US20220305275A1 - Device and method for unattended treatment of a patient - Google Patents

Abstract

An unattended approach can increase the reproducibility and safety of the treatment as the chance of over/under treating of a certain area is significantly decreased. On the other hand, unattended treatment of uneven or rugged areas can be challenging in terms of maintaining proper distance or contact with the treated tissue, mostly on areas which tend to differ from patient to patient (e.g. facial area). Delivering energy via a system of active elements embedded in a flexible pad adhesively attached to the skin offers a possible solution. The unattended approach may include delivering of multiple energies to enhance a visual appearance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application no. PCT/IB2021/00300, filed May 3, 2021, now pending, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/019,619, filed on May 4, 2020, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for patient treatment by means of active elements delivering electromagnetic energy and/or secondary energy in such a way that the treatment area is treated homogeneously without the need for manipulation of the active elements during the therapy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Skin ages with time mostly due to UV exposure—a process known as photoaging. Everyday exposure to UV light gradually leads to decreased skin thickness and a lower amount of the basic building proteins in the skin—collagen and elastin. The amounts of a third major skin component are also diminished, those of hyaluronic acid. These changes appear more quickly on the visible parts of the body, most notably the face. There are several technologies used for facial non-invasive skin rejuvenation such as lasers, high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency. It is expected that the ultrasound and RF fields also lead to an increase in levels of hyaluronic acid in the dermis.
• Delivering various forms of electromagnetic energy into a patient for medical and cosmetic purposes has been widely used in the past. These common procedures for improvement of a visual appearance include, but are by no means limited to, skin rejuvenation, wrinkle removal, rhytides, skin tightening and lifting, cellulite and fat reduction, treatment of pigmented lesions, tattoo removal, soft tissue coagulation and ablation, vascular lesion reduction, face lifting, muscle contractions and muscle strengthening, temporary relief of pain, muscle spasms, increase in local circulation etc.
• Besides many indisputable advantages of thermal therapies, these procedures also bring certain limitations and associated risks. Among others is the limited ability of reproducible results as these are highly dependent on applied treatment techniques and the operator's capabilities. Moreover, if the therapy is performed inappropriately, there is an increased risk of burns and adverse events.
• It is very difficult to ensure a homogeneous energy distribution if the energy delivery is controlled via manual movement of the operator's hand which is the most common procedure. Certain spots can be easily over- or under-treated. For this reason, devices containing scanning or other mechanisms capable of unattended skin delivery have emerged. These devices usually deliver energy without direct contact with the treated area, and only on a limited, well-defined area without apparent unevenness. Maintaining the same distance between the treated tissue and the energy generator or maintaining the necessary tissue contact may be challenging when treating uneven or rugged areas. Therefore, usage of commonly available devices on such specific areas that moreover differ from patient to patient (e.g. the face) might be virtually impossible.
• Facial unattended application is, besides the complications introduced by attachment to rugged areas and necessity of adaptation to the shapes of different patients, specific by its increased need for protection against burns and other side effects. Although the face heals more easily than other body areas, it is also more exposed, leading to much higher requirements for treatment downtime. Another important aspect of a facial procedure is that the face hosts the most important human senses, whose function must not be compromised during treatment. Above all, eye safety must be ensured throughout the entire treatment.
• The current aesthetic market offers either traditional manually controlled radiofrequency or light devices enabling facial tissue heating to a target temperature in the range of 40° C.-100° C. or unattended LED facial masks whose operation is based on light effects (phototherapy) rather than thermal effects. These masks are predominantly intended for home use and do not pose a risk to patients of burns, overheating or overtreating. The variability in facial shapes of individual patients does not represent any issue for these masks as the delivered energy and attained temperatures are so low that the risk of thermal tissue damage is minimized and there is no need for homogeneous treatment. Also, due to low temperatures, it is not important for such devices to maintain the predetermined distance between the individual diodes and the patient's skin, and the shape of the masks is only a very approximate representation of the human face. But their use is greatly limited by the low energy and minimal to no thermal effect and they are therefore considered as a preventive tool for daily use rather than a method of in-office skin rejuvenation with immediate effect.
• Nowadays, the aesthetic market feels the needs of the combination of the heating treatment made by electromagnetic energy delivered to the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis or adipose tissue with the secondary energy providing muscle contraction or muscle stimulation in the field of improvement of visual appearance of the patient. However, none of the actual devices is adapted to treat the uneven rugged areas like the face. In addition, the commercially available devices are usually handheld devices that need to be operated by the medical professional during the whole treatment.
• Thus it is necessary to improve medical devices providing more than one treatment energy (e.g. electromagnetic energy and electric current), such that both energies may be deliver via different active elements or the same active element (e.g. electrode). Furthermore, the applicator or pad of the device needs to be attached to the patient which allows unattended treatment of the patient and the applicator or pad needs to be made of flexible material allowing sufficient contact with the uneven treatment area of the body part of the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In order to enable well defined unattended treatment of the uneven, rugged areas of a patient (e.g. facial area) while preserving safety, methods and devices of minimally invasive to non-invasive electromagnetic energy delivery via a single or a plurality of active elements have been proposed.
• The patient may include skin and a body part, wherein a body part may refer to a body area.
• The desired effect of the improvement of visual appearance of the patient may include tissue (e.g. skin) heating in the range of 37.5° C. to 55° C., tissue coagulation at temperatures of 50° C. to 70° C. or tissue ablation at temperatures of 55° C. to 130° C. depending on the patient. Various patients and skin conditions may require different treatment approaches—higher temperatures allow better results with fewer sessions but require longer healing times while lower temperatures enable treatment with no downtime but limited results within more sessions. Another effect of the heating may lead to decreasing the number of the fat cells.
• Another desired effect may be muscle contraction causing muscle stimulation (e.g. strengthening or toning) for improving the visual appearance of the patient.
• An arrangement for contact or contactless therapy has been proposed.
• For contact therapy, the proposed device and methods comprise at least one electromagnetic energy generator inside a main unit that generates an electromagnetic energy which is delivered to the treatment area via at least one active element attached to the skin. At least one active element may be embedded in a pad made of flexible material that adapts to the shape of the rugged surface. An underside of the pad may include of an adhesive layer allowing the active elements to adhere to the treatment area and to maintain necessary tissue contact. Furthermore, the device may employ a safety system capable of adjusting one or more therapy parameters based on the measured values from at least one sensor, e.g. thermal sensors or impedance measurement sensors capable of measuring quality of contact with the treated tissue.
• For contactless therapy, the proposed device and methods comprise at least one electromagnetic energy generator inside a main unit that generates an electromagnetic energy which is delivered to the treatment area via at least one active element located at a defined distance from the tissue to be treated. A distance of at least one active element from the treatment area may be monitored before, throughout the entire treatment or post-treatment. Furthermore, the device may employ a safety system capable of adjusting one or more therapy parameters based on the measured values from at least one sensor, for example one or more distance sensors. Energy may be delivered by a single or a plurality of static active elements or by moving a single or a plurality of active elements throughout the entire treatment area, for example via a built-in automatic moving system, e.g. an integrated scanner. Treatment areas may be set by means of laser sight—the operator may mark the area to be treated prior to the treatment.
• The active element may deliver energy through its entire surface or by means of a so-called fractional arrangement when the active part includes a matrix formed by points of defined size. These points may be separated by inactive (and therefore untreated) areas that allow faster tissue healing. The points surface may make up from 1% to 99% of the active element area.
• The electromagnetic energy may be primarily generated by a laser, laser diode module, LED, flash lamp or incandescent light bulb or by radiofrequency generator for causing the heating of the patient. Additionally, an acoustic energy or electric or electromagnetic energy, which does not heat the patient, may be delivered simultaneously, alternately or in overlap with the primary electromagnetic energy.
• The active element may deliver more than one energy simultaneously (at the same time), successively or in overlap. For example, the active element may deliver a radiofrequency energy and subsequently an electric energy (electric current). In another example, the active element may deliver the radiofrequency energy and the electric energy at the same time.
• Furthermore the device may be configured to deliver the electromagnetic field by at least one active element and simultaneously (at the same time) to deliver e.g. electric energy by a different elements.
• Thus the proposed methods and devices may lead to improvement of a visual appearance including, but by no means limited to a proper skin rejuvenation, wrinkle removal, skin tightening and lifting, cellulite and fat reduction, treatment of pigmented lesions, rhytides, tattoo removal, soft tissue coagulation and ablation, vascular lesions reduction, temporary relief of pain, muscle spasms, increase in local circulation, etc. of uneven rugged areas without causing further harm to important parts of the patient's body, e.g. nerves or internal organs. The proposed method and devices may lead to an adipose tissue reduction, e.g. by fat cells lipolysis or apoptosis.
• Furthermore, the proposed methods and devices may lead to improvement of a visual appearance, e.g. tissue rejuvenation via muscle strengthening or muscle toning through muscle contractions caused by electric current or electromagnetic energy and via elastogenesis and/or neocolagenesis and/or relief of pain and/or muscle spasms and/or increase in local circulation through heating by radiofrequency energy.
• Alternatively, the proposed devices and methods may be used for post-surgical treatment, e.g. after liposuction, e.g. for treatment and/or healing of the wounds caused by surgery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for contact therapy.
• FIG. 2 is an illustration of an apparatus for contact therapy.
• FIG. 3A represents pad shapes and layout.
• FIG. 3B represents pad shapes and layout.
• FIG. 3C represents one possible pad shape and layout for treatment of a forehead.
• FIG. 3D represent one possible pad shape and layout for treatment of a cheek.
• FIG. 4A,FIG. 4B,FIG. 4C, andFIG. 4D represent side views of the pad intended for contact therapy.
• FIG. 5A represents a top view of one variant of the pad.
• FIG. 5B represents a detail view of one possible arrangement of the slot in the substrate.
• FIG. 6 shows one variant of energy delivery by switching multiple active elements.
• FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for contactless therapy.
• FIG. 8 is an illustration of an apparatus for contactless therapy.
• FIG. 9A is an illustration of the framed grated electrode.
• FIG. 9B is an illustration of another framed grated electrode.
• FIG. 9C is an illustration of a framed grated electrode with thinning conductive lines.
• FIG. 9D is an illustration of a non-framed grated electrode.
• FIG. 9E is an illustration of an electrode with openings.
• FIG. 9F is one possible illustration of an electrode.
• FIG. 9G is another illustration of an electrode.
• FIG. 9H is another illustration of an electrode.
• FIG. 10 is an illustration of a forehead pad treatment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The presented methods and devices may be used for stimulation and/or treatment of a tissue, including but not limited to skin, epidermis, dermis, hypodermis or muscles. The proposed apparatus is designed for minimally to non-invasive treatment of one or more areas of the tissue to enable well defined unattended treatment of the uneven, rugged areas (e.g. facial area) by electromagnetic energy delivery via a single or a plurality of active elements without causing further harm to important parts of the patient's body, e.g. nerves or internal organs.
• Additionally the presented methods and devices may be used to stimulate body parts or body areas like head, neck, bra fat, love handles, torso, back, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, calves, legs, arms, forearms, hands, fingers or body cavities (e.g. vagina, anus, mouth, inner ear etc.).
• The proposed methods and devices may include a several protocols improving of visual appearance, which may be preprogramed in the control unit (e.g. CPU—central processing unit, which may include a flex circuit or a printed circuit board and may include a microprocessor or memory for controlling the device).
• The desired effect may include tissue (e.g. a surface of the skin) heating (thermal therapy) in the range of 37.5° C. to 55° C. or in the range of 38° C. to 53° C. or in the range of 39° C. to 52° C. or in the range of 40° C. to 50° C. or in the range of 41° C. to 45° C., tissue coagulation at temperatures in the range of 50° C. to 70° C. or in the range of 51° C. to 65° C. or in the range of 52° C. to 62° C. or in the range of 53° C. to 60° C. or tissue ablation at temperatures in the range of 55° C. to 130° C. or in the range of 58° C. to 120° C. or in the range of 60° C. to 110° C. or in the range of 60° C. to 100° C. The device may be operated in contact or in contactless methods. For contact therapy a target temperature of the skin may be typically within the range of 37.5° C. to 95° C. or in the range of 38° C. to 90° C. or in the range of 39° C. to 85° C. or in the range of 40° C. to 80° C. while for contactless therapy a target temperature of the skin may be in the range of 37.5° C. to 130° C. or in the range of 38° C. to 120° C. or in the range of 39° C. to 110° C. or in the range of 40° C. to 100° C. The temperature within the range of 37.5° C. to 130° C. or in the range of 38° C. to 120° C. or in the range of 39° C. to 110° C. or in the range of 40° C. to 100° C. may lead to stimulation of fibroblasts and formation of connective tissue—e.g. collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid etc. Depending on the target temperature, controlled tissue damage is triggered, physiological repair processes are initiated, and new tissue is formed. Temperatures within the range of 37.5° C. to 130° C. or in the range of 38° C. to 120° C. or in the range of 39° C. to 110° C. or in the range of 40° C. to 100° C. may further lead to changes in the adipose tissue. During the process of apoptosis caused by high temperatures, fat cells come apart into apoptotic bodies and are further removed via the process of phagocytosis. During a process called necrosis, fat cells are ruptured due to high temperatures, and their content is released into an extracellular matrix. Both processes may lead to a reduction of fat layers enabling reshaping of the face. Removing fat from the face may be beneficial for example in areas like submentum or cheeks.
• Another desired effect may include tissue rejuvenation, e. g. muscle strengthening through the muscle contraction caused by electric or electromagnetic energy, which doesn't heat the patient, or the muscle relaxation caused by a pressure massage. The combined effect of muscle contractions via electric energy and tissue (e.g. skin) heating by electromagnetic field in accordance to the description may lead to significant improvement of visual appearance.
• FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 are discussed together.FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of anapparatus1 for contact therapy.FIG. 2 is an illustration of anapparatus1 for contact therapy. Theapparatus1 for contact therapy may comprise two main blocks:main unit2 and apad4. Additionally, theapparatus1 may comprise interconnectingblock3 orneutral electrode7. However, the components of interconnectingblock3, may be implemented into themain unit2.
• Main unit2 may include one or more generators: a primary electromagnetic generator6, which may preferably deliver radiofrequency energy in the range of 10 kHz to 300 GHz or 300 kHz to 10 GHz or 400 kHz to 6 GHz, or in the range of 100 kHz to 550 MHz or 250 kHz to 500 MHz or 350 kHz to 100 MHz or 400 kHz to 80 MHz, a secondary generator9 which may additionally deliver electromagnetic energy, which does not heat the patient, or deliver electric current in the range of 1 Hz to 10 MHz or 5 Hz to 5 MHz or in the range of 10 Hz to 1 MHz or in the range of 20 Hz to 1 kHz or in the range of 40 Hz to 500 Hz or in the range of 50 Hz to 300 Hz and/or anultrasound emitter10 which may furthermore deliver an acoustic energy with a frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 25 GHz or 20 kHz to 1 GHz or 50 kHz to 250 MHz or 100 kHz to 100 MHz. In addition, the frequency of the ultrasound energy may be in the range of 20 kHz to 80 MHz or 50 kHz to 50 MHz or 150 kHz to 20 MHz.
• The output power of the radiofrequency energy may be less than or equal to 450, 300, 250 or 220 W. Additionally, the radiofrequency energy on the output of the primary electromagnetic generator6 (e.g. radiofrequency generator) may be in the range of 0.1 W to 400 W, or in the range of 0.5 W to 300 W or in the range of 1 W to 200 W or in the range of 10 W to 150 W. The radiofrequency energy may be applied in or close to the ISM bands of 6.78 MHz, 13.56 MHz, 27.12 MHz, 40.68 MHz, 433.92 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz.
• Main unit2 may further comprise a human machine interface8 represented by a display, buttons, a keyboard, a touchpad, a touch panel or other control members enabling an operator to check and adjust therapy and other device parameters. For example, it may be possible to set the power, treatment time or other treatment parameters of each generator (primary electromagnetic generator6, secondary generator9 and ultrasound emitter10) independently. The human machine interface8 may be connected to control unit11 (e.g. CPU). Thepower supply5 located in themain unit2 may include a transformer, disposable battery, rechargeable battery, power plug or standard power cord. The output power of thepower supply5 may be in the range of 10 W to 600 W, or in the range of 50 W to 500 W, or in the range of 80 W to 450 W.
• In addition the human machine interface8 may also display information about the applied therapy type, remaining therapy time and main therapy parameters.
• Interconnectingblock3 may serve as a communication channel between themain unit2 and thepad4. It may be represented by a simple device containingbasic indicators17 and mechanisms for therapy control.Indicators17 may be realized through the display, LEDs, acoustic signals, vibrations or other forms capable of providing adequate notice to an operator and/or the patient.Indicators17 may indicate actual patient temperature, contact information or other sensor measurements as well as a status of a switching process between the active elements, quality of contact with the treated tissue, actual treatment parameters, ongoing treatment, etc.Indicators17 may be configured to warn the operator in case of suspicious therapy behavior, e.g. temperature out of range, improper contact with the treated tissue, parameters automatically adjusted etc. Interconnectingblock3 may be used as an additional safety feature for heat-sensitive patients. It may contain emergency stop button16 so that the patient can stop the therapy immediately anytime during the treatment. Switching circuitry14 may be responsible for switching between active elements or for regulation of energy delivery from primary electromagnetic generator6, secondary generator9 orultrasound emitter10. The rate of switching betweenactive elements13 may be dependent on the amount of delivered energy, pulse length etc, and/or on the speed of switching circuitry14 and control unit11 (e.g. CPU). The switching circuitry14 may include relay switch, transistor (bipolar, PNP, NPN, FET, JFET, MOSFET) thyristor, diode or opto-mechanical switch or any other suitable switch know in the prior art. The switching circuitry in connection with the control unit (e.g. CPU) may control the switching between the primary electromagnetic energy generated by the primary electromagnetic generator6 and the secondary energy generated by the secondary generator9 on the at least oneactive element13.
