Methods for electrosurgical dermatological treatment
First Claim
1. A method for treatment of an external body surface comprising:
- positioning an electrode terminal in close proximity to a target site on an external body surface of a patient; and
applying high frequency electrical energy to the electrode terminal, the electrical energy being sufficient to remove a layer of the external body surface and to effect contraction of collagen fibers within tissue underlying the layer.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location on an external body surface, such as skin tissue removal and/or collagen shrinkage in the epidermis or dermis, e.g., the removal of pigmentations, vascular lesions (e.g., leg veins), scars, tattoos, etc., and for other surgical procedures on the skin, such as tissue rejuvenation, cosmetic surgery, wrinkle removal, hair removal and/or transplant procedures. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals adjacent an external body surface, such as the outer surface of the skin, to remove and/or modify the structure of tissue structures within the skin. Depending on the specific cosmetic procedure, the present invention may be used to: (1) volumetrically remove tissue or hair (i.e., ablate or effect molecular dissociation of the tissue structure); (2) separate a tissue layer from an underlying tissue layer so that the tissue layer can be removed; (3) shrink or contract collagen connective tissue; and/or (4) coagulate blood vessels underlying the surface of the skin.
608 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for treatment of an external body surface comprising:
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positioning an electrode terminal in close proximity to a target site on an external body surface of a patient; and
applying high frequency electrical energy to the electrode terminal, the electrical energy being sufficient to remove a layer of the external body surface and to effect contraction of collagen fibers within tissue underlying the layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of resurfacing a portion of a patient'"'"'s skin comprising:
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positioning an active electrode adjacent to, or in contact with, an epidermis surface at a target site on a patient'"'"'s skin in the presence of electrically conductive fluid;
positioning a return electrode in the electrically conductive fluid to generate a current path between the active and return electrodes through the electrically conductive fluid;
applying a high frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes, the voltage being sufficient to heat collagen fibers within the dermis to a range of about 45°
C. to about 90°
C.; and
removing a portion of the epidermis surface during the applying step. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of resurfacing a portion of a patient'"'"'s skin comprising:
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positioning an active electrode adjacent to, or in contact with, an epidermis surface at a target site on a patient'"'"'s skin in the presence of electrically conductive fluid;
positioning a return electrode in the electrically conductive fluid to generate a current path between the active and return electrodes through the electrically conductive fluid;
positioning the return electrode proximal to the active electrode to induce current flow from the active electrode away from the target site; and
applying a high frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes, the voltage being sufficient to heat collagen fibers within the dermis to a range of about 45°
C. to about 90°
C.- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification