IL203339A - System for collagen growth stimulation - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for collagen growth stimulation Syneron Medical METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COLLAGEN GROWTH STIMULATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electromagnetic energy skin treatment in skin treatment for dermatological and cosmetic BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that skin damage can stimulate the growth of new Uncontrolled skin damage may cause which is excessive collagen controlled damage of the skin which is introduced can stimulate controlled of collagen in such a way as to improve the appearance of the A well known method of controlled skin damage is ablating the epidermis using laser radiation with wavelengths having strong water Typical lasers used for epidermal ablation are and US Patent to Eggers et discloses ablation of the epidermis using RF This treatment significantly reduces wrinkles and improves skin The main disadvantages of skin resurfacing are the long healing period that can last for more than a and a high risk of These disadvantages have reduced the popularity of ablative skin skin resurfacing is based on heating the dermis up to a temperature with simultaneous cooling of the skin US Patent to Anderson et describes the use of infrared laser radiation penetrating into the skin dermis with dynamic cooling of the skin surface using a cryogen US Patent to Knowlton describes a method of skin tightening using or 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 barrier for introducing RF current is the stratum which should be hydrated by an electrolytic type of liquid prior the treatment is much safer and has no down time but the the treatment are less A method described in US patent publication 20030216719 tries to retain the efficiency of ablative treatment coupled with a shorter healing time and with a lower risk of adverse The device described in this patent publication coagulates f agments of the skin having a size in the range of tens of microns while keeping the distance between the fragments larger than the damaged This treatment provides skin healing within a few but the results are very superficial and less satisfactory than with a even after multiple SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Disclosed is a system and method for collagen growth 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 This method can be applied to a plurality of clinical treatments including different skin such as wrinkle skin skin skin schrornia and The system comprises a mechanical part creating spaced apart blind in the skin with controlled size and surface density and one or more sources of energy providing skin in one of its the invention provides an applicator for skin said applicator one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin and an article located between the said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF In another of its the invention provides a system for skin said system an applicator for skin said applicator one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin and an article located between the electrodes said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF and a control The invention also provides a method of treating skin said method comprising heating a section of the skin essentially piercing one or more holes in the heated section of the The invention still further provides a method of collagen said method puncturing a section of skin by one or more invasive and introducing holes into the and stimulating collagen growth in the skin using an RF electrode and heating the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in embodiments will now be by way of example with reference to the accompanying in 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a system for skin treatment in accordance with the present 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the applicator for use in the system of Figure 1 3 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the applicator of and 4 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary embodiment of the applicator for skin treatment in accordance with the present DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Reference is made to Figure which is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a system for sldn treatment in accordance with the present The system 100 includes an applicator 104 and a control unit 108 both of which will be described in detail A cable 112 connects the applicator 104 to the control unit Applicator 104 is adapted to be applied to the 116 of an individual and moved over the skin 116 surface Control unit 108 includes an RF energy generator 124 that is connected to RF electrodes 204 in the applicator 104 via wires in cable Control unit 108 has an input device such as a keypad 128 that allows an operator to input selected values of parameters of the such the pulse duration and intensity of the Control unit 108 optionally contains a processor 132 for monitoring and controlling various functions of the For processor 132 may monitor the electrical impedance between the electrodes 204 in the applicator and determine the temperature distribution close to and at the target skin Processor 132 may also determine the parameters of the treatment based upon the impedance between electrodes 204 Control unit 108 may include a source of power supply 136 that provides power to an optional light source located in applicator In the course of when RF is supplied to electrodes the temperature of the electrodes may Electrodes 204 can be cooled using coolers or a cold fluid that has a temperature less than that of the skin Control unit 108 may include a source 140 of such a and pump the fluid to the electrodes when Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the applicator for use in the system of Figure Applicator 104 is shown applied to a skin surface Applicator 104 contains one or more RJF electrodes but typically would have a pair of RF electrodes and an article having a form of a roller 208 with pins 212 protruding and extending outwardly in radial electrically isolated from Article 208 is located between electrodes 204 and is made from an electrically insulating or dielectric The diameters of pins 212 are less than and their length is not more than The typical length of the pins is and the typical diameter is Any biocompatible for stainless plastic and composite materials could be used for making the The density of the pins should be high enough to provide uniform treatment of the treated skin a pin density of per square centimeter is sufficient for successful treatment Pins 212 made of metal may be inserted into the roller 208 insulating pins 212 may be formed from the same insulating material being an integral part of roller Figure 3 is schematic illustration of a perspective view of the applicator of Figure Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the applicator for use in the system of Figure Applicator 104 has a body which is convenient to hold and serves as a frame that contains a pair of RF electrodes and article 208 having a form of a roller with protruding pins 212 electrically isolated from RF In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure the article has the form of an endless flexible belt 406 with pins 410 similar to pins 212 protruding from the Belt 406 may be tensioned between two rollers 414 if conform to a treated section of skin The distance between the rollers may be longer or shorter than the length of electrodes In applicator 104 or 404 is applied to skin such that RF electrodes 204 contact the skin 116 surface Following applicator 104 is moved over skin mamtaining contact with skin surface As 104 is moved over the skin surface article 208 or belt 406 rolls over the skin surface Pins 212 or 410 puncture the skin and create blind holes in penetrating into the skin to reach a collagen layer 228 located at a depth of over 70 microns below the skin 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 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 The RF power applied should be sufficient to heat a treated skin section by at least 5 degrees The optimal skin heating is degrees C over the normal skin The RF power is preferably in the range of more preferably The RF current frequency is in the range of with a typical operating range of Control unit 108 regulates and switches ON or OFF supply of RF power to electrodes 204 by monitoring the impedance between electrodes 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 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 produced by pins 212 or 410 are spaced apart from each other and there is no contact between The holes damage a small fragment of the skin The high density of RF current around the punctured holes heats the of the skin around each hole more strongly and further stimulates collagen As noted electrodes 204 may be shorter or longer than the punctured skin Figure 4 illustrates electrodes 204 that are longer than the punctured skin section 420 typically located between rollers Applicator 404 continues its movement to the next skin section to be For in one of the directions indicated by arrow leaving the blind holes created by pins 410 filled with The lower conductivity of the air in the interior of blind holes causes the current density to be around the circumference of the The high density of RF current around the punctured holes heats more strongly the fraction of the skin around each and longer electrodes extend the treatment further stimulating collagen The treated skin surface 120 is affected by rolling the article over the Pins of the article penetrate skin 116 and should be sterilized before each In order to avoid this and simplify the treatment both roller 208 and belt 410 could be made as disposable In another instead of an RF the skin can be heated using optical The optical energy can be produced by a an incandescent a flash or a The belt or roller may be made of transparent for or enabling heating with light energy simultaneous with light sources may be mounted to irradiate from both sides of roller The present apparatus and method enable collagen remodeling due to fragmental stimulation of collagen growth in the skin using an electrical electrode and invasive While the method and apparatus have been described with respect to a limited number of it will be appreciated that many modifications and other applications of the method and apparatus may be insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (24)