• Additionally, the interconnectingblock3 may contain the primary electromagnetic generator6, the secondary generator9 orultrasound emitter10 or only one of them or any combination thereof.
• In one not limiting aspect, themain unit2 may comprise the primary electromagnetic generator6, the interconnectingblock3 may comprise the secondary generator9, andultrasound emitter10 may not be present at all.
• The control unit11 (e.g. CPU) controls the primary electromagnetic generator6 such that the primary electromagnetic energy may be delivered in a continuous mode (CM) or a pulse mode to the at least one active element, having a fluence in the range of 10 mJ/cm²to 50 kJ/cm²or in the range of 100 mJ/cm²to 10 kJ/cm²or in the range of 0.5 J/cm²to 1 kJ/cm². The electromagnetic energy may be primarily generated by a laser, laser diode module, LED, flash lamp or incandescent light bulb or by radiofrequency generator for causing the heating of the patient. The CM mode may be operated for a time interval in the range of 0.05 s to 60 min or in the range of 0.1 s to 45 min or in the range of 0.2 s to 30 min. The pulse duration of the energy delivery operated in the pulse regime may be in the range of 0.1 ms to 10 s or in the range of 0.2 ms to 7 s or in the range of 0.5 ms to 5 s. The primary electromagnetic generator6 in the pulse regime may be operated by a control unit11 (e.g. CPU) in a single shot mode or in a repetition mode. The frequency of the repetition mode may be in the range of 0.05 to 10 000 Hz or in the range of 0.1 to 5000 Hz or in the range of 0.3 to 2000 Hz or in the range of 0.5 to 1000 Hz. Alternatively, the frequency of the repetition mode may be in the range of 0.1 kHz to 200 MHz or in the range of 0.5 kHz to 150 MHz or in the range of 0.8 kHz to 100 MHz or in the range of 1 kHz to 80 MHz. The single shot mode may mean generation of just one electromagnetic pulse of specific parameters (e.g. intensity, duration, etc.) for delivery to a single treatment area. The repetition mode may mean generation of an electromagnetic pulses, which may have the specific parameters (e.g. intensity, duration, etc.), with a repetition rate of the above-mentioned frequency for delivery to a single treatment area. The control unit (e.g. CPU)11 may provide treatment control such as stabilization of the treatment parameters including treatment time, power, duty cycle, time period regulating switching between multiple active elements, temperature of thedevice1 and temperature of the primary electromagnetic generator6 and secondary generator9 orultrasound emitter10. The control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may drive and provide information from the switching circuitry14. The control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may also receive and provide information from sensors located on or in thepad4 or anywhere in thedevice1. The control unit (e.g. CPU)11 may include a flex circuit or a printed circuit board and may include a microprocessor or memory for controlling the device.
• The control unit (e.g. CPU)11 may control the secondary generator9 such that secondary energy (e.g electric current or magnetic field) may be delivered in a continuous mode (CM) or a pulse mode to the at least one active element, having a fluence in the range of 10 mJ/cm²to 50 kJ/cm²or in the range of 100 mJ/cm²to 10 kJ/cm²or in the range of 0.5 J/cm²to 1 kJ/cm²on the surface of the at least one active element. Applying the secondary energy to the treatment area of the patient may cause a muscle contractions of the patient. The CM mode may be operated for a time interval in the range of 0.05 s to 60 min or in the range of 0.1 s to 45 min or in the range of 0.2 s to 30 min. The pulse duration of the delivery of the secondary energy operated in the pulse regime may be in the range of 0.1 μs to 10 s or in the range of 0.2 μs to 1 s or in the range of 0.5 μs to 500 ms, or in the range of 0.5 to 10 s or in the range of 1 to 8 s or in the range of 1.5 to 5 s or in the range of 2 to 3 s. The secondary generator9 in the pulse regime may be operated by a control unit11 (e.g. CPU) in a single shot mode or in a repetition mode. The frequency of the repetition mode may be in the range of 0.1 to 12 000 Hz or in the range of 0.1 to 8000 Hz or in the range of 0.1 to 5000 Hz or in the range of 0.5 to 1000 Hz.
• The proposed device may be multichannel device allowing the control unit (e.g. CPU)11 to control the treatment of more than one treated area at once.
• Alternatively, the interconnectingblock3 may not be a part of thedevice1, and the control unit (e.g. CPU)11, switching circuitry14,indicators17 and emergency stop button16 may be a part of themain unit2 orpad4. In addition, some of the control unit (e.g. CPU)11, switching circuitry14,indicators17 and emergency stop button16 may be a part of themain unit2 and some of them part ofpad4, e.g. control unit (e.g. CPU)11, switching circuitry14 and emergency stop button16 may be part of themain unit2 andindicators17 may be a part of thepad4.
• Pad4 represents the part of the device which may be in contact with the patient's skin during the therapy. Thepads4 may be made of flexible substrate material—for example polymer-based material, polyimide (PI) films, Teflon®, epoxy, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide or PE foam with an additional adhesive layer on an underside, e.g. a hypoallergenic adhesive gel (hydrogel) or adhesive tape that may be bacteriostatic, non-irritating, or water-soluble. The substrate may also be a silicone-based substrate. The substrate may also be made of a fabric, e.g. non-woven fabric. The adhesive layer may have the impedance for a current at a frequency of 500 kHz in the range of 1 to 150Ω or in the range of 5 to 130Ω or in the range of 10 to 100Ω, and the impedance for a current at a frequency of 100 Hz or less is three times or more the impedance for a current at a frequency of 500 kHz. The adhesive hydrogel may be made of a polymer matrix or mixture containing water, a polyhydric alcohol, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyisocyanate component, a polyol component or has a methylenediphenyl structure in the main chain. Additionally, a conductive adhesive may be augmented with metallic fillers, such as silver, gold, copper, aluminum, platinum or titanium or graphite that make up 1 to 90% or 2 to 80% or 5 to 70% of adhesive. The adhesive layer may be covered by “ST-gel®” or “Tensive®” conductive adhesive gel which is applied to the body to reduce its impedance, thereby facilitating the delivery of an electric shock.
• The adhesive layer, e.g. hydrogel may cover exactly the whole surface of the pad facing the body area of the patient. The thickness of the hydrogel layer may be in the range of 0.1 to 3 mm or in the range of 0.3 to 2 mm or in the range of 0.4 to 1.8 mm or in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm.
• The adhesive layer under thepad4 may mean that the adhesive layer is between the surface of the pad facing the patient and the body of the patient. The adhesive layer may have impedance 1.1 times, 2 times, 4 times or up to 10 times higher than the impedance of the skin of the patient under thepad4. A definition of the skin impedance may be that it is a portion of the total impedance, measured between two equipotential surfaces in contact with the epidermis, that is inversely proportional to the electrode area, when the internal current flux path is held constant. Data applicable to this definition would be conveniently recorded as admittance per unit area to facilitate application to other geometries. The impedance of the adhesive layer may be set by the same experimental setup as used for measuring the skin impedance. The impedance of the adhesive layer may be higher than the impedance of the skin by a factor in the range of 1.1 to 20 times or 1.2 to 15 times or 1.3 to 10 times.
• The impedance of the adhesive layer may have different values for the different types of energy delivered to the patient, e.g. the impedance may be different for radiofrequency and for electric current delivery. The impedance of the hydrogel may be in the range of 100 to 2000 Ohms or in the range of 150 to 1800 Ohms or 200 to 1500 Ohms or 300 to 1200 Ohms in case of delivery of the electric current (e.g. during electrotherapy). In one aspect, the impedance of an adhesive layer (e.g. hydrogel) for AC current at 1 kHz may be in the range of 1000 to 3000 Ohms, or of 1200 to 2800 Ohms, or of 1500 to 2500 Ohms. In another aspect, the impedance of the adhesive layer (e.g. hydrogel) for AC current at 10 Hz may be in the range of 2000 to 4000 Ohms, or of 2300 to 3700 Ohms, or of 2500 to 3500 Ohms.
• The electric conductivity of the adhesive layer at radiofrequency of 3.2 MHz may be in the range of 20 to 200 mS/m or in the range of 50 to 140 mS/m or in the range of 60 to 120 mS/m or in the range of 70 to 100 mS/m.
• Alternatively, the adhesive layer may be a composition of more elements, wherein some elements may have suitable physical properties (referred to herein as adhesive elements), e.g. proper adhesive and/or conductivity and/or impedance and/or cooling properties and so on; and some elements may have nourishing properties (referred to herein as nourishing elements), e.g. may contain nutrients, and/or vitamins, and/or minerals, and/or organic and/or inorganic substances with nourishing effect, which may be delivered to the skin of the patient during the treatment. The volumetric ratio of adhesive elements to nourishing elements may be in the range of 1:1 to 20:1, or of 2:1 to 10:1, or of 3:1 to 5:1, or of 5:1 to 50:1, or of 10:1 to 40:1, or of 15:1. In one aspect, the adhesive layer composition may contain a hydrogel as an adhesive element and a hyaluronic acid as a nourishing element. In another aspect, the adhesive layer composition may contain a hydrogel as an adhesive element and one or more vitamins as nourishing elements. In another aspect, the adhesive layer composition may contain a hydrogel as an adhesive element and one or more minerals as nourishing elements. In another aspect, the adhesive layer composition may contain a hydrogel as an adhesive element and one or more minerals as nourishing elements.
• In one aspect, the nourishing element may be released continuously by itself during the treatment. In another aspect, the nourishing element may be released due to delivery of a treatment energy (e.g. radiofrequency, light, electric current or ultrasound), which may pass through the nourishing element and thus cause its release to the skin of the patient.
• Thepad4 may also have a sticker on a top side of the pad. The top side is the opposite side from the underside (the side where the adhesive layer may be deposited) or in other words the top side is the side of the pad that is facing away from the patient during the treatment. The sticker may have a bottom side and a top side, wherein the bottom side of the sticker may comprise a sticking layer and the top side of the sticker may comprise non-sticking layer (eg. polyimide (PI) films, Teflon®, epoxy, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide or PE foam, PE film or PVC foam). The sticker covers the top side of the pad and may also cover some sensors situated on the top side of the pad (e.g. thermal sensors).
• The sticker may have the same shape as thepad4 or may have additional overlap over the pad. The sticker may be bonded to the pad such that the sticking layer of the bottom side of the sticker is facing toward the top side of thepad4. The top side of the sticker facing away from thepad4 may be made of a non-adhesive layer. The linear dimension of the sticker with additional overlap may exceed the corresponding dimension of the pad in the range of 0.1 to 10 cm, or in the range of 0.1 to 7 cm, or in the range of 0.2 to 5 cm, or in the range of 0.2 to 3 cm, or in the range of 0.3 to 1 cm. This overlap may also comprise an adhesive layer and may be used to form additional and more proper contact of the pad with the patient. The thickness of the sticker may be in the range of 0.05 to 3 mm or in the range of 0.1 to 2 mm or in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. The top side of the sticker may have a printed inscription for easy recognition of the pad, e.g. the brand of the manufacturer or the proposed treated body area.
• In one aspect, the adhesive layer, e.g. hydrogel, on the underside of the pad facing the body area of the patient may cover the whole surface of the pad and even overlap the surface of the pad and cover at least partially the overlap of the sticking layer. In another aspect, the underside of the adhesive layer and/or the overlap of the sticker (both parts facing towards the patient) may be covered by a liner, which may be removed just before the treatment. The liner protects the adhesive layer and/or the overlap of the sticker, thus when the liner is removed the proper adhesion to the body area of the patient is ensured.
• Alternatively, thepad4 may comprise at least one suction opening, e.g. small cavities or slits adjacent to active elements or the active element may be embedded inside a cavity. The suction opening may be connected via connecting tube to a pump which may be part of themain unit2. When the suction opening is brought into contact with the skin, the air sucked from the suction opening flows toward the connecting tube and the pump and the skin may be slightly sucked into the suction opening. Thus by applying a vacuum the adhesion ofpad4 may be provided. Furthermore, thepad4 may comprise the adhesive layer and the suction openings for combined stronger adhesion.
• In addition to the vacuum (negative pressure), the pump may also provide a positive pressure by pumping the fluid to the suction opening. The positive pressure is pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and the negative pressure or vacuum is lower than atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is a pressure of the air in the room during the therapy.
• The pressure (positive or negative) may be applied to the treatment area in pulses providing a massage treatment. The massage treatment may be provided by one or more suction openings changing pressure value to the patient's soft tissue in the meaning that the suction opening apply different pressure to patient tissue. Furthermore, the suction openings may create a pressure gradient in the soft tissue without touching the skin. Such pressure gradients may be targeted on the soft tissue layer, under the skin surface and/or to different soft tissue structure.
• Massage accelerates and improves treatment therapy by electromagnetic energy, electric energy or electromagnetic energy which does not heat the patient, improves blood and/or lymph circulation, angioedema, erythema effect, accelerates removing of the fat, accelerate metabolism, accelerates elastogenesis and/or neocolagenesis.
• Each suction opening may provide pressure by a suction mechanism, airflow or gas flow, liquid flow, pressure provided by an object included in the suction opening (e.g. massaging object, pressure cells etc.) and/or in other ways.
• Pressure value applied on the patient's tissue means that a suction opening providing massaging effect applies positive, negative and/or sequentially changing positive and negative pressure on the treated and/or adjoining patient's tissue structures and/or creates a pressure gradient under the patient's tissue surface
• Massage applied in order to improve body liquid flow (e.g. lymph drainage) and/or relax tissue in the surface soft tissue layers may be applied with pressure lower than during the massage of deeper soft tissue layers. Such positive or negative pressure compared to the atmospheric pressure may be in a range of 10 Pa to 30 000 Pa, or in a range of 100 Pa to 20 000 Pa or in a range of 0.5 kPa to 19 kPa or in a range of 1 kPa to 15 kPa.
• Massage applied in order to improve body liquid flow and/or relaxation of the tissue in the deeper soft tissue layers may be applied with higher pressure. Such positive or negative pressure may be in a range from 12 kPa to 400 kPa or from 15 kPa to 300 kPa or from 20 kPa to 200 kPa. An uncomfortable feeling of too high applied pressure may be used to set a pressure threshold according to individual patient feedback.
• Negative pressure may stimulate body liquid flow and/or relaxation of the deep soft tissue layers (0.5 cm to non-limited depth in the soft tissue) and/or layers of the soft tissue near the patient surface (0.1 mm to 0.5 cm). In order to increase effectiveness of the massage negative pressure treatment may be used followed by positive pressure treatment.
• A number of suction openings changing pressure values on the patient's soft tissue in onepad4 may be between 1 to 100 or between 1 to 80 or 1 to 40 or between 1 to 10.
• Sizes and/or shapes of suction openings may be different according to treated area. One suction opening may cover an area on the patient surface between 0.1 mm²to 1 cm²or between 0.1 mm²to 50 mm²or between 0.1 mm²to 40 mm²or between 0.1 mm²to 20 mm². Another suction opening may cover an area on the patient surface between 1 cm²to 1 m²or between 1 cm²to 100 cm²or between 1 cm²to 50 cm²or between 1 cm²to 40 cm².
• Several suction openings may work simultaneously or switching between them may be in intervals between 1 ms to 10 s or in intervals between 10 ms to 5 s or in intervals between 0.5 s to 2 s.
• Suction openings in order to provide massaging effect may be guided according to one or more predetermined massage profile included in the one or more treatment protocols. The massage profile may be selected by the operator and/or by a control unit (e.g. CPU) with regard to the patient's condition. For example a patient with lymphedema may require a different level of compression profile and applied pressure than a patient with a healed leg ulcer.
• Pressure applied by one or more suction openings may be gradually applied preferably in the positive direction of the lymph flow and/or the blood flow in the veins. According to specific treatment protocols the pressure may be gradually applied in a direction opposite or different from ordinary lymph flow. Values of applied pressure during the treatment may be varied according to the treatment protocol.
• A pressure gradient may arise between individual suction openings. Examples of gradients described are not limited for this method and/or device. The setting of the pressure gradient between at least two previous and successive suction openings may be: 0%, i.e. The applied pressure by suction openings is the same (e.g. pressure in all suction openings of the pad is the same);
• 1%, i.e. The applied pressure between a previous and a successive suction opening decreases and/or increases with a gradient of 1% (e.g. the pressure in the first suction opening is 5 kPa and the pressure in the successive suction opening is 4.95 kPa);
• 2%, i.e. The pressure decreases or increases with a gradient of 2%. The pressure gradient between two suction openings may be in a range 0% to 100% where 100% means that one suction openings is not active and/or does not apply any pressure on the patient's soft tissue.
