Method and apparatus for plasma skin resurfacing

• US 6,518,538 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattioli Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mattioli Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Bernabei, Gian Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US09/975,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20020043520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.52, 219/121.59, 219/121.48, 219/121.37, 219/121.38, 607/101, 607/104, 607/96, 607/1, 607/2
• US Class Current: 219/121.52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue

Abstract

A radio frequency generated plasma is provided to a skin surface in a controlled manner, in order to heat and selectively damage a thin superficial layer, thereby inducing a renewal process of the epidermis. The plasma is generated by providing a vacuum to the probe, and also providing an rf pulse to an electrode within the probe, thereby creating a glow discharge that includes gas ions that contact the skin and cause the skin to heat up.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a skin surface of a patient, comprising:

a probe having an opening to be in contact with the skin surface, the probe further having a first input port and a second input port;

a radio frequency generator that provides a radio frequency voltage;

a vacuum pump that provides a vacuum;

a suction pipe connected between the vacuum pump and the probe, the suction pipe providing the vacuum to the probe via the first input port;

a coaxial cable that provides the radio frequency voltage to the probe via the second input port;

an electrode disposed within the probe and connected to the coaxial cable, the electrode configured to receive the radio frequency power generator and to provide a glow discharge when the vacuum is provided to the probe by way of the vacuum and the vacuum pump,

wherein the glow discharge provides a substantially uniform heating of the skin surface down to at least a predetermined depth beneath the skin surface.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the treating of the skin surface is to resurface the skin.

3. A method for treating a skin surface, comprising:

controlling a pulsed radio frequency generator to output at least one pulse having an output power of between 1 and 500 W , an output frequency of between 2 MHz and 52 MHz, and an output pulsewidth of between 1 and 1000 millisecond;

controlling a vacuum source to provide a vacuum;

providing the at least one pulse and the vacuum to a probe to be provided directly on the skin surface to be treated, the probe having an opening that covers the skin surface to be treated, the probe further having an electrode which receives the least one pulse and which is under vacuum due to the vacuum provided by the vacuum source,

wherein a glow discharge is provided to the skin surface as a result, in order to provide a substantially uniform heating of the skin surface and regions below the skin surface to a fixed depth therebelow.

4. A method for treatment of a skin surface according to claim 3, wherein treatment is to remove unwanted brown spots from the skin surface.

5. A method for treatment of a skin surface according to claim 3, wherein low pressure Helium is injected in the glow discharge.

6. A method for treatment of a skin surface according to claim 3, wherein treatment is to resurface the skin.