System and Method for Selective Treatment of Skin and Subcutaneous Fat Using a Single Frequency Dual Mode Radio Frequency Antenna Device

• US 20180133499A1
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vasily Dronov
• Original Assignee: Crysanthe, Inc.
• Inventors: DRONOV, Vasily, ELFORD, Erica Lee, FLOREZ MARINO, Sylvia Helena
• Granted Patent: US 10,758,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00464 Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00863 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/007 for cooling the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/022 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment

Abstract

A radio frequency system capable of selectively heating skin and subcutaneous fat tissues using a single frequency dual mode antenna device is disclosed. A detailed description and theory of operation of the antenna device are disclosed. The antenna device disclosed herein is capable of generating electric fields that are either mostly tangent, or mostly normal, to the skin surface, resulting in either predominantly heating skin or predominantly heating fat. The method for treating skin and subcutaneous fat tissues using such system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing radio frequency (RF) therapy to a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a handpiece comprising an antenna device and a contact surface configured for placement in proximity to the patient'"'"'s skin, wherein

the antenna device is configured to selectably operate in a first mode in which the antenna device generates RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially tangential to the patient'"'"'s skin and in a second mode in which the antenna device generates RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially normal with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna device is configurable to be operated in the first mode and in the second mode simultaneously.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the antenna device is configurable to simultaneously generate a first amount of electric field according to the first mode and a second amount of electric field according to the second mode, wherein the first and second amounts of electric field can selectably be the same or different.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna device comprises a resonator tank, a transverse magnetic mode feed, and a transverse electric mode feed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transverse magnetic mode feed and the transverse electric mode feed are substantially orthogonal to each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the resonator tank contains a dielectric material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the dielectric material is a moldable thermoplastic.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the resonator tank is axisymmetric.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the handpiece further comprises a horn, wherein the contact surface is integral with the horn.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the combined height of the resonator tank and horn comprises is approximately equal to the diameter of the resonator tank.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handpiece further comprises one or more airducts configured to provide air to the patient'"'"'s skin.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handpiece further comprises one or more temperature sensors.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF radiation has a frequency between 400 MHz and 6 GHz.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a console.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the console comprises a graphical user interface (GUI).

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the console comprises and air pump.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the console comprise an RF power source coupled to an RF switch and a 180°

hybrid power splitter.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the console comprises one or more RF detectors configured to measure power delivered to the antenna device and power reflected from the antenna device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the console comprises a controller configured to adjust a setting of the antenna device based on a parameter sensed by a sensor in the handpiece.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the parameter relates to temperature.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the parameter relates to force.

22. A system for providing radio frequency (RF) therapy to a patient, the system comprising:

a handpiece comprising an antenna device and a contact surface configured for placement in proximity to the patient'"'"'s skin; and

a console;

wherein

the antenna device comprises a resonator tank, a transverse magnetic mode feed, and a transverse electric mode feed; and

wherein

the console comprises a controller unit configured to cause the antenna device to selectably operate in a first mode in which the antenna device generates RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially tangential to the patient'"'"'s skin and in a second mode in which the antenna device generates RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially normal with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin.

23-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of providing radio frequency (RF) therapy to a patient, the method comprising:

positioning an antenna device in proximity to the patient'"'"'s skin;

selecting to heat either predominantly a layer of subcutaneous fat of the patient or predominantly the patient'"'"'s skin;

if the selecting comprises selecting to heat predominantly a layer of subcutaneous fat, causing the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially normal with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin, and

if the selecting comprises selecting to heat predominantly the patient'"'"'s skin, causing the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially tangential with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

using the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially tangential to the patient'"'"'s skin;

determining a change in a resonant frequency of the antenna device; and

estimating a thickness of a fat layer of the patient based on the change.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

using the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially tangential to the patient'"'"'s skin;

determining a difference in temperature at two positions upon the patient'"'"'s skin; and

estimating a thermal conductance of the patient'"'"'s skin based on the difference.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

using the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially normal to the patient'"'"'s skin;

determining a change in temperature of the patient'"'"'s skin following application of the RF radiation; and

estimating a thickness of a fat layer of the patient based on the change.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising sensing a temperature of the patient'"'"'s skin and ceasing generating the RF radiation if the temperature exceeds a predetermined value.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing cool air to the patient'"'"'s skin.

36. A method of providing radio frequency (RF) therapy to a patient, the method comprising:

positioning a handpiece in proximity to the patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the handpiece comprises an antenna device and a contact surface configured for placement in proximity to the patient'"'"'s skin;

selecting to heat either predominantly a layer of subcutaneous fat of the patient or predominantly the patient'"'"'s skin;

if the selecting comprises selecting to heat predominantly a layer of subcutaneous fat, causing the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially normal with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin, and

if the selecting comprises selecting to heat predominantly the patient'"'"'s skin, causing the antenna device to generate RF radiation having an electric field that is substantially tangential with respect to the patient'"'"'s skin.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein selecting comprises selecting a choice displayed upon a graphical user interface (GUI).

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the GUI is contained within a console operably connected to the handpiece.