• A treatment protocol that controls the application of the pressure gradient between a previous and a successive suction opening may be in a range between 0.1% to 95%, or in a range between 0.1% to 70%, or in a range between 1% to 50%.
• The suction opening may also comprise an impacting massage object powered by a piston, massage object operated by filling or sucking out liquid or air from the gap volume by an inlet/outlet valve or massage object powered by an element that creates an electric field, magnetic field or electromagnetic field. Additionally, the massage may be provided by impacting of multiple massage objects. The multiple massage objects may have the same or different size, shape, weight or may be created from the same or different materials. The massage objects may be accelerated by air or liquid flowing (through the valve) or by an electric, magnetic or electromagnetic field. Trajectory of the massage objects may be random, circular, linear and/or massage objects may rotate around one or more axes, and/or may do other types of moves in the gap volume.
• The massage unit may also comprise a membrane on the side facing the patient which may be accelerated by an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic field or by changing pressure value in the gap volume between wall of the chamber and the membrane. This membrane may act as the massage object.
• During the treatment, it may be convenient to use a combination of pads with adhesive layer and pads with suction openings. In that case at least one pad used during the treatment may comprise adhesive layer and at least additional one pad used during the treatment may comprise suction opening. For example, pad with adhesive layer may be suited for treatment of more uneven areas, e.g. periorbital area, and pad with suction openings for treatment of smoother areas, e.g. cheeks.
• The advantage of the device where the attachment of the pads may be provided by an adhesion layer or by a suction opening or their combination is that there is no need of any additional gripping system which would be necessary to hold the pads on the treatment area during the treatment, e.g. a band or a felt, which may cause a discomfort of the patient.
• Yet in another aspect, it is possible to fasten theflexible pads4 to the face by at least one band or felt which may be made from an elastic material and thus adjusted for an individual face. In that case the flexible pads, which may have not the adhesive layer or suction opening, are placed on the treatment area of the patient and their position is then fastened by a band or felt to avoid deflection of the pads from the treatment areas. Alternatively, the band may be replaced by a mask, e.g. an elastic mask that covers from 5% to 100% or from 30% to 99% or from 40% to 95% or from 50% to 90% of the face and may serve to secure the flexible pads on the treatment areas. In another aspect, the mask may be rigid or semi rigid. The mask may contain one connecting part comprising conductive leads which then distributes the conductive leads to specific pads. Furthermore, it may be possible to use the combination of the pad with adhesive layer or suction opening and the fastening band, felt or mask to ensure strong attachment of the pads on the treatment areas.
• Additionally, the fastening mechanism may be in the form of a textile or a garment which may be mountable on a user's body part. In use of the device, a surface of the active element orpad4 lays along an inner surface of the garment, while the opposite surface of the active element orpad4 is in contact with the user's skin, preferably by means of a skin-active element hydrogel interface.
• The garment may be fastened for securement of the garment to or around a user's body part, e.g. by hook and loop fastener, button, buckle, stud, leash or cord, magnetic-guided locking system or clamping band and the garment may be manufactured with flexible materials or fabrics that adapt to the shape of the user's body or limb. Thepad4 may be in the same way configured to be fastened to the inner surface of the garment. The garment is preferably made of breathable materials. Non limiting examples of such materials are soft Neoprene, Nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, silicone, cotton or any other material which is soft and flexible. All named materials could be used as woven, non-woven, single use fabric or laminated structures.
• The garment and the pad may be modular system, which means module or element of the device (pad, garment) and/or system is designed separately and independently from the rest of the modules or elements, at the same time that they are compatible with each other.
• Thepad4 may be designed to be attached to or in contact with the garment, thus being carried by the garment in a stationary or fixed condition, in such a way that the pads are disposed on fixed positions of the garment. The garment ensures the correct adhesion or disposition of the pad to the user's skin. In use of the device, the surface of one or more active elements not in contact with the garment is in contact with the patient's skin, preferably by means of a hydrogel layer that acts as pad-skin interface. Therefore, the active elements included in the pad are in contact with the patient's skin.
• The optimal placement of the pad on the patient's body part, and therefore the garment which carries the pad having the active elements, is determined by a technician or clinician helping the patient.
• In addition, the garment may comprise more than one pad or the patient may wear more than one garment comprising one or more pads during one treatment session.
• Thepad4 may contain at least oneactive element13 capable of delivering energy from primary electromagnetic generator6 or secondary generator9 orultrasound emitter10. In various aspects, the active element is an electrode, an optical element, an acoustic window, an ultrasound emitter, or other energy delivering elements known in the art. The electrode may be a radiofrequency (RF) electrode. The RF electrode may be a dielectric electrode coated with insulating (e.g. dielectric) material. The RF electrode may be monopolar, bipolar, unipolar or multipolar. The bipolar arrangement may consist of electrodes that alternate between active and return function and where the thermal gradient beneath electrodes is almost the same during treatment. Bipolar electrodes may form circular or ellipsoidal shapes, where electrodes are concentric to each other. However, a group of bipolar electrode systems may be used as well. A unipolar electrode or one or more multipolar electrodes may be used as well. The system may alternatively use monopolar electrodes, where the so-called return electrode (or neutral electrode or ground electrode or grounding electrode) has larger area than so-called active electrode. The thermal gradient beneath the active electrode is therefore higher than beneath the return electrode. The active electrode may be part of the pad and the passive electrode having larger surface area may be located at least 5 cm, 10 cm, or 20 cm from the pad. A neutral electrode may be used as the passive electrode. The neutral electrode may be on the opposite side of the patient's body than the pad is attached. A unipolar electrode may also optionally be used. During unipolar energy delivery there is one electrode, no neutral electrode, and a large field of RF emitted in an omnidirectional field around a single electrode. Capacitive and/or resistive electrodes may be used. Radiofrequency energy may provide energy flux on the surface of the RF electrode or on the surface of the treated tissue (e.g. skin) in the range of 0.001 W/cm²to 1500 W/cm²or 0.01 W/cm²to 1000 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 500 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 100 W/cm²or 1 W/cm²to 50 W/cm². The energy flux on the surface of the RF electrode may be calculated from the size of the RF electrode and its output value of the energy. The energy flux on the surface of the treated tissue may be calculated from the size of the treated tissue exactly below the RF electrode and its input value of the energy provided by the RF electrode. In addition, the RF electrode positioned in thepad4 may act as an acoustic window for ultrasound energy.
• Theactive element13 may provide a secondary energy from secondary generator9 in the form of an electric current or a magnetic field. By applying the secondary energy to the treated area of the body of the patient, muscle fibers stimulation (e.g. muscle contractions) may be achieved and thus increasing muscle tone, muscle strengthening, restoration of feeling the muscle, relaxation of the musculature and/or stretching musculature.
• The proposed device may provide an electrotherapy in case that the secondary energy delivered by the active element13 (e.g a radiofrequency electrode or simply referred just as an electrode) is the electric current generated by the secondary generator9. The main effects of electrotherapy are: analgesic, myorelaxation, iontophoresis, anti-edematous effect or muscle stimulation causing a muscle fiber contraction. Each of these effects may be achieved by one or more types of electrotherapy: galvanic current, pulse direct current and alternating current.
• Galvanic current (or “continuous”) is a current that may have constant electric current and/or absolute value of the electric current is in every moment higher than 0. It may be used mostly for iontophoresis, or its trophic stimulation (hyperemic) effect is utilized. At the present invention this current may be often substituted by galvanic intermittent current. Additionally, galvanic component may be about 95% but due to interruption of the originally continuous intensity the frequency may reach 5-12 kHz or 5-10 kHz or 5-9 kHz or 5-8 kHz.
• The pulse direct current (DC) is of variable intensity but only one polarity. The basic pulse shape may vary. It includes e.g. diadynamics, rectangular, triangular and exponential pulse of one polarity. Depending on the used frequency and intensity it may have stimulatory, tropic, analgesic, myorelaxation, iontophoresis, at least partial muscle contraction and anti-edematous effect and/or other.
• Alternating Current (AC or biphasic) where the basic pulse shape may vary—rectangular, triangular, harmonic sinusoidal, exponential and/or other shapes and/or combination of mentioned above. It can be alternating, symmetric and/or asymmetric. Use of alternating currents in contact electrotherapy implies much lower stress on the tissue under the electrode. For these types of currents the capacitive component of skin resistance is involved, and due to that these currents are very well tolerated by the patients.
• AC therapies may be differentiated into five subtypes: TENS, Classic (four-pole) Interference, Two-pole Interference, Isoplanar Interference and Dipole Vector Field. It also exist some specific electrotherapy energy variants and modularity of period, shape of the energy etc.
• Due to interferential electrotherapy, different nerves and tissue structures by medium frequency may be stimulated in a range of 500 Hz to 12 kHz or in a range of 500 Hz to 8 kHz, or 500 Hz to 6 kHz, creating pulse envelopes with frequencies for stimulation of the nerves and tissues e.g. sympathetic nerves (0.1-5 Hz), parasympathetic nerves (10-150 Hz), motor nerves (10-50 Hz), smooth muscle (0.1-10 Hz), sensor nerves (90-100 Hz) nociceptive fibers (90-150 Hz).
• Electrotherapy may provide stimulus with currents of frequency in the range from 0.1 Hz to 12 kHz or in the range from 0.1 Hz to 8 kHz or in the range from 0.1 Hz to 6 kHz.
• Muscle fiber stimulation by electrotherapy may be important during and/or as a part of the RF treatment. Muscle stimulation increases blood flow and lymph circulation. It may improve removing of treated cells and/or prevent of hot spots creation. Moreover internal massage stimulation of adjoining tissues improves homogeneity of tissue and dispersing of the delivered energy. The muscle fiber stimulation by electrotherapy may cause muscle contractions, which may lead to improvement of a visual appearance of the patient through muscle firming and strenghtening, Another beneficial effect is for example during fat removing with the RF therapy. RF therapy may change structure of the fat tissue. The muscle fiber stimulation may provide internal massage, which may be for obese patient more effective than classical massage.
• Muscle stimulation may be provided by e.g. intermittent direct currents, alternating currents (medium-frequency and TENS currents), faradic current as a method for multiple stimulation and/or others.
• Frequency of the currents may be in the range from 0.1 Hz to 1500 Hz or from 0.1 to 1000 Hz or from 0.1 Hz to 500 Hz or from 0.1 to 300 Hz.
• Frequency of the current envelope is typically in the range from 0.1 Hz to 500 Hz or from 0.1 to 250 Hz or from 0.1 Hz to 150 Hz or from 0.1 to 140 Hz.
• The electrostimulation may be provided in a combined manner where various treatments with various effects may be achieved. As an illustrative example, the electromagnetic energy with the electrostimulation may be dosed in trains of pulses of electric current where the first train of electrostimulation may achieve different effect than second or other successive train of stimulation. Therefore, the treatment may provide muscle fibers stimulation or muscle contractions followed by relaxation, during continual or pulsed radiofrequency thermal heating provided by electromagnetic energy provided by electromagnetic energy generator.
• The electrostimulation may be provided by monopolar, unipolar, bipolar or multipolar mode.
• Absolute value of voltage between the electrotherapy electrodes operated in bipolar, multipolar mode (electric current flow between more than two electrodes) and/or provided to at least one electrotherapy electrode may be in a range between 0.8 V and 10 kV; or in a range between 1 V and 1 kV; or in a range between 1 V and 300 V or in a range between 1 V and 100 V or in a range between 10 V and 80 V or in a range between 20 V and 60 V or in a range between 30 V and 50 V. In one embodiment, the absolute value of voltage between the electrotherapy electrodes operated in bipolar, multiplar mode and/or provided to at least one electrotherapy electrode may be determined based on a measurement across a 500 Ohm load.
• Current density of electrotherapy for a non-galvanic current may be in a range between 0.1 mA/cm²and 150 mA/cm², or in a range between 0.1 mA/cm²and 100 mA/cm², or in a range between 0.1 mA/cm²and 50 mA/cm², or in a range between 0.1 mA/cm²and 20 mA/cm²; for a galvanic current may be preferably in a range between 0.05 mA/cm²and 3 mA/cm², or in a range between 0.1 mA/cm²and 1 mA/cm², or in a range between 0.01 mA/cm²and 0.5 mA/cm². The current density may be calculated on the surface of the electrode providing the electrotherapy to the patient. In one aspect, the current density of electrotherapy for a non-galvanic current may be in a range between 0.1 mA/cm²and 200 mA/cm², or in a range between 0.5 mA/cm²and 150 mA/cm², or in a range between 1 mA/cm²and 120 mA/cm², or in a range between 5 mA/cm²and 100 mA/cm².
• During electrotherapy, e.g. bipolar electrotherapy, two or more electrodes may be used. If polarity of at least one electrode has a non-zero value in a group of the electrodes during bipolar mode, the group of the electrodes has to include at least one electrode with opposite polarity value. Absolute values of both electrode polarities may or may not be equal. In bipolar electrostimulation mode stimulating signal passes through the tissue between electrodes with opposite polarities.
• A distance between two electrodes operating in bipolar mode may be in a range between 0.1 mm and 4 cm or in a range between 0.2 mm to 3 cm or in a range between 0.5 mm and 2 cm or in a range between 1 mm and 1 cm or in the range of 0.1 cm and 40 cm or in a range between 1 cm and 30 cm, or in the range between 1 cm and 20 cm, wherein the distance is between the two closest points of two electrodes operating in bipolar mode.
• During monopolar electrotherapy mode stimulating signal may be induced by excitement of action potential by changing polarity of one electrode that change polarization in the nerve fiber and/or neuromuscular plague.
• During the electrotherapy, one of the bipolar or monopolar electrotherapy mode may be used or bipolar or monopolar electrotherapy mode may be combined.
• The ultrasound emitters may provide focused or defocused ultrasound energy. The ultrasound energy may be transferred to the tissue through an acoustic window. The output power of the ultrasound energy on the surface of theactive element13 may be less than or equal to 20 W or 15 W or 10 W or 5 W. Ultrasound energy may provide energy flux on the surface of theactive element13 or on the surface of the treated tissue (e.g. skin) in the range of 0.001 W/cm²to 250 W/cm², or in the range of 0.005 W/cm²to 50 W/cm², or in the range of 0.01 W/cm²to 25 W/cm², or in the range of 0.05 W/cm²to 20 W/cm². The treatment depth of ultrasound energy may be in the range of 0.1 mm to 100 mm or 0.2 mm to 50 mm or 0.25 mm to 25 mm or 0.3 mm to 15 mm. At a depth of 5 mm the ultrasound energy may provide an energy flux in the range of 0.01 W/cm²to 20 W/cm²or 0.05 W/cm²to 15 W/cm². An ultrasound beam may have a beam non-uniformity ratio (RBN) in the range of 0.1 to 20 or 2 to 15 to 4 to 10. In addition, an ultrasound beam may have a beam non-uniformity ratio below 15 or below 10. An ultrasound beam may be divergent, convergent and/or collimated. The ultrasound energy may be transferred to the tissue through an acoustic window. It is possible that the electrode may act as the acoustic window. Furthermore, theultrasound emitter10 may be a part of theactive element13, thusultrasound emitter10 may be a part of thepad4.
• At least some of theactive elements13 may be capable of delivering energy from primary electromagnetic generator6 or secondary generator9 orultrasound emitter10 simultaneously (at the same time) successively or in an overlapping method or in any combination thereof. For example, the active element13 (e.g. electrode) may be capable of delivering radiofrequency energy and electric current sequentially, which may mean that firstly theactive element13 may provide primary electromagnetic energy generated by the primary electromagnetic generator6 and subsequently theactive element13 may provide the secondary energy generated by the secondary generator9. Thus theactive element13 may e.g. apply radiofrequency energy to the tissue of the patient and then the sameactive element13 may apply e.g. electrical current to the tissue of the patient.
• Pad4 may further comprisethermal sensors15 enabling temperature control during the therapy, providing feedback to control unit (e.g. CPU)11, enabling adjustment of treatment parameters of each active element and providing information to the operator. Thethermal sensor15 may be a contact sensor, contactless sensor (e.g. infrared temperature sensor) or invasive sensor (e.g. a thermocouple) for precise temperature measurement of deep layers of skin, e.g. epidermis, dermis or hypodermis. The control unit (e.g. CPU)11 may also use algorithms to calculate the deep or upper-most temperatures. A temperature feedback system may control the temperature and based on set or pre-set limits alert the operator in human perceptible form, e.g. on the human machine interface8 or viaindicators17. In a limit temperature condition, the device may be configured to adjust one or more treatment parameters, e.g. output power, switching mode, pulse length, etc. or stop the treatment. A human perceptible alert may be a sound, alert message shown on human machine interface8 orindicators17 or change of color of any part of the interconnectingblock3 orpad4.
