U.S. patent application number 13/178656 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-03 for method and device for collagen growth stimulation.
This patent application is currently assigned to SYNERON MEDICAL LTD.. Invention is credited to Lion FLYASH, Michael KREINDEL.
Application Number | 20110270364 13/178656 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40089995 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110270364 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KREINDEL; Michael ; et
al. |
November 3, 2011 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COLLAGEN GROWTH STIMULATION
Abstract
Provided is an applicator for skin treatment having one or more
RF electrodes. An article is located between the electrodes, such
as a roller or flexible belt containing one or more protruding pins
electrically isolated from the RF electrodes. Also provided is a
system for skin treatment including the applicator and a control
unit. Further provided is a method of treating skin disorders in
which a section of the skin is heated while, essentially
simultaneously, one or more holes are placed in the heated section
of the skin. The present method may be used, for example, in
collagen remodeling.
Inventors: |
KREINDEL; Michael; (Yokneam
Illit, IL) ; FLYASH; Lion; (Nazareth-illit,
IL) |
Assignee: |
SYNERON MEDICAL LTD.
Yokneam Illit
IL
|
Family ID: |
40089995 |
Appl. No.: |
13/178656 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12222063 |
Jul 31, 2008 |
|
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13178656 |
|
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60935224 |
Aug 1, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
607/88 ; 607/101;
607/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2018/0047 20130101;
A61B 18/14 20130101; A61B 2018/143 20130101; A61B 18/203 20130101;
A61B 2018/00452 20130101; A61B 2017/00747 20130101; A61B 2018/00476
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
607/88 ; 607/96;
607/101 |
International
Class: |
A61N 5/06 20060101
A61N005/06; A61N 5/00 20060101 A61N005/00; A61F 7/00 20060101
A61F007/00 |
Claims
1-22. (canceled)
23. A method of treating skin disorders, comprising heating a
section of the skin while, essentially simultaneously, piercing one
or more holes in the heated section of the skin.
24. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 23,
wherein the skin is heated by a source of RadioFrequency (RF).
25. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 23,
wherein the skin is heated by a source of light.
26. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 23,
wherein the skin is cooled by a source of cooling fluid.
27. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 23,
further comprising: (a) puncturing a section of skin by one or more
invasive pins, and introducing fragmental holes into the skin; and
(b) stimulating collagen growth in the skin using an RF electrode
and heating the skin.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to electromagnetic energy skin
treatment and, in particular, skin treatment for dermatological and
cosmetic purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known that skin damage can stimulate the growth of new
collagen. Uncontrolled skin damage may cause scarring, which is
excessive collagen growth. However, controlled damage of the skin
which is intentionally introduced can stimulate controlled
re-growth of collagen in such a way as to improve the appearance of
the skin. A well known method of controlled skin damage is ablating
the epidermis using laser radiation with wavelengths having strong
water absorption. Typical lasers used for epidermal ablation are
CO.sub.2 and Er:YAG lasers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,387 to Eggers et
al. discloses ablation of the epidermis using RF current. This
treatment significantly reduces wrinkles and improves skin
appearance. The main disadvantages of skin resurfacing are the long
healing period that can last for more than a month, and a high risk
of dischromia. These disadvantages have reduced the popularity of
ablative skin re-surfacing.
[0003] Non-ablative skin resurfacing is based on heating the dermis
up to a sub-necrotic temperature with simultaneous cooling of the
skin surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,801 to Anderson et al. describes
the use of infrared laser radiation penetrating into the skin
dermis with dynamic cooling of the skin surface using a cryogen
spray. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,753 to Knowlton describes a method of
skin tightening using uni-polar or bi-polar RF electrodes to create
skin heating in combination with cooling to generate a negative
skin temperature gradient in which the dermis is hotter than the
epidermis. The main barrier for introducing RF current is the
stratum cornea, which should be hydrated by an electrolytic type of
liquid prior the treatment. Non-ablative treatment is much safer
and has no down time but the results of the treatment are less
satisfactory.
