Treatment apparatus and methods for delivering high frequency energy across large tissue areas
US8216218B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 9, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/1467
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating skin conditions that deliver high frequency energy across large tissue areas. The treatment apparatus comprises a treatment tip carrying a plurality of electrodes that are switched such that fewer than all of the electrodes are concurrently energized. The treatment tip includes a cooling mechanism that cools near-surface tissue regions disposed between the skin surface and the treated tissue by cooling the respective electrode that treats each of the regions. The cooling mechanism may include a heat transfer body intervening between the electrodes and a fluid delivery member configured to discharge coolant that impinges the heat transfer body. Alternatively, the cooling mechanism may include a fluid delivery member having individually valve-controlled passages configured to discharge a dedicated stream of coolant at each of the electrodes, a thermoelectric cooler, or a closed-loop fluid delivery member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.