• The pad may comprise at least one electromyography (EMG) sensing electrode configured to monitor, to record or to evaluate the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles (e.g. twitch or contraction) in response to delivered energy (e.g. electric current). The at least one EMG sensing electrode being disposed on the pad may be electrically insulated from the active elements (e.g. electrodes used for treatment). An electromyograph detects the electric potential generated by muscle cells when these cells are electrically or neurologically activated. The signals can be analyzed to detect abnormalities, activation level, or recruitment order, or to analyze the biomechanics of the patient's movement. The EMG may be one of a surface EMG or an intramuscular EMG. The surface EMG can be recorded by a pair of electrodes or by a more complex array of multiple electrodes. EMG recordings display the potential difference (voltage difference) between two separate electrodes. Alternatively the active elements, e.g. electrodes, may be used for EMG. The intramuscular EMG may be recorded by one (monopolar) or more needle electrodes. This may be a fine wire inserted into a muscle with a surface electrode as a reference; or more fine wires inserted into muscle referenced to each other. Muscle tissue at rest is normally electrically inactive. After the electrical activity caused by delivered energy (e.g. electric current), action potentials begin to appear. As the strength of a muscle contraction is increased, more and more muscle fibers produce action potentials. When the muscle is fully contracted, a disorderly group of action potentials of varying rates and amplitudes should appear (a complete recruitment and interference pattern).
• The pad may also comprise at least one capacitive sensor for measurement of the proper contact of the pad with the patient. The capacitive sensor may be connected to at least two complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) chips, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) controller and a digital signal processor (DSP) which may be part of the control unit. The capacitive sensor may detect and measure the skin based on the different dielectric properties than the air, thus when the pad is detached from the patient a change in the signal may be detected and further processed by the control unit. The capacitance sensor may be configured in a surface capacitance or in a projected capacitance configuration. For better information about the contact and for higher safety, a single pad may comprise 3 to 30 or 4 to 20 or 5 to 18 or 6 to 16 or 7 to 14 capacitance sensors.
• Memory12 may include, for example, information about the type and shape of thepad4, its remaining lifetime, or the time of therapy that has already been performed with the pad. The memory may also provide information about the manufacturer of the pad or information about the designated area of use on the body of the patient. The memory may include RFID, MRAM, resistors, or pins.
• Neutral electrode7 may ensure proper radiofrequency energy distribution within the patient's body for mono-polar radiofrequency systems. Theneutral electrode7 is attached to the patient's skin prior to each therapy so that the energy may be distributed between active element13 (e.g. electrode) andneutral electrode7. In some bipolar or multipolar radiofrequency systems, there is no need to use a neutral electrode—radiofrequency energy is distributed between multiple active elements13 (e.g. electrodes).Neutral electrode7 represents an optional block of theapparatus1 as any type of radiofrequency system can be integrated.
• Additionally,device1 may include one or more sensors. The sensor may provide information about at least one physical quantity and its measurement may lead to feedback which may be displayed by human machine interface8 orindicators17. The one or more sensors may be used for sensing delivered electromagnetic energy, impedance of the skin, resistance of the skin, temperature of the treated skin, temperature of the untreated skin, temperature of at least one layer of the skin, water content of the device, the phase angle of delivered or reflected energy, the position of theactive elements13, the position of the interconnectingblock3, temperature of the cooling media, temperature of the primary electromagnetic generator6 and secondary generator9 andultrasound emitter10 or contact with the skin. The sensor may be a thermal, acoustic, vibration, electric, magnetic, flow, positional, optical, imaging, pressure, force, energy flux, impedance, current, Hall or proximity sensor. The sensor may be a capacitive displacement sensor, acoustic proximity sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, infrared camera or thermographic camera. The sensor may be invasive or contactless. The sensor may be located on or in thepad4, in themain unit2, in the interconnectingblock3 or may be a part of athermal sensor15. One sensor may measure more than one physical quantity. For example, the sensor may include a combination of a gyroscope, an accelerometer and/or a magnetometer. Additionally, the sensor may measure one or more physical quantities of the treated skin or untreated skin.
• A resistance sensor may measure skin resistance, because skin resistance may vary for different patients, as well as the humidity—wetness and sweat may influence the resistance and therefore the behavior of the skin in the energy field. Based on the measured skin resistance, the skin impedance may also be calculated.
• Information from one or more sensors may be used for generation of a pathway on a model e.g. a model of the human body shown on a display of human machine interface8. The pathway may illustrate a surface or volume of already treated tissue, presently treated tissue, tissue to be treated, or untreated tissue. A model may show a temperature map of the treated tissue providing information about the already treated tissue or untreated tissue.
• The sensor may provide information about the location of bones, inflamed tissue or joints. Such types of tissue may not be targeted by electromagnetic energy due to the possibility of painful treatment. Bones, joints or inflamed tissue may be detected by any type of sensor such as an imaging sensor (ultrasound sensor, IR sensor), impedance sensor, and the like. A detected presence of these tissue types may cause general human perceptible signals or interruption of generation of electromagnetic energy. Bones may be detected by a change of impedance of the tissue or by analysis of reflected electromagnetic energy.
• The patient's skin over at least one treatment portion may be pre-cooled to a selected temperature for a selected duration, the selected temperature and duration for pre-cooling may be sufficient to cool the skin to at least a selected temperature below normal body temperature. The skin may be cooled to at least the selected temperature to a depth below the at least one depth for the treatment portions so that the at least one treatment portion is substantially surrounded by cooled skin. The cooling may continue during the application of energy, and the duration of the application of energy may be greater than the thermal relaxation time of the treatment portions. Cooling may be provided by any known mechanism including water cooling, sprayed coolant, presence of an active solid cooling element (e.g. thermoelectric cooler) or air flow cooling. A cooling element may act as an optical element. Alternatively, the cooling element may be a spacer. Cooling may be provided during, before or after the treatment with electromagnetic energy. Cooling before treatment may also provide an environment for sudden heat shock, while cooling after treatment may provide faster regeneration after heat shock. The temperature of the coolant may be in the range of −200° C. to 36° C. The temperature of the cooling element during the treatment may be in the range of −80° C. to 36° C. or −70° C. to 35° C. or −60° C. to 34° C. or −20° C. to 30° C. or 0° C. to 27° C. or 5° C. to 25° C. Further, where the pad is not in contact with the patient's skin, cryogenic spray cooling, gas flow or other non-contact cooling techniques may be utilized. A cooling gel on the skin surface might also be utilized, either in addition to or instead of, one of the cooling techniques indicated above.
• FIG. 3A andFIG. 3B show different shapes and layouts ofpad4 used by an apparatus for contact therapy.Pads4 comprise at least one active element13 (e.g. electrode) and may be available in various shapes and layouts so that they may cover a variety of different treatment areas and accommodate individual patient needs, e.g. annular, semicircular, elliptical, oblong, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, polygonal or formless (having no regular form or shape). The shapes and layouts of thepad4 may be shaped to cover at least part of one or more of the periorbital area, the forehead (including frown lines), the jaw line, the perioral area (including Marionette lines, perioral lines—so called smoker lines, nasolabial folds, lips and chin), cheeks or submentum, etc. The shape of thepad4 and distribution, size and number of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may differ depending on the area being treated, e.g.active elements13 inside thepad4 may be in one line, two lines, three lines, four lines or multiple lines. Thepad4 withactive elements13 may be arranged into various shapes, e.g. in a line, where the centers of at least twoactive elements13 lie in one straight line, while any additional center of anactive element13 may lie in the same or different lines inside thepad4.
• In addition, thepad4 may be used to treat at least partially neck, bra fat, love handles, torso, back, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, calves, legs, arms, forearms, hands, fingers or body cavities (e.g. vagina, anus, mouth, inner ear etc.).
• Thepad4 may have a rectangular, oblong, square, trapezoidal form, or of the form of a convex or concave polygon wherein thepad4 may have at least two different inner angles of the convex or concave polygon structure. Additionally, thepad4 may form at least in part the shape of a conic section (also called conic), e.g. circle, ellipse, parabola or hyperbola. Thepad4 may have at least in part one, two, three, four, five or more curvatures of a shape of an arc with the curvature k in the range of 0.002 to 10 mm⁻¹or in the range of 0.004 to 5 mm⁻¹or in the range of 0.005 to 3 mm⁻¹or in the range of 0.006 to 2 mm⁻¹. Thepad4 may have at least one, two, three, four, five or more arcs with the curvature k or may have at least two different inner angles of a convex or concave polygon structure, and may be suitable for the treatment of chin, cheeks, submental area (e.g. “banana shape 1”4.2), for treating jaw line, perioral area, Marionette lines and nasolabial folds (e.g. “banana shape 2”4.4), for the treatment of periorbital area (e.g. “horseshoe shape”4.3) or other regions of face and neck. The “banana shape” pad4.2 or4.4 may have a convex-concave shape, which means that one side is convex and the opposite side is concave, that occupies at least 5% to 50% or 10% to 60% or 15% to 70% or 20% to 90% of a total circumference of thepad4 seen from above, wherein the shortest distance between the endpoints4.21aand4.21bof the “banana shape” pad4.2 (dashed line inFIG. 3A) is longer than the shortest distance between the endpoint4.21aor4.21band the middle point4.22 of the “banana shape” (full line in pad4.2 inFIG. 3A). The “horseshoe shape”4.3 seen from above may have the convex-concave shape that occupies at least 15% to 50% or 20% to 60% or 25% to 70% or 30% to 90% of its total circumference, wherein the shortest distance between the endpoints4.31aand4.31bof the “horseshoe shape” pad4.3 (dashed line inFIG. 3B) is equal or shorter than the shortest distance between the endpoint4.31aor4.31band the middle point4.32 of the “horseshoe shape” (full line in pad4.3 inFIG. 3B). When seen from above, if the longest possible center curve, which may be convex or concave and whose perpendiculars at a given point have equidistant distance from perimeter edges of the pad at each of its points (dotted line in pad4.2 inFIG. 3A), intersects the circumference of thepad4 then this point is the endpoint of the pad, e.g. endpoint4.21aor4.21b. The middle point, e.g.4.22, is then given as the middle of the center curve, wherein the total length of the center curve is given by two endpoints, e.g.4.21aand4.21b, thus the length of the center curve (dotted line in pad4.2 inFIG. 3A) from point4.21ato point4.22 is the same as the length from point4.21bto point4.22. The total length of the center curve may be in the range of 0.1 to 30 cm or in the range of 0.5 to 25 cm or in the range of 1 to 20 cm.
• In addition, the center curve may have at least in part circular, elliptical, parabolic, hyperbolic, exponential, convex or concave curve such that the straight line connecting endpoint of thepad4 with the middle point of the center curve forms an angle alpha with the tangent of the middle of the center curve. The angle alpha may be in a range of 0.1° to 179° or in a range of 0.2° to 170° or in a range of 0.5° to 160° or in a range of 10 to 150°.
• Thepad4 whose shape has at least two concave arcs with the curvature k or has at least two concave inner angles of the polygon structure may be suitable for the treatment of the forehead like the “T shape”4.1 inFIG. 3A. The “T shape”4.1 may be also characterized by the arrangement of theactive elements13 where the centers of at least twoactive elements13 lie in one straight line and center of at least oneadditional element13 lies in a different line.
• Another possible non-limiting configuration of thepad4 used for the treatment of the forehead is depicted inFIG. 3C. In this non-limiting example, a forehead pad (pad4 used for treatment of the forehead) my contain two lines of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes)—active elements13a-13fas shown inFIG. 3C, wherein theactive elements13a-13fin one line may be at least partially separated byslots43 for better flexibility of thepad4. A first line of active elements comprises active elements (e.g. electrodes) depicted in the dottedbox131ainFIG. 3C—active elements13d,13eand13f. The second line of active elements (e.g. electrodes) comprises active elements depicted in the dashedbox131binFIG. 3C—active elements13a,13b,13c. Dotted and dashedboxes131aand131bare used only for visualization of the first and second lines of active elements (e.g. electrodes), respectively.Such pad4 may have a shape that has a total number of convex and/or concave arcs in a range of 14 to 36 or in a range of 18 to 32 or in a range of 20 to 30 or in a range of 22 to 28 with a curvature k. Additionally, thepad4 may have a number of concave inner angles in a range of 2 to 20 or in a range of 5 to 17 or in a range of 7 to 15 or in a range of 9 to 13, or thepad4 may have a number of convex inner angles in a range of 2 to 20 or in a range of 5 to 17 or in a range of 10 to 16 or in a range of 11 to 15.
• FIG. 3C also shows thesticker44 on a top side of thepad4. The top side is the opposite side from the underside (the side where the adhesive layer or the active elements may be deposited on the substrate of the pad4) or in other words, the top side is the side of thepad4 that is facing away from the patient during the treatment. The sticker may have a bottom side and a top side, wherein the bottom side of the sticker may comprise a sticking layer and the top side of the sticker may comprise a non-sticking layer (eg. polyimide (PI) films, Teflon®, epoxy, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide or PE foam).
• As shown inFIG. 3C, the sticker may have the same shape as thepad4 with an additional overlap over thepad4. The overlap is hatched inFIG. 3C. The sticker may be bonded to thepad4 such that the sticking layer of the bottom side of the sticker is facing toward the top side of thepad4. The overlap of the sticker may exceed thepad4 in the range of 0.1 to 10 cm, or in the range of 0.1 to 7 cm, or in the range of 0.2 to 5 cm, or in the range of 0.2 to 3 cm, or in the range of 0.3 to 1 cm. This overlap may also comprise an adhesive layer and may be used to form additional and more proper contact of thepad4 with the patient.
• The forehead pad (pad4 used for treatment of the forehead) may comprise edge active elements (e.g. electrodes)—13a,13c,13dand13finFIG. 3C and middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)—13band13einFIG. 3C. Theforehead pad4 may be divided into an upper side —active elements (e.g. electrodes) inbox131a; and bottom side—active elements (e.g. electrodes) inbox131bas well as a left side—active elements (e.g. electrodes)13aand13f, and a right side—active elements (e.g. electrodes)13cand13d. Edge active elements (e.g. electrodes)—13a,13c,13dand13fin theforehead pad4 depicted inFIG. 3C may have a surface area in the range of 1 to 10 cm²or in the range of 2 to 6.5 cm²or in the range of 2.3 to 6 cm²or in the range of 2.5 to 5.5 cm², which may be the same for all edge active elements. The middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)13band13einFIG. 3C may have a larger surface area than the edge active elements (e.g. electrodes), wherein the surface area of the middle active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be in the range of 1 to 20 cm²or in the range of 2 to 15 cm²or in the range of 3 to 12 cm²or in the range of 4 to 10 cm². In one aspect, each active element (e.g. electrode) may have a different surface area. The ratio of a surface area of one middle active element (e.g. electrode) to a surface area of one edge active element (e.g. electrode) on the forehead pad may be in a range of 0.8 to 2.5 or in a range of 1 to 2.3 or in a range of 1.1 to 2.2.
• The distance d_edgebetween the closest points of the bottom edge active elements (e.g. electrodes)—active elements13aand13cin theFIG. 3C or the upper edge active elements (e.g. electrodes)—13dand13fin theFIG. 3C may be in the range of 2 to 8 cm or in the range of 3 to 7 cm or in the range of 4 to 6 cm or in the range of 4.5 to 5.5 cm. The distance between the upper edge active elements (e.g. electrodes) and the distance between the bottom edge active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be the same.
• The distance d_vertbetween the closest points of the upper active elements (e.g. electrodes) and the bottom active elements (e.g. electrodes) on one side (left, middle, right)—active elements13aand13foractive elements13band13eoractive elements13cand13dinFIG. 3C may be in the range of 0.5 to 20 mm or in the range of 1 to 10 mm or in the range of 1.5 to 6 mm or in the range of 2 to 5 mm. The distance d_vertmay be the same for the left, middle and right active elements.
• Such distances (d_edgeand d_vert) are optimized to effectively treat the Frontalis muscle or Procerus muscle during the treatment. The edge active elements (e.g. electrodes)—13a,13c,13dand13finFIG. 3C are used for treatment of Frontalis muscle and/or Corrugator supercilii and the middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)—13band13einFIG. 3C are used for treatment of Procerus muscle.
• The forehead pad (pad4 used for treatment of the forehead) inFIG. 3C also shows a possible arrangement of the bottom middle part of thepad4 comprising the bottom middle active element (e.g. electrode)—13b. Thepad4 may comprise aconvex protrusion4pand/or concave depression in the bottom middle part. Also theactive element13bmay be designed in a shape proximate to an oblong or rectangular shape with aconvex protrusion13pand/or concave depression in the middle of the bottom part of theactive element13bcopying a shape of thepad4 with theprotrusion4pand/or depression of the pad. Thisprotrusion4pand/or depression may serve as a focus point for a correct coupling of thepad4 to the forehead area of the patient, wherein theprotrusion4pand/or depression should be aligned with the middle of the nose of the patient (e.g. in the middle of Procerus muscle) and at the same time the bottom edge of thepad4 should be coupled slightly over the eyebrows of the patient.
• One possible non-limiting configuration of thepad4 used for the treatment of the left cheek is depicted inFIG. 3D. In this non-limiting example, middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)—active elements13g,13h,13iand13jmay be separated on the substrate and the distance d_midbetween the closest points of two neighboring middle active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be in the range of 0.5 to 5 mm or in the range of 0.8 to 3 mm or in the range of 1 to 2.5 mm or in the range of 1.2 to 2.3 mm. The left cheek pad (thepad4 used for the treatment of the left cheek) depicted inFIG. 3D may be designed to be coupled to the patient such that the bottom of thepad4 is aligned and slightly above the left part of the base of the mandible, represented by thenumber301 inFIG. 3D. The middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)13g,13h,13iand13jinFIG. 3D may have a surface area in the range of 1 to 15 cm²or in the range of 2 to 8 cm²or in the range of 2.5 to 6 cm²or in the range of 3 to 5 cm². The edge active elements (e.g. electrodes)13k,13land13mmay have a surface area in the range of 1 to 20 cm²or in the range of 2 to 10 cm²or in the range of 2.5 to 8 cm²or in the range of 3.5 to 7 cm². The ratio of a surface area of the edge active element (e.g. electrode)—one of13k,13lor13m, to a surface area of the middle active element (e.g. electrode)—one of13g,13h,13ior13jinFIG. 3D, may be in a range of 0.5 to 3 or in a range of 0.8 to 2.5 or in a range of 1 to 2 or in a range of 1 to 1.8.