[0004] A method described in U.S. patent publication 20030216719
tries to retain the efficiency of ablative treatment coupled with a
shorter healing time and with a lower risk of adverse effects. The
device described in this patent publication coagulates fragments of
the skin having a size in the range of tens of microns while
keeping the distance between the fragments larger than the damaged
zone. This treatment provides skin healing within a few days, but
the results are very superficial and less satisfactory than with a
CO.sub.2 laser, even after multiple sessions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Disclosed is a system and method for collagen growth
stimulation. The method and the system use a combination of two
different methods of stimulating collagen growth to provide a
collagen remodeling process that is controlled and effective.
[0006] This method can be applied to a plurality of clinical
treatments including different skin disorders, such as wrinkle
treatment, skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, skin dischromia
treatment, and others.
[0007] The system comprises a mechanical part creating spaced apart
blind micro-holes in the skin with controlled size and surface
density and one or more sources of energy providing skin
heating.
[0008] Thus, in one of its aspects, the invention provides an
applicator for skin treatment, said applicator comprising: [0009]
(a) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin
surface; and [0010] (b) an article located between the electrodes,
said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically
isolated from the RF electrodes.
[0011] In another of its aspects, the invention provides a system
for skin treatment, said system comprising: [0012] (a) an
applicator for skin treatment, said applicator including: [0013] i)
one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface;
and [0014] ii) an article located between the electrodes said
article containing one or more protruding pins electrically
isolated from the RF electrodes; and [0015] (b) a control unit.
[0016] The invention also provides a method of treating skin
disorders, said method comprising heating a section of the skin
while, essentially simultaneously, piercing one or more holes in
the heated section of the skin.
[0017] The invention still further provides a method of collagen
remodeling, said method comprising: [0018] (a) puncturing a section
of skin by one or more invasive pins, and introducing fragmental
holes into the skin; and [0019] (b) stimulating collagen growth in
the skin using an RF electrode and heating the skin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by
way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary
embodiment of a system for skin treatment in accordance with the
present method;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary
embodiment of the applicator for use in the system of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of
the applicator of FIG. 2; and
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary
embodiment of the applicator for skin treatment in accordance with
the present method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Reference is made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic
illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a system for skin
treatment in accordance with the present method. The system 100
includes an applicator 104 and a control unit 108 both of which
will be described in detail below. A cable 112 connects the
applicator 104 to the control unit 108. Applicator 104 is adapted
to be applied to the skin 116 of an individual and moved over the
skin 116 surface 120.
[0026] Control unit 108 includes an RF energy generator 124 that is
connected to RF electrodes 204 (FIG. 2) in the applicator 104 via
wires in cable 112. Control unit 108 has an input device such as a
keypad 128 that allows an operator to input selected values of
parameters of the treatment, such as the frequency, pulse duration
and intensity of the RF energy. Control unit 108 optionally
contains a processor 132 for monitoring and controlling various
functions of the system. For example, processor 132 may monitor the
electrical impedance between the electrodes 204 in the applicator
104, and determine the temperature distribution close to and at the
target skin section. Processor 132 may also determine the
parameters of the treatment based upon the impedance between
electrodes 204 measurements.
[0027] Control unit 108 may include a source of power supply 136
that provides power to an optional light source located in
applicator 104. In the course of operation, when RF is supplied to
electrodes 204, the temperature of the electrodes may increase.
Electrodes 204 can be cooled using thermo-electric coolers (not
shown) or a cold fluid that has a temperature less than that of the
skin surface. Control unit 108 may include a source 140 of such a
fluid, and pump the fluid to the electrodes when needed.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary
embodiment of the applicator for use in the system of FIG. 1.
Applicator 104 is shown applied to a skin surface 120. Applicator
104 contains one or more RF electrodes 204, but typically would
have a pair of RF electrodes 204, and an article having a form of a
roller 208 with pins 212 protruding and extending outwardly in
radial direction, electrically isolated from RF electrodes. Article
208 is located between electrodes 204 and is made from an
electrically insulating or dielectric material. The diameters of
pins 212 are less than 0.5 mm and their length is not more than 3
mm. The typical length of the pins is 0.7 mm and the typical
diameter is 0.1 mm. Any biocompatible material, for example,
stainless steel, plastic material, and composite materials could be
used for making the pins. The density of the pins should be high
enough to provide uniform treatment of the treated skin surface.
