Method and system for invasive skin treatment
View Patent ↗A system and method for simultaneously heating a plurality of discrete skin volumes to a coagulation temperature. The system comprises an applicator containing an electrode having a plurality of spaced apart protruding conducting elements configured to contact the skin surface at a plurality of discrete locations. A controller applies a voltage to the electrode so as to simultaneously heat a plurality of skin volumes to a coagulation temperature when the applicator is applied to the skin surface.
1. A method for simultaneously heating a plurality of discrete skin volumes to a coagulation temperature, the method comprising:
applying an applicator to a skin surface, the applicator including at least one electrode having a plurality of spaced apart protruding conducting elements configured to contact the skin surface at a plurality of discrete locations, the conducting elements terminated by tips configured not to penetrate into the skin surface;
applying RF energy to the at least one electrode so as to generate an electrical current in the skin to simultaneously heat a plurality of discrete skin volumes to a coagulation temperature,
wherein the conducting elements are spaced apart by a distance of at least 1 mm, and applying the applicator to the skin surface results in the conducting elements contacting the skin surface at spaced apart discrete locations.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the skin surface when the conducting elements contact the skin surface.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein cooling the skin surface includes applying a pre-cooled fluid to the skin surface when the conducting elements contact the skin surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying RF energy to the electrode includes applying RF energy in pulses.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the pulses have duration of less than 0.5 sec.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying RF energy to the electrode includes applying a current density of at least 1 A/cm2 at the tip.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating the conducting elements from one another by an electrical insulating material disposed between the conducting elements.
8. A method for simultaneously heating a plurality of discrete skin volumes to a coagulation temperature, the method comprising:
applying a plurality of spaced apart conducting elements to a skin surface, the conducting elements configured to contact the skin surface at a plurality of discrete locations, the conducting elements terminated by end configured to be impenetrable to the skin surface;
applying RF energy to the conducting elements to generate an electrical current in the skin and simultaneously heat a plurality of discrete skin volumes to a coagulation temperature,
wherein applying RF energy to the conducting elements includes applying RF energy sufficient to generate a current density of at least 1 Ampere/cm 2 at the tips of the conducting elements.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising cooling the skin surface when the conducting elements contact the skin surface.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein cooling the skin surface includes applying a pre-cooled fluid to the skin surface when the conducting elements contact the skin surface.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein applying RF energy to the electrode includes applying RF energy in pulses.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pulses have duration of less than 0.5 sec.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising separating the conducting elements from one another by an electrical insulating material disposed between the conducting elements.