• The middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)13g,13h,13iand13jinFIG. 3D are optimally configured to treat the Buccinator, Risorius, Zygomaticus and/or Masseter muscle. The middle active elements (e.g. electrodes)13g,13h,13iand13jinFIG. 3D are optimally configured to treat the Platysma, Depressor and/or Lavator labii superioris muscles.
• Thepad4 used for the treatment of the right cheek may be symmetrically arranged to theleft cheek pad4 depicted inFIG. 3D.
• Pads may have different sizes with the surface areas ranging from 0.1 to 150 cm²or from 0.2 to 125 cm²or from 0.5 to 100 cm²or in the range of 1 to 50 cm²or in the range of 10 to 50 cm²or in the range of 15 to 47 cm²or in the range of 18 to 45 cm². The pad may occupy approximately 1 to 99% or 1 to 80% or 1 to 60% or 1 to 50% of the face. The number of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) within asingle pad4 ranges from 1 to 100 or from 1 to 80 or from 1 to 60 or from 2-20 or from 3 to 10 or from 4 to 9. A thickness at least in a part of thepad4 may be in the range of 0.01 to 15 mm or in the range of 0.02 to 10 mm or in the range of 0.05 to 7 mm or in the range of 0.1 to 2 mm.
• Furthermore thepads4 may have a shape that at least partially replicates the shape of galea aponeurotica, procerus, levatar labii superioris alaeque nasi, nasalis, lavator labii superioris, zygomaticus minor, zygomaticus major, levator angulis oris, risorius, platysma, depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, occipitofrontalis (frontal belly), currugator supercilii, orbicularis oculi, buccinator, masseter, orbicularis oris or mentalis muscle when thepad4 is attached to the surface of the patient skin.
• Thepad4 may be characterized by at least one aforementioned aspect or by a combination of more than one aforementioned aspect or by a combination of all aforementioned aspects.
• The electromagnetic energy generator6 or the secondary generator9 inside the main case may generate an electromagnetic or secondary energy (e.g. electric current) which may be delivered via a conductive lead to at least one active element13 (e.g. electrode) attached to the skin, respectively. Theactive element13 may deliver energy through its entire surface or by means of a so-called fractional arrangement.Active element13 may be an active electrode in a monopolar, unipolar, bipolar or multipolar radiofrequency system. In the monopolar radiofrequency system, energy is delivered between an active electrode (active element13) and aneutral electrode7 with a much larger surface area. Due to mutual distance and difference between the surface area of the active and neutral electrode, energy is concentrated under the active electrode enabling it to heat the treated area. In the monopolar radiofrequency system, the energy may be delivered with the frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 550 MHz or in the range of 200 kHz to 300 MHz or in the range of 250 kHz to 100 MHz or in the range of 300 kHz to 50 MHz or in the range of 350 kHz to 14 MHz. In the unipolar, bipolar or multipolar radiofrequency system, there is no need forneutral electrode7. In the bipolar and multipolar radiofrequency system, energy is delivered between two and multiple active electrodes with similar surface area, respectively. The distance between these electrodes determines the depth of energy penetration. In the unipolar radiofrequency system, only a single active electrode is incorporated and energy is delivered to the tissue and environment surrounding the active electrode. The distance between the two nearest active elements13 (e.g. the nearest neighboring sides of electrodes) in onepad4 may be in the range of 0.1 to 100 mm or in the range of 0.3 to 70 mm or in the range of 0.5 to 60 mm or in the range of 0.7 to 30 mm or in the range of 1 to 10 mm or in the range of 1 to 5 mm. The distance between the two nearest neighboring sides of the electrodes may mean the distance between the two nearest points of neighboring electrodes.
• A distance between the nearest point of the active element13 (e.g. electrode) and the nearest edge of thepad4 may be in the range of 0.1 to 10 mm or in the range of 0.5 to 5 mm or in the range of 1 to 4 mm or in the range of 1 to 3 mm.
• FIG. 4A-D represents a side view of possible configurations of thepad4 configured for contact therapy.Pads4 may be made offlexible substrate material42—polyimide (PI) films, teflon, PET, epoxy or PE foam with an additionaladhesive layer40 on the underside. They may be of different shapes to allow the operator to choose according to the area to be treated. Active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may have a circumference of annular, semicircular, elliptical, oblong, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or polygonal shape with a surface area in the range from 0.1 to 70 cm²or from 0.5 to 50 cm²or from 1 to 25 cm²or from 1 to 10 cm²or from 2 to 9.5 cm²or from 2.5 to 9 cm². The material used for active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be copper, aluminum, lead or any other conductive medium that can be deposited or integrated in thepad4. Furthermore the active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may be made of silver, gold or graphite. Electrodes in thepad4 may be printed by means of biocompatible ink, such as silver ink, graphite ink or a combination of inks of different conductive materials.
• In one aspect, the electrodes may have a sandwich structure where multiple conductive materials are deposited gradually on each other, e.g. a copper-nickel-gold structure. For example the copper may be deposited on the substrate with a thickness in the range of 5 to 100 μm or in the range of 15 to 55 μm or in the range of 25 to 45 μm. The nickel may be deposited on the copper with a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 15 μm or in the range of 0.5 to 8 μm or in the range of 1 to 6 μm. And the gold may be deposited on the nickel with a thickness in the range of 25 to 200 nm or in the range of 50 to 100 nm or in the range of 60 to 90 nm. Such a sandwich structure may be made for example by an ENIG process.
• In another aspect, the electrodes may be made of copper and covered with another conductive layer, e.g. silver or silver-chloride ink, carbon paste, or aluminum segments coupled to the copper by conductive glue.
• The active element13 (e.g. electrode) may have a shape that has a total number of convex or concave arcs in a range of 1 to 12 or in a range of 2 to 10 or in a range of 3 to 9 or in a range of 4 to 8. Additionally, the active element (e.g. electrode) may have a number of concave inner angles in a range of 1 to 7 or in a range of 1 to 6 or in a range of 1 to 5 or in a range of 2 to 4, or the active element (e.g. electrode) may have a number of convex inner angles in a range of 1 to 10 or in a range of 1 to 9 or in a range of 2 to 8 in a range of 3 to 7. A possible arrangement of convex-concave active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) is depicted inFIG. 3C.
• The active element13 (e.g. electrode providing radiofrequency energy and/or electric current) may be full-area electrode that has a full active surface. This means that the whole surface of the electrode facing the patient is made of conductive material deposited or integrated in thepad4 as mentioned above.
• In one aspect, the electrode (made of conductive material) facing the patient may be with e.g. one or more apertures, cutouts and/or protrusions configured for example to improve flexibility of the electrode and/or pad, and/or reduce the edge effects and/or improve homogeneity of delivered energy density and/or improve homogeneity of provided treatment. Apertures may be an opening in the body of the electrode. A cutout may be an opening in the body of the electrode along the border of the electrode. Openings in the body of the electrode may be defined by view from floor projections, which shows a view of the electrode from above. The openings, e.g. apertures, cutouts and/or areas outside of protrusions may be filed by air, dielectric material, insulation material, substrate of the pad, air or hydrogel. The electrode is therefore segmented in comparison to a regular electrode by disruption of the surface area (i.e., an electrode with no apertures or cutouts). The two or more apertures or cutouts of the one electrode may be asymmetrical. The one or more aperture and cutout may have e.g. rectangular or circular shape. The apertures and/or cutouts may have regular, irregular, symmetrical and/or asymmetrical shapes. When the electrode includes two or more apertures or cutouts, the apertures or cutouts may have the same point of symmetry and/or line of symmetry. The distance between two closest points located on the borders of two different apertures and/or cutouts of the electrode may be in a range from 1 μm to 10 mm or from 10 μm to 8 mm or from 20 μm to 5 mm or from 50 μm to 3 mm or from 100 μm to 2 mm.
• The electrode with one or more openings (e.g. apertures and/or cutouts) and/or protrusions may be framed by the conductive material and the inside of the frame may have a combination of conductive material and the openings. The frame may create the utmost circumference of the electrode from the side facing the patient. The frame may have a form of annular, semicircular, elliptical, oblong, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or polygonal shape. The inside of theframe801 may have a structure of agrid802 as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B with theapertures803. Theframe801 and thegrid lines802 are made of conductive material and are parts of theelectrode800. Theframe801 may be of the same thickness as the thickness of thegrid lines802 or the thickness of theframe801 may be thicker than thegrid lines802 in the range of 1% to 2000% or in the range of 10% to 1000% or in the range of 20% to 500% or in the range of 50% to 200%. Additionally theframe801 may be thinner than thegrid lines802 in the range of 0.01 times to 20 times or in the range of 0.1 times to 10 times or in the range of 0.2 times to 5 times or in the range of 0.5 times to 2 times. It may be also possible to design the electrode such that the conductive material of the electrode is getting thinner from thecenter804 of theelectrode800 as shown inFIG. 9C. The thinning step betweenadjacent grid lines802 in the direction from thecenter804 may be in the range of 0.1 times to 10 times or in the range of 0.2 times to 5 times or in the range of 0.5 times to 2 times with theframe801 having the thinnest line of conductive material.
• In a first aspect, the total area of the electrode800 (comprising theframe801 and the grid lines802) and allapertures803 inside theframe801 of saidelectrode800 may be in the range of 1 to 15 cm²or in the range of 2 to 8 cm²or in the range of 2.5 to 6 cm²or in the range of 3 to 5 cm².
• In a second aspect, the total area of the electrode800 (comprising theframe801 and the grid lines802) and allapertures803 inside theframe801 of saidelectrode800 may be in the range of 1 to 20 cm²or in the range of 2 to 10 cm²or in the range of 2.5 to 8 cm²or in the range of 3.5 to 7 cm².
• In a third aspect, the total area of the electrode800 (comprising theframe801 and the grid lines802) and allapertures803 inside theframe801 of saidelectrode800 may be in the range of 1 to 10 cm²or in the range of 2 to 6.5 cm²or in the range of 2.3 to 6 cm²or in the range of 2.5 to 5.5 cm².
• In a fourth aspect, the total area of the electrode800 (comprising theframe801 and the grid lines802) and allapertures803 inside theframe801 of saidelectrode800 may be in the range of 1 to 20 cm²or in the range of 2 to 15 cm²or in the range of 3 to 12 cm²or in the range of 4 to 10 cm².
• A ratio of the area of the conductive material of the electrode800 (i.e. theframe801 and the gridlines802) to the total area of all apertures inside theframe801 of theelectrode800 may be in the range of 1% to 50%, or in the range of 2% to 45% or in the range of 5% to 40% or in the range of 8% to 35% or in the range of 10% to 33%. Additionally the ratio may be in the range of 1% to 20%, or in the range of 10% to 40% or in the range of 33% to 67% or in the range of 50% to 70% or in the range of 66% to 100%.
• Alternatively, theelectrode800 may not be framed, e.g. it may have a form of a grid with no boundaries formed byopenings803 as shown inFIG. 9D. A ratio of conductive material to cutouts and/or apertures of the electrode may be in the range of 1% to 50%, or in the range of 2% to 45% or in the range of 5% to 40% or in the range of 8% to 35% or in the range of 10% to 33%. Additionally, the ratio of conductive material to openings of the electrode may be in the range of 1% to 20%, or in the range of 10% to 40% or in the range of 33% to 67% or in the range of 50% to 70% or in the range of 66% to 100%. Such a grated electrode may be very advantageous. It may be much more flexible, it may ensure contact with the patient that is more proper and it may have much better self-cooling properties than full-area electrode.
• With reference toFIG. 9E, a distance between the two closestparallel grid lines802aand802bmay be illustrated by at least onecircle820, which may be hypothetically inscribed into an aperture and/orcutout803 and between the two closestparallel grid lines802aand802band have at least one tangential point located on thefirst grid line802aand at least one tangential point located on thesecond grid line802b, thus having a diameter equal to the distance between the two closestparallel grid lines802aand802b. The at least onehypothetical circle820 may have a diameter in a range from 0.001 to 10 mm or 0.005 mm to 9 mm, or from 0.01 mm to 8 mm or 0.05 mm to 7 mm or from 0.1 mm to 6 mm, or from 0.2 mm to 5 mm or from 0.3 mm to 5 mm or from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
• With reference toFIG. 9F, in one aspect, anelectrode800 may have multiple protrusions in the form of radial conductive lines808 separated bycutouts803, wherein the multiple radial conductive lines808 are projected from one point of theelectrode805. The multiple radial conductive lines808 are merged near thepoint805 of the electrode and together create a full conductive surface810 around the point of theelectrode805. The radial conductive lines808 projected from thepoint805 may have the same length or may have different lengths. Additionally, some of the radial conductive lines808 projected from thepoint805 may have the same length and some may have different lengths.
• With reference toFIG. 9G, in another aspect, theelectrode800 may have abase part806 of a defined shape and protrusions (radial conductive lines)808 separated bycutouts803. Thebase part806 may have a shape of annular, semicircular, elliptical, oblong, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or polygonal. Thebase part806 may be connected to the conductive leads.
• With reference toFIG. 9H, in yet in another aspect, theelectrode800 may have a baseconductive line807 and multiple protrusions (radial conductive lines)808 separated bycutouts803. The baseconductive line807 is connected to all the radial conductive lines808 as shown inFIG. 9H. The base conductive line may also be connected to the conductive lead. The radial conductive lines808 emerging from the baseconductive line807 may have the same lengths and/or may have different lengths.
• The distance between two closest protrusions808 may be illustrated as at least one circle (similarly to thecircle820 inFIG. 9E), which may be hypothetically inscribed into an aperture and/orcutout803 and between two closest protrusions808 and have at least one tangential point located on the first protrusion and at least one tangential point located on the second protrusion, thus having a diameter equal to the distance between the two closest protrusions. The at least one circle may have a diameter in a range from 0.001 to 10 mm or 0.005 mm to 9 mm, or from 0.01 mm to 8 mm or 0.05 mm to 7 mm or from 0.1 mm to 6 mm, or from 0.2 mm to 5 mm or from 0.3 mm to 5 mm or from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
• The protrusions808 orcutouts803 may have a symmetrical, asymmetrical, irregular and/or regular shape. The size, shape and/or symmetry of individual radial conductive lines may be the same and/or different across the electrode. For example each protrusion808 may have the same shape, the same dimension, the same direction and/or symmetry. The protrusions808 may be characterized by a thickness and a length of the protrusion, wherein the length is larger than the thickness by factor in the range of 2 to 100, or in the range of 4 to 80, or in the range of 5 to 70. The thickness of a protrusion may be in the range of 1 μm to 5 mm or in the range of 20 μm to 4 mm or in the range of 50 μm to 3 mm or in the range of 100 μm to 2.5 mm or in the range of 120 μm to 2 mm or in the range of 150 μm to 1.5 mm or in the range of 200 μm to 1 mm. The length of the protrusions may be in the range of 0.05 to 50 mm or in the range of 0.1 to 30 mm or in the range of 0.5 to 20 mm. The number of protrusions that one electrode may comprise may be in a range of 1 to 1000, or of 5 to 500, or of 10 to 300, or of 15 to 250, or of 20 to 240.
• The surface area of theelectrode800 with the protrusions808 may be in the range of 0.1 to 10 cm²or in the range of 0.3 to 9.5 cm²or in the range of 0.4 to 9 cm²or in the range of 0.5 to 8.5 cm².
• In addition, all the possible electrode arrangements depicted inFIG. 9F-H may be framed with aconductive frame801, e.g. as shown inFIG. 9A, wherein theframe801 is also a part of the electrode.
• The total number of apertures and/or cutouts in one electrode regardless of the parallel cuts may be in a range of 5 to 250, or of 10 to 200, or of 15 to 170, or of 20 to 150, or of 300 to 1500, or of 400 to 1400, or of 500 to 1300, or of 600 to 1200.
• In one aspect, where one or more active elements are in the form of an electrode, which is grated (FIGS. 9A-9D), the energy flux of one or more grated electrodes may be calculated as an energy flux of thegrid802 and/or theframe801 of the active element and may be in the range of 0.001 W/cm²to 1500 W/cm²or 0.01 W/cm²to 1000 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 500 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 200 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 100 W/cm²or 1 W/cm²to 70 W/cm².
• In another aspect, where one or more active elements are in the form of an electrode with openings and/or protrusions (FIGS. 9F-9H), the energy flux of one or more protruded electrodes may be calculated as an energy flux of thebase part806 or baseconductive line807 and the protrusions808 of the active element and may be in the range of 0.001 W/cm²to 1500 W/cm²or 0.01 W/cm²to 1000 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 500 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 200 W/cm²or 0.5 W/cm²to 100 W/cm²or 1 W/cm²to 70 W/cm².