Typically, a pin density of 10-20 per square centimeter is
sufficient for successful treatment results. Pins 212 made of metal
may be inserted into the roller 208 insulating material.
Alternatively, pins 212 may be formed from the same insulating
material being an integral part of roller 208.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of
the applicator of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an
exemplary embodiment of the applicator for use in the system of
FIG. 1. Applicator 104 has a body 304, which is convenient to hold
and serves as a frame that contains a pair of RF electrodes 204,
and article 208 having a form of a roller with protruding pins 212
electrically isolated from RF electrodes.
[0030] In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the article
has the form of an endless flexible belt 406 with pins 410 similar
to pins 212 protruding from the belt. Belt 406 may be tensioned
between two rollers 414 and, if necessary, conform to a treated
section of skin 116. The distance between the rollers may be longer
or shorter than the length of electrodes 204.
[0031] In use, applicator 104 or 404 is applied to skin such that
RF electrodes 204 contact the skin 116 surface 120. Following this,
applicator 104 is moved over skin 116, maintaining contact with
skin surface 120. As applicator 104 is moved over the skin surface
120, article 208 (roller 208) or belt 406 rolls over the skin
surface 120. Pins 212 or 410 puncture the skin and create blind
holes in it, penetrating into the skin to reach a collagen layer
228 located at a depth of over 70 microns below the skin surface.
Simultaneously RF energy is supplied to electrodes 204 and an RF
current is made to flow between the electrodes 204 through collagen
layer 228 of the skin. RF electrodes 204 deliver an RF current to
the skin section with holes created in it by pins 212 or 410 and
provide heating of the collagen structure 228. The RF power applied
should be sufficient to heat a treated skin section by at least 5
(five) degrees C. The optimal skin heating is 10-20 degrees C. over
the normal skin temperature. The RF power is preferably in the
range of 10-500 W, more preferably 20-100 W. The RF current
frequency is in the range of 0.2-100 MHZ, with a typical operating
range of 1-10 MHz. Control unit 108 regulates and switches ON or
OFF supply of RF power to electrodes 204 by monitoring the
impedance between electrodes 204.
[0032] Pins 212 or 410 made of an isolating or dielectric material
have a resistance higher than that of the skin and the damaged
section of the skin around the pin/s. The lower conductivity of the
plastic or dielectric in the interior of blind holes causes the
current density to be maximal around the circumference of the
holes. Holes produced by pins 212 or 410 are spaced apart from each
other and there is no contact between them. The holes damage a
small fragment of the skin 116. The high density of RF current
around the punctured holes heats the fraction of the skin around
each hole more strongly and further stimulates collagen growth.
[0033] As noted above, electrodes 204 may be shorter or longer than
the punctured skin section. FIG. 4 illustrates electrodes 204 that
are longer than the punctured skin section 420 typically located
between rollers 414. Applicator 404 continues its movement to the
next skin section to be treated. For example, in one of the
directions indicated by arrow 424, leaving the blind holes created
by pins 410 filled with air. The lower conductivity of the air in
the interior of blind holes causes the current density to be
maximal around the circumference of the holes. The high density of
RF current around the punctured holes heats more strongly the
fraction of the skin around each hole, and longer electrodes extend
the treatment time, further stimulating collagen growth.
[0034] The treated skin surface 120 is affected by rolling the
article over the skin. Pins of the article penetrate skin 116 and
should be sterilized before each treatment. In order to avoid this
and simplify the treatment process, both roller 208 and belt 406
could be made as disposable items.
[0035] In another embodiment, instead of an RF current, the skin
can be heated using optical energy. The optical energy can be
produced by a laser, an incandescent lamp, a flash lamp, or a LED.
The belt or roller may be made of transparent material, for
example, glass, Polycarbonate, or Perspex.TM. enabling heating with
light energy simultaneous with puncturing. Alternatively, light
sources may be mounted to illuminate/irradiate from both sides of
roller 208.
[0036] The present apparatus and method enable collagen remodeling
due to fragmental stimulation of collagen growth in the skin using
an electrical electrode and invasive pins.
[0037] While the method and apparatus have been described with
respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated
that many variations, modifications and other applications of the
method and apparatus may be made.
* * * * *