Treatment apparatus with electromagnetic energy delivery device and non-volatile memory

• US 7,006,874 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thermage Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thermage Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Knowlton, Edward W., Weber, Bryan, Levinson, Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/404,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/98, 607/99, 607101-102, 607/104, 606/1, 606/9
• US Class Current: 607/101
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/22 Face shaping devices, e.g. chin straps; Wrinkle removers, e.g. stretching the skin skin stretchers for shaving A45D27/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/0218 with open-end cryogenic probe, e.g. for spraying fluid directly on tissue or via a tissue-contacting porous tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00047 using Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00488 Esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0237 : with a thermoelectric element in the probe for cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 : Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 : Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0021 : Female breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 : with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 : without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 : Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 : by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 : cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/28 : Apparatus for applying thermoelectric currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 : Applicators worn by the patient

Abstract

An apparatus for cooling a skin surface includes a support structure coupled to an electromagnetic energy delivery device. The electromagnetic energy delivery device is configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic energy source. A cooling member is coupled to the electromagnetic energy delivery device and is configured to create a reverse thermal gradient through a skin surface. A memory is coupled to the electromagnetic energy delivery device and is positioned at the support structure or the electromagnetic energy delivery device. The memory is configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the cooling member, and the electromagnetic energy source. Resources are coupled to the cooling member to permit different levels of cooling at different times of treatment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating skin tissue, comprising:

an electromagnetic energy delivery device configured to be coupled to an electromagnetic energy source, the device including an electrode with a tissue contacting portion, the electrode configured to produce a tissue effect on the skin tissue;

a non-ambient cooling member configured to create a reverse thermal gradient through an outer layer of the skin tissue to an underlying tissue;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the electrode; and

a control operatively coupled to the sensors and configured to determine whether at least a portion of the tissue contacting portion of the electrode is out of contact with the skin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sensor is a thermal sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each sensor is selected from a thermocouple, thermistor, infrared photo-emitter or a thermally sensitive diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is an RF source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device is an RF electrode and a memory is utilized to assist in controlling an amount of current delivered by the RF electrode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device is an RF electrode and a memory is utilized to assist in providing a maximum allowed voltage that is deliverable by the RF electrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in controlling energy delivery duration time of the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in controlling a temperature of the electromagnetic energy delivery device relative to a target temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a maximum number of firings of the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a history of energy delivery device use.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a controllable duty cycle to the non-ambient cooling member.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a controllable delivery rate of cooling delivered from the non-ambient cooling member.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing an amount of time that the electromagnetic energy delivery device can be used.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing an amount of energy delivery device usage.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a number of areas treated by the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a number of times the electromagnetic energy delivery device has been moved relative to the skin surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing at least one of time or date of electromagnetic energy delivery device usage.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing an amount of energy delivered by the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a status of the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing a status of the electromagnetic energy source.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a memory is utilized to assist in providing information relative to a change of tissue in response to energy delivered by the electromagnetic energy delivery device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode includes a dielectric portion.

23. An apparatus for treating skin tissue comprising:

an electromagnetic energy source;

an electromagnetic energy delivery device coupled to the electromagnetic energy source, the device including an electrode with a tissue contacting portion, the electrode configured to produce a tissue effect on the skin tissue;

a non-ambient cooling member configured to create a reverse thermal gradient through an outer layer of the skin tissue to an underlying tissue;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the electrode; and

a control operatively coupled to the sensors and configured to determine whether at least a portion of the tissue contacting portion of the electrode is out of contact with the skin.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the electrode includes a dielectric portion.

25. A method of producing a tissue effect with an electromagnetic energy delivery device including an electrode with a tissue contacting portion and a plurality of sensors operatively coupled with the tissue contacting portion, the method comprising:

contacting the skin of a patient with the tissue contacting portion;

delivering electromagnetic energy through the skin with the electrode; and

using the sensors to detect whether the tissue contacting portion is out of complete contact with the skin of the patient.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

using the sensors to detect whether the tissue contacting portion is only partially contacting the skin of the patient.