• As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the active elements13 (e.g. electrode) may be partially embedded within theflexible substrate layer42 oradhesive layer40 or in the interface of theflexible substrate layer42 andadhesive layer40. The active elements13 (e.g. electrode) may be supplied and controlled independently by multiple conductive leads41a(FIG. 4A) or they may be conductively interconnected and supplied/controlled via a single conductive lead41b(FIG. 4B). The multiple conductive leads41amay be connected to the active elements13 (e.g. electrode) via a free space (e.g. hole) in theflexible substrate layer42. The free space (e.g. hole) may have dimensions such that eachconductive lead41amay fit tightly into thesubstrate layer42, e.g. theconductive lead41amay be encapsulated by aflexible substrate layer42. Furthermore, the free space (e.g. hole) itself may be metalized and serve as a connection between respective conductive leads41aand active elements13 (e.g. electrodes). As shown inFIG. 4A, the active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may also be deposited on the underside of theflexible substrate42 and may be covered by theadhesive layer40 on the sides, which are not coupled to thesubstrate42.
• In another aspect, the active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may be embedded in theflexible substrate42 such, that the underside of thesubstrate401 and the underside of theactive elements13A-D are in one plane, as shown inFIG. 4C. For clarity, theflexible substrate42 is hatched inFIG. 4C. Thesubstrate42 may have no free space for conductive leads41a, as the conductive lead may be directly coupled to the top side of the active element (e.g. electrode) as shown inactive elements13A and13B inFIG. 4C. Alternatively, the flexible substrate may have a free space (e.g. hole or metalized hole) for coupling the conductive leads41ato the active elements (e.g. electrodes), which may be thinner than the substrate, as shown inactive elements13C and13D inFIG. 4C.
• Another possible arrangement of the active elements (e.g. electrodes) in thepad4 is represented inFIG. 4D. In a first aspect, theactive element13E may be deposited on the top side of thesubstrate402 such, that the underside of theactive element13E is deposited on the top side of thesubstrate402, creating an interface of theactive element13E andsubstrate42 on the top side of thesubstrate402. In a second aspect, theactive element13F may be embedded in thesubstrate42 from the top side of thesubstrate402, such that the top side of the active element (e.g. electrode) and the top side of thesubstrate402 lies in one plane. In this case, the thickness of theactive element13F is less than thickness of thesubstrate42. In a third aspect the active element13G may be deposited on the top side of thesurface402 similarly to theactive element13E but even more, the active element13G is partially embedded in thesubstrate42 from the top side of the substrate. In all these cases (active elements13E-G), thesubstrate42 is perforated allowing the coupling ofadhesive layer40 with theactive elements13E-G through theperforations403.
• Alternatively, the active element (e.g. electrode) may be fully embedded in the substrate and protrude from its top side or underside. Thus, the thickness of the active element (e.g. electrode) may be bigger than the thickness of the substrate.
• In addition, combinations ofpad4 structures mentioned above may be possible, e.g. one active element (e.g. first electrode) is deposited on the underside of thepad4 and another active element (e.g. second electrode) is embedded in thepad4.
• In case of a single conductive lead connection, the active elements13 (e.g. electrode) may be partially embedded inside theflexible substrate42 oradhesive layer40 or in the interface of theflexible substrate layer42 andadhesive layer40, and the active elements13 (e.g. electrode) may be connected via single conductive lead41bwhich may be situated in theflexible substrate42 or at the interface of theflexible substrate42 andadhesive layer40, as shown inFIG. 4B. The single conductive lead41bmay leave thepad4 on its lateral or top side in a direction away from the patient. In both cases theconductive lead41aor41bdoes not come into contact with the treatment area.
• Additionally, the active elements13 (e.g. electrode) may be partially embedded within theflexible substrate42 and theadhesive layer40 may surround theactive elements13 such that a surface ofactive elements13 may be at least partially in direct contact with the surface of a treatment area.
• Moreover, the top side of thepad4 may be protected by acover layer410, which is shown for simplicity only inFIG. 4C.
• Apad4 may includeflexible substrate500, which may comprise acentral part501 and one ormore segments502, which may move at least partially independently from each other as shown inFIG. 5A. The flexible substrate may have a thickness in a range of 1 to 200 μm or in a range of 5 to 100 μm or in a range of 10 to 75 μm or in a range of 15 to 65 μm. The central part or the segments may include asensor15. The number of segments on thepad4 may be in the range of 1 to 100, or in the range of 1 to 80 or in the range of 1 to 60 or in the range of 2 to 20 or in the range of 3 to 10 or in the range of 4 to 9, wherein each segment may comprise at least one active element13 (e.g. electrode). The neighboring segments may be at least partially separated byslots503.
• Conventional therapy pads have routinely been made on a single non-segmented substrate which in some cases includes a flexible metal material or a polymeric material with a layer of metallic material deposited thereon.
• As seen inFIG. 5A, the proposedsegmented pad4 may be more flexible and may provide a greater amount of contact with the patient than conventional pads routinely used. Thesubstrate500 of thepad4 is divided intocentral part501 and a plurality ofconnected segments502. The plurality ofsegments502 may move at least partially independently from one another. Theindividual segments502 may be at least partially physically detached from one another by, for example, one ormore slots503, or other open area betweenneighboring segments502. The plurality ofsegments502 may be physically coupled together by acentral part501 including one or more conductive leads506. In one aspect, thecentral part501 may also include one or more active elements13 (e.g. electrodes). In another aspect, each active element13 (e.g. electrode) may be partially deposited in thecentral part501 and partially in the correspondingsegment502. In another aspect, some active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be deposited on the central part and some active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be deposited at least partially on the segments.
• As shown inFIG. 5A, theslots503 may extend from thecentral part501 of thesubstrate500 of thepad4 proximate to aconductive lead508 and betweenneighboring segments502 to an edge of thesubstrate500. Providing for the plurality ofsegments502 of thepad4 to move at least partially independently from one another may facilitate conformance of thepad4 to curves or contours of a patient's body. Asegmented pad4 as illustrated inFIG. 5A may provide for a greater area, or a greater percentage of the total area, of thepad4 portion to be in contact with the patient's body than if thepad4 were formed as a single, non-segmented substrate. In addition, thesegments502 may comprise aperforated gap503′ shown inFIG. 5A, which also provides greater conformance of thepad4 to curves or contours of a patient's body.
• The shapes and positions of thesegments502 and/or theslots503 may be provided in different configurations from those illustrated inFIG. 5A. For example, thesegments502 may include rounded or squared ends or have different dimensional ratios than illustrated. Theslots503 may be curved, squared, triangular, oblong, polygonal or may include re-entrant portions extending between one of thesegments502 and thecentral part501. Theslots503 may also be a combination of the shapes mentioned above, e.g. a combination of a triangular slot with the curved end as illustrated inFIG. 5B representing a detail of one possible slot arrangement between twoneighboring segments502′ and502″. The slots may be very thin or may be wide, wherein the width of the slot ts may be illustrated in one example as follows: First, an imaginary curved orstraight line520 passes through the center of the slot such that it divides the slot into twosymmetrical parts503aand503b, respectively. The width is then given by a secondimaginary line530 which is perpendicular to the firstimaginary line520 and which would connect the edges of the neighboring segments facing towards theslot502aand502b, and where the secondimaginary line530 is at a distance of at least 1 mm away from the beginning of theslot503c. The beginning of theslot503cis a point in theslot503 closest to thecentral part501 of thesubstrate500 of thepad4 as seen inFIG. 5B. The firstimaginary line520 is represented by a dashed line in theFIG. 5B and the secondimaginary line530 is represented as a dotted line inFIG. 5B. The width of the slot ws may be in the range of 100 μm to 10 mm or in the range of 500 μm to 8 mm or in the range of 600 μm to 7 mm or in the range of 800 μm to 5 mm.
• Eachsegment502 of thesubstrate500 may comprise an active element13 (e.g. electrode) on a portion of, or the entirety of, thesegment502.
• Thecentral part501 may have aproximal end504 and adistal end505, wherein theproximal end504 of thecentral part501 may pass or may be connected to the connectingpart507. Thecentral part501 is connected to the connectingpart507 in the area of a dotted circle inFIG. 5A.Connecting part507 may comprise aconductive lead508 for each active element13 (e.g. electrode)—13a-13finFIG. 5A, or sensor(s)15 included in apad4, wherein all conductive leads of the connecting part are entering thepad4 in the proximal end of the central part of thepad4. Conductive leads are mainly led by the central part until they reach the respective segment and its active element(s) or sensor(s), thus there may be no conductive lead at thedistal end505 of thecentral part501 as shown inFIG. 5A. The conductive leads506 may be led on the top side of the substrate—side facing away from the patient; and may be covered by a cover layer, e.g. by synthetic polymer like polyimide. In one aspect, the underside of the pad4 (the side facing towards the body area of the patient) may also be at least partially covered by the cover layer, mainly in the area where thepad4 is coupled to the connectingpart507—dotted circle inFIG. 5A, avoiding theactive elements13; to improve mechanical reinforcements of this part of thepad4, among other benefits. The cover layer (e.g. polyimide film or foam) may have a thickness in a range of 5 to 50 μm or in a range of 7 to 35 μm or in a range of 10 to 30 μm.
• The connectingpart507 may be flexible or partially elastic. The connecting part may be made of flexible PCB with the cover layer as an isolation layer on the top side and/or the underside of the connectingpart507. The connecting part may have a connector at its ends, which may be rigid. The connector may be one of a USB type A, USB type B, USB type C, USB Micro B, DC power cord, AC power cord, computer power cable, firewire, RJ11, fiber connector, USB 3.0, mini display, pin connector, SMA, DVI, BNC, IDE, PS/2, RCA, display port, PSU, SATA, mSATA, DB9, RJ45, RS232 or any other connector know in the art. The pin connector may have number of pins in a range of 5 to 60 or in a range of 10 to 44 or in a range of 15 to 36 or in a range of 20 to 34. Alternatively, the connector may be made on the flexible PCB with an attached stiffener underneath used to stiffen the connector against out of plane deformation. The stiffener may be made of a non-conductive material including but not limited to plastic or fiberglass. The stiffener may have a thickness in a range of 0.1 to 5 mm or in a range of 0.5 to 2 mm or in a range of 1 to 1.5 mm. The flexible PCB connector may comprise a number of contacts in the range of 5 to 60 or in a range of 10 to 44 or in a range of 15 to 36 or in a range of 20 to 34.
• In one aspect, thepad4, the connectingpart507 and the connector may all be part of the applicator.
• The interconnectingblock3 or themain unit2 may comprise one or more sockets configured to connect the connecting part via the connector on the opposite side to the side where thepad4 is situated, wherein the one or more sockets are configured to connect an arbitrary pad and/or applicator. Alternatively, the interconnecting block or the main unit may comprise multiple sockets, each socket configured to connect one specific pad and/or applicator for a specific treatment area. The socket may be configured such that it will automatically determine a currently connected pad and/or applicator. The information about the connected pad and/or applicator may be read out from the memory of the pad. Alternatively, the memory may be part of the connector. After the connection, the connector may be linked with the control unit11 (e.g. CPU). The control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may provide one or more predetermined treatment protocols to the user via the human machine interface8 after the detection of the pad in the socket. For example if only a forehead pad is connected, the system may automatically detect this specific pad and propose only a treatment of a forehead of the patient, not allowing the user to set a treatment of other body parts of the patient. Furthermore, the connector may comprise cutouts, grooves, slots, holes and/or notches for locking the connector in the socket. The socket may also comprise a safeguard preventing unintentional connection of the connector in the socket.
• In one aspect, the connector may comprise a symbol indicating on which body part the pad and/or the applicator is designated to treat.
• In addition, a supplementary connection may be used between themain unit2 and the connecting part; or between the interconnectingblock3 and the connecting part in order to extend the connection between themain unit3 and thepad4 or interconnectingblock3 and thepad4.
• Average pad thickness may be in the range of 10 μm to 2000 μm or in the range of 50 μm to 1000 μm or in the range of 80 μm to 300 μm or in the range of 100 μm to 200 μm.
• The apparatus configured in a fractional arrangement may have the active element13 (e.g. electrode) comprising a matrix formed by active points of defined size. These points are separated by inactive (and therefore untreated) areas that allow faster tissue healing. The surface containing active points may make up from 1 to 99% or from 2 to 90% or from 3 to 80% or from 4 to 75% of the whole active element area (active and inactive area). The active points may have blunt ends at the tissue contact side that do not penetrate the tissue, wherein the surface contacting tissue may have a surface area in the range of 500 μm²to 250 000 μm²or in the range of 1000 μm²to 200 000 μm²or in the range of 200 μm²to 180 000 μm²or in the range of 5000 μm²to 160 000 μm². The blunt end may have a radius of curvature of at least 0.05 mm. A diameter of the surface contacting tissue of one active point may be in the range of 25 μm to 1500 μm or in the range of 50 μm to 1000 μm or in the range of 80 μm to 800 μm or in the range of 100 μm to 600 μm.
• Additionally, the device may employ a safety system comprising thermal sensors and a circuit capable of adjusting the therapy parameters based on the measured values. One or more thermal sensors, depending on the number and distribution of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes), may be integrated ontopad4 to collect data from different points so as to ensure homogeneity of heating. The data may be collected directly from the treatment area or from the active elements13 (e.g. electrodes). If uneven heating or overheating is detected, the device may notify the operator and at the same time adjust the therapy parameters to avoid burns to the patient. Treatment parameters of one or more active elements (e.g. electrodes) might be adjusted. The main therapy parameters are power, duty cycle and time period regulating switching between multiple active elements13 (e.g. electrodes). Therapy may be automatically stopped if the temperature rises above the safe threshold.
• Furthermore, impedance measurement may be incorporated in order to monitor proper active element13 (e.g. electrodes) to skin contact. If the impedance value is outside the allowed limits, the therapy may be automatically suspended and the operator may be informed about potential contact issues.
• Control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may be incorporated onto thepad4 itself or it may form a separate part conductively connected to thepad4. In addition to the control mechanism, control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may also contain main indicators (e.g. ongoing therapy, actual temperature and active element to skin contact).
• FIG. 6 shows some delivery approaches of apparatus for contact therapy.
• It is possible to switch between multiple active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) within thesingle pad4 in such a way so that the multipleactive elements13 deliver energy simultaneously, successively or in an overlapping method or any combination thereof. For example, in the case of two active elements: in the simultaneous method, both active elements (e.g. electrodes) are used simultaneously during the time interval e.g., 1-20 s. In the successive method, the first active element (e.g. first electrode) is used during the first time interval e.g., from 1 s to 10 s. The first active element is then stopped and the second active element (e.g. second electrode) is immediately used in a subsequent time interval e.g., from 10 s to 20 s. This successive step may be repeated. In the overlapping method, the first active element (e.g. first electrode) is used during a time interval for e.g., 1-10 s, and the second active element (e.g. second electrode) is used in a second overlapping time interval for e.g., 1-10 s, wherein during the second time interval the first active element and the second active element are overlapping e.g., with total overlapping method time of 0.1-9.9 s. Active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may deliver energy sequentially in predefined switching order or randomly as set by operator via human machine interface8. Schema I inFIG. 6 represents switching between pairs/groups formed of non-adjacent active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) located within apad4. Every pair/group of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) is delivering energy for a predefined period of time (dark gray elements inFIG. 6—in schema Ielements1 and3) while the remaining pairs/groups of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) remain inactive in terms of energy delivery (light gray elements inFIG. 6—in schema Ielements2 and4). After a predefined period of time, energy is delivered by another pair/group of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) and the initial active elements (e.g. electrodes) become inactive. This is indicated by arrows inFIG. 6. Switching between pairs/groups of active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) may continue until a target temperature is reached throughout the entire treatment area or a predefined energy is delivered by all active elements13 (e.g. electrodes). Schema II inFIG. 6 represents switching of all active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) within thepad4 between state ON when active elements (e.g. electrodes) are delivering energy and OFF when they are not delivering energy. The duration of ON and OFF states may vary depending on predefined settings and/or information provided by sensors, e.g. thermal sensors. Schema III inFIG. 6 shows sequential switching of individual active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) within apad4. Each active element13 (e.g. electrode) is delivering energy for predefined periods of time until a target temperature is reached throughout the entire treatment area or a predefined energy is delivered by all active elements13 (e.g. electrodes). This sequential switching may be executed in a clockwise or anticlockwise order. Schema IV inFIG. 6 represents a zig-zag switching order during which preferably non-adjacent active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) deliver energy sequentially until all active elements13 (e.g. electrodes) within apad4 have been switched ON. Each active element13 (e.g. electrode) delivers energy for a predefined period of time until a target temperature is reached throughout the entire treatment area or a predefined energy is delivered by all active elements (e.g. electrodes).
• The control unit (e.g. CPU) may be configured to control the stimulation device and provide treatment by at least one treatment protocol improving of visual appearance. Treatment protocol is set of parameters of the primary electromagnetic energy and the secondary energy ensuring the desired treatment effect. Each pad may be controlled to provide same or alternatively different protocol. Pair areas or areas where symmetrical effect is desired may be treated by the same treatment protocol. Each protocol may include one or several sections or steps.
