APPARATUS FOR TRANSCUTANEOUSLY TREATING TISSUE
Apparatus for transcutaneously treating tissue beneath a skin surface using radiofrequency energy. The apparatus includes an electrode assembly supported by a handpiece. The electrode assembly includes an electrode configured to transfer the radiofrequency energy through the skin surface to the tissue. A force sensor, which is located in the handpiece, is configured to detect an amount of force applied by the electrode against the skin surface.
1 . A method for transcutaneously treating tissue beneath a skin surface, the method comprising:
generating radiofrequency energy with a conductive portion of an electrode;
contacting the electrode with the skin surface;
transmitting the radiofrequency energy from the conductive portion through a dielectric portion of the electrode and through the skin surface to capacitively couple the radiofrequency energy into the tissue; and
detecting an amount of force applied by the electrode against the skin surface.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of force is detected by a force sensor.
3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
acquiring and analyzing, by a microprocessor, data received from the force sensor.
4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:
controlling a radiofrequency generator with control signals received from the microprocessor.
5 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
zeroing out, by the force sensor, gravity effects of a weight of the electrode.
6 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
zeroing out, by the force sensor, gravity effects of a weight of the electrode in any orientation of a front surface of the electrode relative to a direction of gravity.
7 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
providing, by the force sensor, a signal indicating contact between the electrode and the skin surface.
8 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
providing, by the force sensor, a signal indicating that a force applied by the electrode to the skin surface is below a minimum threshold.
9 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
providing, by the force sensor, a signal indicating that a force applied by the electrode to the skin surface is above a maximum threshold.
10 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:
spring loading the electrode so as to pre-load the force sensor.
11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising:
receiving user input at an activation button; and
in response to the user input, taring the force sensor.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the force sensor is tared before contacting the electrode with the skin surface.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is configured to reduce at least one of an edge effect, an electrode edge effect, an electrode temperature gradient, an electrode current density gradient, or a tissue interface surface temperature gradient
14 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
delivering a cooling medium to the electrode.
15 . The method of claim 14 further comprising:
storing, in a non-volatile memory, at least one of a duty cycle for controlling the delivery of the cooling media, a number of times the electrode has been moved relative to the skin surface, or a number of areas treated by the electrode.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the cooling medium evaporatively cools a back surface of the electrode, and further comprising:
conductively cooling the skin surface in contact with a front surface of the electrode.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the cooling medium vaporizes during the evaporative cooling, and further comprising:
venting the vaporized cooling medium from the electrode.