second domain of temperature or moistness values may be mapped to a second treatment setting.

Advantageously, combining an impedance domain with a temperature or moistness domain may account for the fact that the impedance of skin may be a function of the temperature or moistness of the skin, such that a single impedance domain may correspond to different respective areas of skin at different respective temperatures or levels of moistness. Furthermore, this scheme may facilitate providing multiple treatment settings for a single skin area. For example, at the beginning of a treatment session, when the skin temperature is relatively low, a first treatment setting, specifying a relatively large number of activated electrodes, may be used. As the session continues and the skin temperature approaches a predefined safety threshold, however, a second treatment setting, specifying fewer activated electrodes, may be used.

Reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a flow diagram for an iterative method <NUM> for treating skin, in accordance with some embodiments. Method <NUM> is executed by controller <NUM> (<FIG>) following the powering-on of device <NUM> (<FIG>), and, optionally, an input from the user (e.g., via the pressing of an appropriate button) indicating that the user wishes to begin a treatment session.

Typically, method <NUM> begins with a prepulse-applying step <NUM>, at which the controller, prior to treating the skin, causes the RF generators to cause a pre-treatment electric current to pass, through the skin, between any pair of the electrodes. (The duration of this "prepulse" is typically between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM>. ) In some embodiments, a single pair of electrodes on the treatment head is designated for application of the prepulse; in other embodiments, the pair used for the prepulse may vary from one application to the next.

Based on the prepulse, the controller ascertains an initial value of the relevant parameter, such as the temperature of the skin, the amplitude and/or phase of the prepulse, or the amplitude and/or phase of the inter-electrode voltage, at a parameter-value-ascertaining step <NUM>. Subsequently, at a domain-identifying step <NUM>, the controller identifies the domain to which the parameter value belongs.

Next, at a domain-classifying step <NUM>, the controller checks whether the identified domain is a skin-area domain. If yes, the controller, at a setting-identifying step <NUM>, identifies the treatment setting to which, per the mapping in memory <NUM> (<FIG>), the identified domain is mapped. In response to identifying the treatment setting, the controller, at a current-applying step <NUM>, causes the RF generators to cause one or more electric currents to pass, through the skin, between the electrodes in accordance with the identified treatment setting.

On the other hand, if the identified domain is not a skin-area domain (but rather, is an improper-electrical-contact domain), the controller decides, at a deciding step <NUM>, whether to cease treatment of the skin. For example, the controller may ascertain whether the identified domain corresponds to a state in which the device or the user is at risk of being harmed, such as in the case of a short circuit or of the electrodes being covered by an insufficient amount of gel. If the controller decides to cease treatment, the controller proceeds to a post-treatment processing step <NUM>, described below. Otherwise, the controller returns to prepulse-applying step <NUM>. The controller may thus apply repeated prepulses until proper electrical contact is established between the electrodes and the skin.

Following current-applying step <NUM>, the controller, at a duration-checking step <NUM>, checks whether the duration of the treatment session thus far exceeds a predefined safety limit, such as two or three minutes. If not, the controller returns to parameter-value-ascertaining step <NUM>. Otherwise, the controller ceases to treat the skin, and proceeds to post-treatment processing step <NUM>. Similarly, as described above with reference to <FIG>, the treatment may be stopped in response to a lack of detected motion of the device. Likewise, the treatment may be stopped in response to the temperature of the skin exceeding the aforementioned predefined safety threshold, or in response to the user actively terminating the treatment, e.g., by pressing an appropriate button.

Following the treatment of the skin, the controller performs post-treatment processing step <NUM>, in which the controller, typically using artificial intelligence, modifies at least one boundary of at least one of the parameter-value domains in response to the parameter values ascertained during the treatment. In this regard, reference is now made to <FIG>, which is a flow diagram for post-treatment processing step <NUM>, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Post-treatment processing step <NUM> begins with a first checking step <NUM>, at which the controller checks whether any of the skin-area domains identified during the performance of method <NUM> were not yet processed. If yes, the controller selects an unprocessed identified skin-area domain, at a domain-selecting step <NUM>. Subsequently, at a second checking step <NUM>, the controller checks whether the number of parameter values ascertained for the selected domain exceeds a predefined threshold. If yes, the controller, at a mean-computing step <NUM>, computes the mean of the parameter values ascertained for the selected domain (excluding any outliers). Subsequently, at a characteristic-value-modifying step <NUM>, the controller modifies the characteristic value for the selected domain, based on the mean. For example, as described above with reference to <FIG>, the controller may compute a weighted average of the characteristic value and the mean. Subsequently to characteristic-value-modifying step <NUM>, or if not enough parameter values were ascertained, the controller returns to first checking step <NUM>.

In response to ascertaining, at first checking step <NUM>, that no unprocessed identified skin-area domains remain, the controller, at a boundary-modifying step <NUM>, modifies the boundaries of the skin-area domains based on the modified characteristic values. For example, as described above with reference to <FIG>, the controller may set each boundary of each skin-area domain to be midway between the characteristic value of the domain and the characteristic value of the relevant adjacent domain.

In some embodiments, server <NUM> (<FIG>) and controller <NUM> are configured to cooperatively carry out a process that includes comparing a quantity derived from at least some of the ascertained parameter values to a baseline quantity, and responsively to the comparing, generating an output to the user, e.g., by sending an email message to the user's email account or a text message to the user's phone.

For example, the controller may communicate multiple ascertained values of the temperature or impedance of at least one area of the user's skin to the server. The server may then compute the mean or median of these values, and compare this quantity to a baseline. (Alternatively, the controller may compute the mean or median, and communicate this quantity to server. ) In response to the comparison, the server may ascertain an attribute of the skin, such as the moistness of the skin. Responsively thereto, the server may generate an output to the user, such as a message indicating the attribute (e.g., a message indicating that the skin is dry) and/or a recommendation for a skin-care product (e.g., a moisturizer). Recommendations for skin-care products may also be issued to the user irrespective of the properties of the user's skin, based on data collected from other users.

Alternatively or additionally, the controller and at least one external processor, such as processor <NUM> (<FIG>) belonging to server <NUM> and/or a processor belonging to the user's smartphone, may cooperatively perform at least some of the functionality described above with reference to the figures. For example, during each treatment session, the controller may communicate each ascertained parameter value to the external processor, and the external processor may then identify the appropriate treatment setting and communicate the treatment setting to the controller. Alternatively or additionally, the post-treatment processing, in which the decision rules are modified, may be performed by the external processor.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>), comprising:
a plurality of electrodes (<NUM>);
one or more radiofrequency, RF, generators (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>), configured to:
using one or more decision rules for deciding between multiple treatment settings, treat skin of a user responsively to multiple ascertained values of at least one parameter, by iteratively:
ascertaining at least one respective value of the ascertained values,
by applying at least one of the decision rules to the ascertained value, identifying a treatment setting from among the multiple treatment settings, and
causing said one or more RF generators to cause one or more RF currents to pass, through the skin, between at least some of the electrodes in accordance with the identified treatment setting, characterised in that said controller is further configured to modify at least one of the decision rules in response to the ascertained values.