• As a non-limiting example: in case of applying the radiofrequency energy by the active elements (e.g. electrodes) one by one as shown in Schema III and IV inFIG. 6, the time when one active element (e.g. electrode) delivers the radiofrequency energy to the tissue of the patient may be in the range of 1 ms to 10 s or in the range of 10 ms to 5 s or in the range of 50 ms to 2 s or in the range of 100 ms to 1500 ms. Two consecutive elements may be switched ON and OFF in successive or overlapping method. Additionally, the delivery of the radiofrequency energy by two consecutive active elements (e.g. electrodes) may be separated by the time of no or low radiofrequency stimulation, such that non of the two consecutive active elements (e.g. electrodes) provides a radiofrequency energy causing heating of the treatment tissue. The time of no or low radiofrequency stimulation may be in the range of 1 μs to 1000 ms, or in the range of 500 μs to 500 ms or in the range of 1 ms to 300 ms or in the range of 10 ms to 250 ms.
• In case of the treatment when more than one pad is used, the sequential switching of the active elements (e.g. electrodes) providing radiofrequency treatment may be provided within each pad independently of the other pads or active elements (e.g. electrodes) may deliver energy sequentially through all pads.
• As an example for three dependent pads, each with two active elements (e.g. electrodes):
• first step—the radiofrequency energy may be provided by active element one in the first pad, wherein other active elements are turned off,
  second step—the active element two of the first pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  third step—the active element one of the second pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  fourth step—the active element two of the second pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  fifth step—the active element one of the third pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  sixth step—the active element two of the third pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off.
• Another non-limiting example may be:
• first step—the radiofrequency energy may be provided by active element one in the first pad, wherein other active elements are turned off,
  second step—the active element one of the second pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  third step—the active element one of the third pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  fourth step—the active element two of the first pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  fifth step—the active element two of the second pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off,
  sixth step—the active element two of the third pad is turned on and the rest of the active elements are turned off.
• In case that the pads are treating pair areas (e.g. cheeks, thighs or buttocks), where symmetrical effect is desired, the pair pads may be driven by the same protocol at the same time.
• An example of treatment protocol for one pad delivering the radiofrequency energy for heating of the patient and the electric current causing the muscle contractions is as follow. The protocol may include a first section where electrodes in one pad may be treated such that the electrodes provide an electric current pulses modulated in an envelope of increasing amplitude modulation (increasing envelope) followed by constant amplitude (rectangle envelope) followed by decreasing amplitude modulation (decreasing envelope), all these three envelopes may create together a trapezoidal amplitude modulation (trapezoidal envelope). The trapezoidal envelope may last 1 to 10 seconds or 1.5 to 7 seconds or 2 to 5 seconds. The increasing, rectangle, or decreasing envelope may last for 0.1 to 5 seconds or 0.1 to 4 seconds or 0.1 to 3 seconds. The increasing and decreasing envelope may last for the same time, thus creating a symmetrical trapezoid envelope. Alternatively, the electric current may be modulated to a sinusoidal envelope or rectangular envelope or triangular envelope. The respective envelopes causing muscle contractions may be separated by time of no or low current stimulation, such that no muscle contraction is achieved or by a radiofrequency energy causing the heating of the tissue. During this time of no muscle contraction, the pressure massage by suction openings may be provided, which may cause the relaxation of the muscles. The first section may be preprogrammed such that electrodes on various places of the pad may be switched in time to provide alternating current pulses wherein some other electrodes in the pad may not provide any alternating current pulses but only RF pulses causing heating of the tissue. All electrodes in the pad may ensure providing (be switched by the switching circuitry14 to provide) RF pulses for heating the tissue during the section of protocol or protocol, while only a limited amount of the electrodes may provide (be switched by the switching circuitry14 to provide) alternating currents for muscle contracting during the section of protocol or protocol. The device may be configured such that the first section lasts for 1-5 minutes.
• A second section may follow the first section. The second section may be preprogrammed such that different electrodes than the ones used in the first section on various places of the pad may be switched in time to provide alternating current pulses wherein some other electrodes (same or different electrodes than the ones used in the first section) in the pad may not provide any alternating current pulses but only RF pulses causing heating of the tissue.
• A third section may follow the second section. The third section may be preprogrammed such that different electrodes than the ones used in the second section on various places of the pad may be switched in time to provide alternating current pulses wherein some other electrodes (same or different electrodes than the ones used in the second section) in the pad may not provide any alternating current pulses but only RF pulses causing heating of the tissue.
• An example of a treatment protocol for three dependent pads, e.g. one pad for treatment of the forehead (forehead pad) and two pads for treatment of the left and right cheeks (left and right cheek pad), delivering radiofrequency energy for heating of the patient and electric current causing muscle contractions is as follows: The first pad, e.g. for treatment of the forehead, may have six active elements, e.g. electrodes E1-E6; the second pad, e.g. for treatment of the left cheek, may comprise seven active elements, e.g. electrodes E7-E13; and the third pad, e.g. for treatment of the right cheek, may comprise seven active elements, e.g. electrodes E14-E20. Some electrodes may be configured to provide radiofrequency energy and some electrodes may be configured to provide both radiofrequency energy and electric current.
• The radiofrequency energy may be a monopolar radiofrequency energy with a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 550 MHz or in the range of 250 kHz to 500 MHz or in the range of 350 kHz to 100 MHz or in the range of 350 kHz to 14 MHz. The radiofrequency energy may be delivered with a rectangular envelope which may last for 200 to 3000 ms or for 250 to 2000 ms or for 300 to 1800 ms or for 350 to 1500 ms. Alternatively, the radiofrequency envelope (hereinafter RF envelope) may be modulated to a sinusoidal envelope or triangular envelope or trapezoidal envelope.
• The electric current may be a bipolar rectangular AC TENS current with a frequency in the range of 10 Hz to 10 kHz or in the range of 25 Hz to 1 kHz or in the range of 50 to 500 Hz or in the range of 100 to 300 Hz modulated to a trapezoidal envelope, which may last 1 to 10 seconds or 1.5 to 7 seconds or 2 to 5 seconds. An increasing, rectangular, or decreasing envelope of the trapezoidal envelope may last for 0.1 to 5 seconds or 0.1 to 4 seconds or 0.1 to 3 seconds. The increasing and decreasing envelopes may have the same duration, thus creating a symmetrical trapezoidal envelope. Alternatively, the electric current envelope (hereinafter EC envelope) may be modulated to a sinusoidal envelope or rectangular envelope or triangular envelope.
• The protocol may have a cycle that includes sections. The number of protocol sections in one cycle may be the same number as the total number of used electrodes within all pads used for the treatment or may be different. The number of sections per pad may be in the range of 1 to 100, or of 1 to 80, or of 1 to 60, or of 2 to 20, or of 3 to 10, or of 4 to 9. The number of sections per cycle may be in the range of 1 to 100, or of 1 to 80, or of 1 to 60, or of 2 to 40, or of 3 to 35, or of 4 to 30. Each protocol section may follow the previous protocol section, e.g. the second section follows the first section. Each protocol section may last for 200 to 3000 ms or for 250 to 2000 ms or for 300 to 1800 ms or for 350 to 1500 ms. The cycle may repeat from 30 to 300, or from 50 to 250, or from 80 to 220, or from 100 to 200, times per treatment. Alternatively, the cycle may repeat from 150 to 600, or from 190 to 550, or from 200 to 520, or from 210 to 500, times per treatment. In one aspect the treatment protocol may repeat the same cycle. In another aspect the treatment protocol may repeat different cycles, wherein the cycles may be different in the number of sections, and/or duration of sections, and/or sequence of activating and/or deactivating the electrodes, and/or parameters set for RF and/or EC envelopes (e.g. shape of envelope, amplitude, frequency, duration and so on), and/or parameters set for radiofrequency and/or parameters of electric current.
• An example of a cycle including 20 sections may be as follows:
• In the first section, the electrode E2 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the second section, the electrode E7 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the third section, the electrode E14 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the fourth section, the electrode E5 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the fifth section, the electrode E8 delivers the RF envelope.
• Throughout the first to fifth sections, the electrode pairs E1-E4, E3-E6, E9-E10, E11-E12, E16-E17 and electrode pair E18-E19 deliver the EC envelope causing muscle contractions under the first, second and third pads, e.g. under the forehead pad, the left cheek pad and the right cheek pad.
• In the sixth section, the electrode E15 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the seventh section, the electrode E13 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the eighth section, the electrode E20 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the ninth section, the electrode E1 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the tenth section, the electrode E3 delivers the RF envelope.
• Throughout the sixth to tenth sections, the electrode pairs E9-E10, E11-E12, E16-E17 and electrode pair E18-E19 deliver the EC envelope causing muscle contractions under the second and third pads, e.g. under the left and right cheek pads.
• In the eleventh section, the electrode E6 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the twelfth section, the electrode E4 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the thirteenth section, the electrode E9 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the fourteenth section, the electrode E16 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the fifteenth section, the electrode E12 delivers the RF envelope.
• Throughout the eleventh to fifteenth sections, no electrode pairs deliver the EC envelope, causing the muscles to relax.
• In the sixteenth section, the electrode E19 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the seventeenth section, the electrode E10 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the eighteenth section, the electrode E17 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the nineteenth section, the electrode E11 delivers the RF envelope.
• In the twentieth section, the electrode E18 delivers the RF envelope.
• Throughout the sixteenth to twentieth sections, the electrode pairs E1-E4 and E3-E6 deliver the EC envelope causing muscle contractions under the first pad, e.g. under the forehead pad.
• The treatment protocol may be preprogrammed such that each electrode used during the treatment may deliver the RF envelope once per cycle and some electrode pairs (e.g. E1-E4) may deliver EC envelope twice per cycle. Alternatively, each electrode may deliver theRF envelope 2 to 10, or 2 to 8, or 2 to 5 times per cycle; and some electrode pairs may deliver theEC envelope 1 to 10, or 1 to 8, or 1 to 5 times per cycle.
• In one aspect, the treatment protocol may be preprogrammed such that only one electrode delivers the RF envelope per section. In another aspect, 2 to 20, or 2 to 15, or 2 to 10, or 2 to 5, or 2 to 3 electrodes deliver RF envelopes in each section simultaneously, wherein the RF envelopes may be the same or may be different. In another aspect, no RF envelopes may be delivered during at least one section.
• The treatment protocol may be preprogrammed such that during a single treatment the RF envelopes are delivered 25 to 300, or 50 to 250, or 80 to 200, or 100 to 180 times by each electrode with an RF pause time between each delivery of the RF envelope. The RF pause time—the time during which the electrode is not providing a radiofrequency energy to the patient between two consecutive deliveries of RF envelopes—may be in the range of 0.5 to 20 s, or of 1 to 15 s, or of 1.5 to 12 s, or of 2 to 10 s.
• In one aspect, the radiofrequency energy may be controlled by a control unit (e.g. CPU) in order to provide a constant heating radiofrequency power (CHRP) on each electrode, which means that each electrode provides homogenous heating of the patient. A CRP setting may be preprogrammed in the treatment protocol for each specific electrode in each specific pad based on the dimensions of the electrode and/or its position in the pad and/or its position on the body area of the patient. In another aspect, the radio frequency power may be controlled by the control unit based on feedback from at least one thermal sensor measuring the temperature of the treated body area and/or the temperature of the electrode providing the radiofrequency energy such that when the desired temperature is reached, the electrodes are controlled to keep the temperature at this desired level. A typical treatment temperature of the body area under the electrode is in the range of 37.5° C. to 55° C. or in the range of 38° C. to 53° C. or in the range of 39° C. to 52° C. or in the range of 40° C. to 50° C. or in the range of 41° C. to 45° C.
• The treatment protocol may be preprogrammed such that during a single treatment the EC envelopes are delivered 25 to 1000, or 50 to 900, or 100 to 750, or 120 to 600, or 150 to 500 times by at least one pair of electrodes with an EC pause time between each delivery of the EC envelope. The EC pause time—the time when the electrode pair is not providing electric current to the patient between two consecutive deliveries of EC envelopes—may be in the range of 0.5 to 20 s, or of 1 to 15 s, or of 1.5 to 12 s, or of 2 to 10 s. Alternatively, the electrode pair may deliver EC envelopes one after another without the EC pause time.
• In another aspect, radiofrequency energy may be delivered constantly through all electrodes during the whole treatment and only the EC envelopes may be delivered sequentially.
• A single treatment may last for 1 to 60 min, or for 5 to 45 min, or for 10 to 30 min, or for 15 to 25 min, or for 18 to 23 min based on the number of pads used during the treatment. The number of pads used in single treatment may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or up to 100. The protocol may be preprogrammed such, that the electrodes providing the electric current causing the muscle contractions are switched to provide radiofrequency heating after they produce one, two, three, four or five contractions on maximum.
• The respective sections are assembled by the control unit (CPU) in the treatment protocol to provide at least 60-900 contractions or 90-800 contractions, or 150-700 contractions by a single pad per treatment.
• In addition, the respective electrode pairs providing electric current to the patient are controlled by the control unit (CPU) to provide at least 50-1000 contractions or 60-900 contractions or 90-800 contractions, or 100-450 contractions per treatment.
• The forehead pad may include a layout of electrodes such that theanatomical area1 andanatomical area2 are stimulated by alternating currents which may cause muscle contractions whileanatomical area3 is not stimulated by alternating currents causing muscle contraction as shown inFIG. 10. The control unit (CPU) is configured to provide a treatment protocol energizing by alternating electric currents only those electrodes located in proximity or above theanatomical area1 and2; and energizing electrode/electrodes in proximity of or aboveanatomical area3 by radiofrequency energy only as shown inFIG. 10. Theanatomical area1 and2 may comprise the Frontalis muscles and theanatomical area3 may comprise the center of the Procerus muscle. The forehead pad may also treat the Corrugator supercilii muscle or Orbicularis oculi with radiofrequency energy.
• The pad used for a treatment of the cheek (either side of the face below the eye) may include a layout of electrodes such that the anatomical area comprising the Buccinator muscle, the Masseter muscle, the Zygomaticus muscles or the Risorius muscle are stimulated by electrical currents, which may cause muscle contractions, wherein the other anatomical area may be only heated by the radiofrequency energy. A cheek pad may also be used for contraction of the Lavator labii superioris.
• On the contrary the pad may be configured such that the layout of electrodes close to the eyes (e.g. body part comprising Orbicularis oculi muscles) or teeth (e.g. body part comprising Orbicularis oris muscles) may not provide energy causing muscle contractions.
• The pad used for a treatment of the submentum or submental area may include a layout of electrodes such that the anatomical area comprising the Mylohyoid muscle or the Digastric muscle is stimulated with electrical current, which may cause muscle contractions, wherein the other anatomical area may only be heated by the radiofrequency energy. In one aspect, a submentum pad (pad used for treatment of the submentum) may not provide electric current to an Adam's apple, but may provide heating with radiofrequency energy to the Adam's apple.
• The treatment device may be configured such, that in each section or step the impedance sensor provides the information about the contact of the pad or active element (e.g. electrode) with the patient to the control unit (e.g. CPU). The control unit (e.g. CPU) may determine based on the pre-set conditions if the contact of the pad or active element (e.g. electrode) with the patient is sufficient or not. In case of sufficient contact, the control unit (e.g. CPU) may allow the treatment protocol to continue. In case that the contact is inappropriate, the valuated pad or active element (e.g. electrode) is turned off and the treatment protocol continues to consecutive pad or active element (e.g. electrode) or the treatment is terminated. The determination of proper contact of the pad or active element (e.g. electrode) may be displayed on the human machine interface8.
• The impedance measurement may be made at the beginning of the section/step, during the section/step or at the end of the section/step. The impedance measurement and/or the proper contact evaluation may be determined only on the active electrodes for the given section/step or may be made on all electrodes of all pads used during the section/step.
• In one aspect, the impedance may be monitored through all active elements (e.g. electrodes) while the therapy is being provided to the patient. The device monitors the impedance between the active element (e.g. electrode) and the skin of the patient while the treatment energy (e.g. radiofrequency or electric current) is being delivered to the patient, analyzes the monitored impedance at two or more different time instances in order to determine a change in the size of the electrode-skin contact area, and if the change in the monitored impedance reaches a pre-determined threshold, alters the stimulation being delivered to the patient or terminates the treatment. The change in the impedance value at a given time may be quantified by an impedance ratio between the impedance value at that time and a baseline impedance, which is a first impedance value from the history of impedance measurement of a given active element (e.g. electrode).
• FIG. 7 andFIG. 8 are discussed together.FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an apparatus forcontactless therapy100.FIG. 8 is an illustration of an apparatus forcontactless therapy100. Apparatus forcontactless therapy100 may comprise two main blocks:main unit2 and adelivery head19 interconnected via fixed oradjustable arm21.