1. An applicator for skin treatment, said applicator comprising: (a) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface; and (b) an article located between the electrodes, said article containing one or more 5 protruding pins made of at least one of an isolating material and a dielectric material having a resistance greater than the resistance of skin and being electrically isolated from the RF electrodes and operative to puncture the skin.

2. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the article is made of electrically isolating material. 10

3. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the protruding pins are made from at least one of a group of metal, plastic, or composite material.

4. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the length of the pins is in a range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm.

5. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the pins is less than 15 0.5 mm. ,

6. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the pins are designed to penetrate the skin.

7. The applicator according to claim 1 further comprising a light source.

8. The applicator according to claim 7 wherein the light source is at least one of a 20 group of an incandescent lamp, a flash lamp, a LED, or a laser.

9. The applicator according to claim 7, wherein the light source is arranged to illuminate the skin between the electrodes.

10. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the RF electrodes communicate with a source of cooling fluid. 25

11. A system for skin treatment, said system comprising: (a) an applicator for skin treatment, said applicator including: i) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface; and ii) an article located between the electrodes said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF electrodes; and 30 (b) a control unit.

12. The system according to claim 1 1 wherein the protruding pins are made from at least one of a group of metal, plastic, or composite material. - 8 - 203339/2

13. The system according to claim 1 1 wherein the length of the pins is in a range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm and the diameter of the pins is less than 0.5 mm.

14. The system a according to claim 11 wherein the pins are designed to penetrate the skin.

15. The system for skin treatment according to claim 1 1 wherein the control unit further comprises: (a) a source of RF energy; (b) a light emitting unit power supply; and (c) a source of cooling fluid.

16. The system according to claim 11 wherein the RF electrodes communicate with the source of RF and the source of cooling fluid.

17. The system according to any one of claim 11 wherein the light source communicates with the light emitting unit power supply.

18. A method of treating skin disorders for cosmetic purposes, said method comprising heating a section of the skin while, essentially simultaneously, piercing one or more holes in the heated section of the skin.

19. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 18 wherein the skin is heated by a source of RF.

20. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 18 wherein the skin is heated by a source of light.

21. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 18 wherein the skin is cooled by a source of cooling fluid.

22. A method of collagen remodeling treating skin disorders for cosmetic purposes, said method comprising:

23. (a) puncturing a section of skin by one or more invasive pins, and introducing fragmental holes into the skin; and then

24. (b) stimulating collagen growth in the skin using an RF electrode and heating the skin. For the Applicants, REINHOLD COHN AND PARTNERS