Electrical skin rejuvenation

• US 9,278,230 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syneron Medical Limited (Syneron Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Syneron Medical Limited (Syneron Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levin, Galit, Sohn, Zev
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/203,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 606 20- 52, 607 96-114
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/328 for improving the appearance of the skin, e.g. facial toning or wrinkle treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A method is provided for reducing a wrinkle on a skin surface (42). The method includes identifying a person having a skin surface (42) with a wrinkle and in response to identifying the person, positioning at respective sites on the skin surface (42) an array (44) of electrodes (60) coupled to an energy source (46). While the electrodes (60) are at the respective sites: during a first time period, applying energy from the energy source (46) to drive the electrodes (60) to apply radio frequency (RF) current at a first voltage, capable of ablating an epidermal layer of the skin; and during a second time period, applying energy from the energy source (46) to drive the electrodes (60) to apply current at a second voltage, lower than the first voltage. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method for reducing a wrinkle on a skin surface, comprising:

identifying a skin surface with a wrinkle;

positioning at respective sites on the skin surface an array of electrodes communicatively coupled to an energy source; and

while the electrodes are positioned at the respective sites;

during a first time period, applying energy from the energy source to drive the electrodes to apply a radio frequency (RF) current at a first voltage sufficient to ablate micro-channels in the epidermal layer of the skin and, at least partially, ablate collagenous dermal tissue, the micro-channels accessing the ablated collagenous dermal tissue; and

during a second time period, applying energy from the energy source to drive the electrodes to apply a current at a second voltage lower than the first voltage;

wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises initiating application of the energy;

at least 10 ms after the first time period application of energy; and

subsequent to filling of the micro-channels with body fluid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the first time period comprises applying the energy for 1-20 ms.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises applying the energy for at least 1 second.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises applying only non-ablating energy during the second time period.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the first time period comprises setting a voltage of the energy applied during the first time period to be 150-350 V base-to-peak.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises setting a voltage of the energy applied during the second time period to be 10-200 V base-to-peak.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises setting a voltage of the energy applied during the second time period to be 10-100 V base-to-peak.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the first time period comprises setting a frequency of the energy applied during the first time period to be 50-500 kHz.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises setting a frequency of the energy applied during the second time period to be 50-500 kHz.

10. A method for reducing a wrinkle on a skin surface, comprising:

identifying a skin surface with a wrinkle;

positioning at respective sites on the skin surface an array of electrodes communicatively coupled to an energy source; and

while the electrodes are positioned at the respective sites;

during a first time period, applying energy from the energy source to drive the electrodes to apply a radio frequency (RF) current at a first voltage for 1-20 ms, the first voltage sufficient to ablate micro-channels in the epidermal layer of the skin and, at least partially, ablate collagenous dermal tissue, the micro-channels accessing the ablated collagenous dermal tissue; and

during a second time period, applying energy from the energy source to drive the electrodes to apply a current at a second voltage lower than the first voltage for at least 1 second;

wherein applying energy during the second time period comprises initiating application of the energy;

at least 10-99 ms after the first time period application of energy; and

subsequent to filling of the micro-channels with body fluid.