• Main unit2 may include a primary electromagnetic generator6 which may generate one or more forms of electromagnetic radiation wherein the electromagnetic radiation may be e.g., in the form of incoherent light or in the form of coherent light (e.g. laser light) of predetermined wavelength. The electromagnetic field may be primarily generated by a laser, laser diode module, LED, flash lamp or incandescent light bulb. The electromagnetic radiation may be such that it may be at least partially absorbed under the surface of the skin of the patient. The wavelength of the applied radiation may be in the range of 100 to 15000 nm or in the range of 200 to 12000 nm or in the range of 300 to 11000 nm or in the range of 400 to 10600 nm or it may be in the form of second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth harmonic wavelengths of the above mentioned wavelength ranges.Main unit2 may further comprise a human machine interface8 represented by display, buttons, keyboard, touchpad, touch panel or other control members enabling an operator to check and adjust therapy and other device parameters. Thepower supply5 located in the main unit may include a transformer, disposable battery, rechargeable battery, power plug or standard power cord. The output power of thepower supply5 may be in the range of 10 W to 600 W, or in the range of 50 W to 500 W, or in the range of 80 W to 450W. Indicators17 may provide additional information about the current status of the device independently on human machine interface8.Indicators17 may be realized through the display, LEDs, acoustic signals, vibrations or other forms capable of adequate notice.
• Delivery head19 may be interconnected with the main unit viaarm21 which may form the main optical and electrical pathway.Arm21 may comprise transmission media, for example wires or waveguide, e.g. mirrors or fiber optic cables, for electromagnetic radiation in the form of light or additional electric signals needed for powering thedelivery head19. The control unit (e.g. CPU)11 controls the primary electromagnetic generator6 which may generate a continuous electromagnetic energy (CM) or a pulses, having a fluence in the range of 0.1 pJ/cm²to 1000 J/cm²or in the range of 0.5 pJ/cm²to 800 J/cm²or in the range of 0.8 pJ/cm²to 700 J/cm²or in the range of 1 pJ/cm²to 600 J/cm²on the output of the electromagnetic generator. The CM mode may be operated for a time interval in the range of 0.1 s to 24 hours or in the range of 0.2 s to 12 hours or in the range of 0.5 s to 6 hours or in the range of 1 s to 3 hours. The pulse duration of the electromagnetic radiation operated in the pulse regime may be in the range of 0.1 fs to 2000 ms or in the range of 0.5 fs to 1500 ms or in the range of 1 fs to 1200 ms or in the range of 1 fs to 1000 ms. Alternatively the pulse duration may be in the range of 0.1 fs to 1000 ns or in the range of 0.5 fs to 800 ns or in the range of 1 fs to 500 ns or in the range of 1 fs to 300 ns. Alternatively, the pulse duration may be in the range of 0.3 to 5000 μs or in the range of 1 to 4000 μs or in the range of 5 to 3500 μs or in the range of 10 to 3000 μs. Or alternatively the pulse duration may be in the range of 0.05 to 2000 ms or in the range of 0.1 to 1500 ms or in the range of 0.5 to 1250 ms or in the range of 1 to 1000 ms. The primary electromagnetic generator6 in the pulse regime may be operated by control unit (e.g. CPU)11 in a single shot mode or in a repetition mode or in a burst mode. The frequency of the repetition mode or the burst mode may be in the range of 0.05 to 10 000 Hz or in the range of 0.1 to 5000 Hz or in the range of 0.3 to 2000 Hz or in the range of 0.5 to 1000 Hz. Alternatively the frequency of the repetition mode or the burst mode may be in the range of 0.1 kHz to 200 MHz or in the range of 0.5 kHz to 150 MHz or in the range of 0.8 kHz to 100 MHz or in the range of 1 kHz to 80 MHz. The single shot mode may be configured to generate a single electromagnetic energy of specific parameters (e.g. intensity, duration, etc.) for irradiation of a single treatment area. The repetition mode may be configured to generate an electromagnetic energy, which may have one or more specific parameters (e.g. intensity, duration, etc.), with a repetition rate of the above-mentioned frequency for irradiation of a single treatment area. The burst mode may be configured to generate multiple consecutive electromagnetic energies, which may have variable parameters (e.g. intensity, duration, delay etc.), during one sequence, wherein the sequences are repeated with the above-mentioned frequency and wherein the sequence may include the same or different sets of consecutive electromagnetic energies.
• Alternatively, the device may contain more than one primary electromagnetic generator6 for generation of the same or a different electromagnetic energy, e.g. one primary electromagnetic generator is for generation of an ablative electromagnetic energy and the other is for generation of a non-ablative electromagnetic energy. In this case, it is possible for an operator to select which primary electromagnetic generators may be used for a given treatment or the clinician can choose a required treatment through the human machine interface8 and the control unit (e.g. CPU)11 will select which primary electromagnetic generators will be used. It is possible to operate one or more primary electromagnetic generators of thedevice100 simultaneously, successively or in an overlapping method. For example in the case of two primary electromagnetic generators: in the simultaneous method, both primary electromagnetic generators are used simultaneously during a time interval e.g., 1-20 ps. In the successive method, the first primary electromagnetic generator is used during the first time interval e.g., from 1 to 10 ps. The first primary electromagnetic generator is then stopped and the second primary electromagnetic generator is immediately used in a subsequent time interval e.g., from 10 to 20 ps. Such a sequence of two or more successive steps may be repeated. In the overlapping method, the first primary electromagnetic generator is used during a time interval, e.g., 1-10 ps, and the second primary electromagnetic generator is used in a second overlapping time interval for e.g., 2-11 ps, wherein during the second time interval the first primary electromagnetic generator and the second primary electromagnetic generator are overlapping e.g., with total overlapping method time for 2-10 ps. In the case of more than two primary electromagnetic generators, the activating and deactivating of the primary electromagnetic generators in a successive or overlap method may be driven by control unit (e.g. CPU)11 in the order which is suitable for a given treatment, e.g. first activating the pre-heating primary electromagnetic generator, then the ablation primary electromagnetic generator and then the non-ablative primary electromagnetic generator.
• Theactive elements13 in thedelivery head19 may be in the form of optical elements, which may be represented by one or more optical windows, lenses, mirrors, fibers or diffraction elements. The optical element representingactive element13 may be connected to or may contain primary electromagnetic generator6 inside thedelivery head19. The optical element may produce one beam of electromagnetic energy, which may provide an energy spot having an energy spot size defined as a surface of tissue irradiated by one beam of light. One optical element may provide one or more energy spots e.g. by splitting one beam into a plurality of beams. The energy spot size may be in the range of 0.001 cm²to 1000 cm², or in the range of 0.005 cm²to 700 cm², or in the range of 0.01 cm²to 300 cm², or in the range of 0.03 cm²to 80 cm². Energy spots of different or the same wavelength may be overlaid or may be separated. Two or more beams of light may be applied to the same spot at the same time or with a time gap ranging from 0.1 s to 30 seconds. Energy spots may be separated by at least 1% of their diameter, and in addition, energy spots may closely follow each other or may be separated by a gap ranging from 0.01 mm to 20 mm or from 0.05 mm to 15 mm or from 0.1 mm to 10 mm.
• The control unit (e.g. CPU) may be further responsible for switching betweenactive elements13 or for moving theactive elements13 within thedelivery head19 so that the electromagnetic radiation may be delivered homogeneously into the whole treatment area marked with aimingbeam18. The rate of switching betweenactive elements13 may be dependent on the amount of delivered energy, pulse length, etc. and the speed of control unit (e.g. CPU) or other mechanism responsible for switching or moving the active elements13 (e.g. scanner). Additionally, a device may be configured to switch between multipleactive elements13 in such a way that they deliver energy simultaneously, successively or in an overlapping method. For example, in the case of two active elements: in the simultaneous method, both active elements are used simultaneously during the time interval e.g., 1-20 ps. In the successive method, the first active element is used during the first time interval e.g., from 1 to 10 ps. The first active element is then stopped and the second active element is immediately used in a subsequent time interval e.g., from 10 to 20 ps. This successive step may be repeated. In the overlapping method, the first active element is used during a time interval for e.g., 1-10 ps, and the second active element is used in a second overlapping time interval for e.g., 2-11 ps, wherein during the second time interval the first active element and the second active element are overlapping e.g., with total overlapping method time for 2-10 ps.
• The aimingbeam18 has no clinical effect on the treated tissue and may serve as a tool to mark the area to be treated so that the operator knows which exact area will be irradiated and the control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may set and adjust treatment parameters accordingly. An aiming beam may be generated by a separate electromagnetic generator or by the primary electromagnetic generator6. Aimingbeam18 may deliver energy at a wavelength in a range of 300-800 nm and may supply energy at a maximum power of 10 mW.
• In addition, the pad may contain a control unit11 (e.g. CPU) drivendistance sensor22 for measuring a distance fromactive element13 to the treated point within the treated area marked by aimingbeam18. The measured value may be used byCPU11 as a parameter for adjusting one or more treatment parameters which may depend on the distance between the active element and a treating point, e.g. fluence. Information fromdistance sensor22 may be provided to control unit11 (e.g. CPU) before every switch/movement of anactive element13 so that the delivered energy will remain the same across the treated area independent of its shape or unevenness.
• The patient's skin may be pre-cooled to a selected temperature for a selected duration over at least one treatment portion, the selected temperature and duration for pre-cooling preferably being sufficient to cool the skin to at least a selected temperature below normal body temperature. The skin may be cooled to at least the selected temperature to a depth below the at least one depth for the treatment portions so that the at least one treatment portion is substantially surrounded by cooled skin. The cooling may continue during the application of radiation, wherein the duration of the application of radiation may be greater than the thermal relaxation time of the treatment portions. Cooling may be provided by any known mechanism including water cooling, sprayed coolant, presence of an active solid cooling element (e.g. thermoelectric cooler) or air flow cooling. A cooling element may act as an optical element. Alternatively, a spacer may serve as a cooling element. Cooling may be provided during, before or after the treatment with electromagnetic energy. Cooling before treatment may also provide an environment for sudden heat shock, while cooling after treatment may provide faster regeneration after heat shock. The temperature of the coolant may be in the range of −200° C. to 36° C. The temperature of the cooling element during the treatment may be in the range of −80° C. to 36° C. or −70° C. to 35° C. or −60° C. to 34° C. or −20° C. to 30° C. or 0° C. to 27° C. or 5° C. to 25° C. Further, where the pad is not in contact with the patient's skin, cryogenic spray cooling, gas flow or other non-contact cooling techniques may be utilized. A cooling gel on the skin surface might also be utilized, either in addition to or instead of, one of the cooling techniques indicated above.
• Additionally,device100 may include one or more sensors. The sensor may provide information about at least one physical quantity and its measurement may lead to feedback which may be displayed by human machine interface8 orindicators17. The one or more sensors may be used for sensing a variety of physical quantities, including but not limited to the energy of the delivered electromagnetic radiation or backscattered electromagnetic radiation from the skin, impedance of the skin, resistance of the skin, temperature of the treated skin, temperature of the untreated skin, temperature of at least one layer of the skin, water content of the device, the phase angle of delivered or reflected energy, the position of theactive elements13, the position of thedelivery element19, temperature of the cooling media or temperature of the primary electromagnetic generator6. The sensor may be a temperature, acoustic, vibration, electric, magnetic, flow, positional, optical, imaging, pressure, force, energy flux, impedance, current, Hall or proximity sensor. The sensor may be a capacitive displacement sensor, acoustic proximity sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, infrared camera or thermographic camera. The sensor may be invasive or contactless. The sensor may be located on thedelivery element19 or in themain unit2 or may be a part of adistance sensor22. One sensor may measure more than one physical quantity. For example, a sensor may include a combination of a gyroscope, an accelerometer or a magnetometer. Additionally, the sensor may measure one or more physical quantities of the treated skin or untreated skin.
• The thermal sensor measures and monitors the temperature of the treated skin. The temperature can be analyzed by a control unit11 (e.g. CPU). The thermal sensor may be a contactless sensor (e.g. infrared temperature sensor). The control unit11 (e.g. CPU) may also use algorithms to calculate a temperature below the surface of the skin based on the surface temperature of the skin and one or more additional parameters. A temperature feedback system may control the temperature and based on set or pre-set limits alert the operator in human perceptible form e.g. on the human machine interface8 or viaindicators17. In a limit temperature condition, the device may be configured to adjust treatment parameters of each active element, e.g. output power, activate cooling or stop the treatment. Human perceptible form may be a sound, alert message shown on human machine interface8 orindicators17 or change of color of any part of thedevice100.
• A resistance sensor may measure the skin resistance, since it may vary for different patients, as well as the humidity—wetness and sweat may influence the resistance and therefore the behavior of the skin in the energy field. Based on the measured skin resistance, the skin impedance may also be calculated.
• Information from one or more sensors may be used for generation of a pathway on a convenient model e.g. a model of the human body shown on a display of human machine interface8. The pathway may illustrate a surface or volume of already treated tissue, presently treated tissue, tissue to be treated, or untreated tissue. A convenient model may show a temperature map of the treated tissue providing information about the already treated tissue or untreated tissue.
• The sensor may provide information about the location of bones, inflamed tissue or joints. Such types of tissue may not be targeted by electromagnetic radiation due to the possibility of painful treatment. Bones, joints or inflamed tissue may be detected by any type of sensor such as an imaging sensor (ultrasound sensor, IR sensor), impedance and the like. A detected presence of these tissue types may cause general human perceptible signals or interruption of generation of electromagnetic radiation. Bones may be detected for example by a change of impedance of the tissue or by analysis of reflected electromagnetic radiation.
• Furthermore, thedevice100 may include an emergency stop button16 so that the patient can stop the therapy immediately anytime during the treatment.
• It may be part of the invention that the method of treatment includes the following steps: preparation of the tissue; positioning the proposed device; selecting or setting up the treatment parameters; and application of the energy. More than one step may be executed simultaneously.
• Preparation of the tissue may include removing make-up or cleansing the patient's skin. For higher target temperatures, anesthetics may be applied topically or in an injection.
• Positioning the device may include selecting the correct shape of the pad according to the area to be treated and affixing the pad or the neutral electrode to the patient, for example with an adhesive layer, vacuum suction, band or mask, and verifying proper contact with the treated tissue in the case of contact therapy. In the case of contactless therapy, positioning of the device may include adjusting the aiming beam of proposed device so that the device can measure the distance of the active element(s) from the treatment area and adjust the treatment parameters accordingly.
• Selecting or setting up the treatment parameters may include adjusting treatment time, power, duty cycle, delivery time and mode (CM or pulsed), active points surface density/size for fractional arrangement and mode of operation. Selecting the mode of operation may mean choosing simultaneous, successive or overlapping methods or selecting the switching order of active elements or groups of active elements or selecting the proper preprogrammed protocol.
• Application of the energy may include providing at least one type of energy in the form of RF energy, electric current, ultrasound energy or electromagnetic energy in the form of polychromatic or monochromatic light, or their combination. The energy may be provided from at least one active element into the skin by proposed device. Energy may be delivered and regulated automatically by the control unit (e.g. CPU) according to information from thermal sensors and impedance measurements and, in the case of contactless therapy, distance sensors. All automatic adjustments and potential impacts on the therapy may be indicated on the device display. Either the operator or the patient may suspend therapy at any time during treatment. A typical treatment might have a duration of about 1 to 60 min or 2 to 50 min or 3 to 40 min or 5 to 30 min or 8 to 25 min or 10 to 20 min depending on the treated area and the size and number of active elements located within one or more pads. A typical treatment with1,2,3,4,5 or up to 10 pads may have a total duration of about 1 to 60 minutes or 2 to 50 minutes or 3 to 40minutes 5 to 30 minutes or 8 to 25 minutes or 10 to 20 minutes. A typical treatment with one pad may have a total duration of about 1 to 30 minutes or 2 to 25 minutes or 3 to 22minutes 5 to 20 minutes or 5 to 15 minutes or 5 to 12 minutes.
• In one example, application of energy to the tissue may include providing radiofrequency energy and/or electric current and/or ultrasound energy or any combination of these, from the active elements embedded in the pad, to the skin of the patient. In such embodiment, active elements providing radiofrequency energy are capacitive or resistive RF electrodes and the RF energy may cause heating, coagulation or ablation of the skin. The electric current is provided by the RF electrodes and may cause muscle contractions. Ultrasound energy may be provided through an acoustic window and may rise the temperature in the depth which may suppress the gradient loss of RF energy and thus the desired temperature in a germinal layer may be reach. In addition, the RF electrode may act as an acoustic window for ultrasound energy.
• Alternatively, the application of the energy to the tissue may include providing electromagnetic energy in the form of polychromatic or monochromatic light from the active elements into the skin of the patient. In such case, active elements providing the electromagnetic energy may comprise optical elements described in the proposed device. Optical elements may be represented by an optical window, lens, mirror, fiber or electromagnetic field generator, e.g. LED, laser, flash lamp, incandescent light bulb or other light sources known in the state of art. The electromagnetic energy in the form of polychromatic or monochromatic light may entail the heating, coagulation or ablation of the skin in the treated area.
• After reaching the required temperature and therapy time the therapy is terminated, the device accessories may be removed and a cleansing of the patient's skin may be provided.

Claims (1)

1. A device for non-invasive treatment for an improvement of a visual appearance of a patient comprising:

a primary electromagnetic generator generating an electromagnetic energy;

a secondary generator generating a secondary energy;

a switching circuitry;

a pad configured to be attached to a treatment area of the body of the patient;

at least one active element attached to the treatment area configured to deliver electromagnetic energy from the primary electromagnetic generator or the secondary energy from the secondary generator to the treatment area;

a CPU controlling an energy delivered from the primary electromagnetic generator and the secondary energy generator to the at least one active element,

wherein the at least one active element is disposed in the pad.

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