Device and method for treating skin with temperature control

Abstract

The presently described subject matter provides a method and system for heating a skin area surface of an individual from an initial temperature to a treatment temperature in a treatment time period exceeding 0.5 sec, where the treatment temperature is in the range of 40°-60° C. An RF generator provides a continuous wave RF voltage energy or a quasi-continuous wave RF voltage across first and second electrode, where at least the first electrode is associated with an applicator that is displaced over the skin surface. The system further includes a skin temperature measuring device or an applicator displacement speed measuring device; and a CPU that monitors a skin temperature or an applicator displacement speed. The CPU turns off the RF energy when the skin temperature is above a predetermined temperature or the displacement speed of the applicator is below a predetermined speed, in order to prevent overheating of the skin.

1 .- 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A system for heating a tissue volume under the skin surface of an individual from an initial temperature to a treatment temperature in a treatment period exceeding 0.5 sec, the treatment temperature being in the range of 40° C.-60° C., comprising:
 (a) an applicator;   (b) an RF generator configured to provide a continuous wave RF voltage energy or a quasi-continuous wave RF voltage across a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one electrode being associated with the applicator;   (c) an electronic skin temperature measuring device or an applicator motion sensor; and   (d) a CPU configured to monitor a skin temperature or an applicator displacement speed and to turn off or reduce the RF energy when the skin temperature is above a predetermined temperature or the displacement speed of the applicator is below a predetermined speed.   
   
   
       42 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the electronic temperature measuring device includes an impedance meter measuring skin impedance. 
   
   
       43 . The system according to  claim 41 , comprising an applicator motion sensor. 
   
   
       44 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the motion sensor measures an applicator displacement speed. 
   
   
       45 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the applicator motion sensor is an accelerometer. 
   
   
       46 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the applicator motion sensor is an optical device. 
   
   
       47 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the first and second electrodes are associated with the applicator. 
   
   
       48 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the RF voltage has a power in the range of 1-50 W. 
   
   
       49 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the RF voltage has a frequency in the range of 0.2-100 MHz. 
   
   
       50 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the applicator further comprises a light source configured to direct optical energy to a skin region. 
   
   
       51 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein at least a portion of the optical energy is in the range of 400-1800 nm. 
   
   
       52 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein the optical energy has an energy power density in the range of 0.01 to 10 W/cm 2 . 
   
   
       53 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a gas filled lamp, a LED and a laser. 
   
   
       54 . The system according to  claim 42 , wherein the CPU is configured to determine a heat distribution in the skin based upon one or more impedance measurements. 
   
   
       55 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a sensible signal if the skin temperature is below a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       56 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein the sensible signal is sounding an alarm at a first pitch. 
   
   
       57 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a sensible signal if the skin temperature is above a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       58 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein the sensible signal is sounding an alarm at a second pitch or a visible signal. 
   
   
       59 . A method for heating a tissue volume under the skin surface of an individual from an initial temperature to a treatment temperature in a treatment time period exceeding 0.5 sec, the treatment temperature being in the range of 40° C.-60° C., comprising:
 (a) providing a continuous wave RF voltage energy or a quasi-continuous wave RF energy across a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one electrode being associated with an applicator;   (b) displacing the applicator over the skin surface;   (c) monitoring a skin temperature or an applicator motion; and   (d) automatically turning off or reducing the RF energy when the skin temperature is above a predetermined temperature or the displacement speed of the applicator is below a predetermined speed.   
   
   
       60 . The method according to  claim 59 , comprising monitoring a skin temperature. 
   
   
       61 . The method according to  claim 60 , wherein the skin temperature is monitored using an electronic or optical device. 
   
   
       62 . The method according to  claim 59 , comprising monitoring an applicator motion. 
   
   
       63 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the applicator motion is measured using a roller rolling over the skin surface when the applicator is displaced over the skin surface. 
   
   
       64 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the applicator motion is measured by measuring the acceleration of the applicator. 
   
   
       65 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the applicator motion is measured using an optical device. 
   
   
       66 . The method according to  claim 59 , wherein two or more electrodes are associated with the applicator. 
   
   
       67 . The method according to  claim 59 , wherein the RF voltage has a power in the range of 1-50 W. 
   
   
       68 . The method according to  claim 59 , wherein the RF voltage has a frequency in the range of 0.2-50 MHz. 
   
   
       69 . The method according to  claim 59 , further comprising directing optical energy to the skin surface. 
   
   
       70 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein at least part of the optical energy has a spectrum in the range 400-1800 nm. 
   
   
       71 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein the optical energy has an energy power density in the range of 0.01 to 10 W/cm 2 . 
   
   
       72 . The method according to  claim 69 , wherein a light source is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a gas filled lamp, a LED and a laser. 
   
   
       73 . The method according to  claim 60 , further comprising determining a heat distribution in the skin based upon one or more impedance measurements. 
   
   
       74 . The method according to  claim 60 , further comprising generating a sensible signal if the skin temperature is below a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       75 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein the sensible signal is sounding an alarm at a first pitch. 
   
   
       76 . The method according to  claim 60 , further comprising generating a sensible signal if the skin temperature is above a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       77 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein the sensible signal is sounding an alarm at a second pitch or a visible signal.