Application of energy with cooling elements for skin treatment

Abstract

A system and method for simultaneously heating a plurality of discrete skin volumes to a coagulation temperature. The system comprises an applicator containing an electrode having a plurality of spaced apart protruding conducting elements configured to contact the skin surface at a plurality of discrete locations. A controller applies a voltage to the electrode so as to simultaneously heat a plurality of skin volumes to a coagulation temperature when the applicator is applied to the skin surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skin treatment apparatus for selectively treating volumes of skin tissue, comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart conducting elements configured to contact a skin surface at a plurality of discrete locations, the plurality of conducting elements being configured to receive energy from a radio frequency energy generator; and   a cooling element configured to cool regions between the plurality of conducting elements so as to maintain the skin surface between the plurality of discrete locations below a coagulation temperature when the plurality of conducting elements are energized.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling element comprises a cooling fluid in contact with the regions between the plurality of conducting elements. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cooling element comprises a plurality of tubes through which the cooling fluid circulates, the plurality of tubes being located in the regions between the plurality of conducting elements. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling element is configured to apply a cryogen spray to the skin surface in the regions between the plurality of conducting elements. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conducting elements are terminated by sharp tips that are configured to penetrate the skin surface at the plurality of discrete locations. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conducting elements are terminated by blunt tips that are not configured to penetrate into the skin surface at the plurality of discrete locations. 
     
     
         7 . An applicator for selective treatment of discrete skin volumes, said applicator comprising:
 a plurality of conducting elements configured to receive energy from a radio frequency energy generator and to contact a skin surface at a plurality of discrete locations to apply the received energy to the plurality of discrete locations of the skin surface, the plurality of conducting elements extending from a flat surface and being spaced apart from one another with regions of the flat surface interposed between the plurality of conducting elements; and   a cooling element configured to cool the regions of the flat surface between the plurality of conducting elements so as to maintain the skin surface between the plurality of discrete locations below a coagulation temperature when the plurality of conducting elements are energized and brought into contact with the skin surface.   
     
     
         8 . The applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the cooling element comprises a cooling fluid in contact with the regions of the flat surface interposed between the plurality of conducting elements. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator according to  claim 8 , wherein the cooling element comprises a plurality of tubes through which the cooling fluid circulates, the plurality of tubes being located in the regions of the flat surface interposed between the plurality of conducting elements. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the cooling element is configured to apply a cryogen spray to the skin surface in the regions of the flat surface interposed between the plurality of conducting elements. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of conducting elements are terminated by sharp tips that are configured to penetrate the skin surface at the plurality of discrete locations. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of conducting elements are terminated by blunt tips that are not configured to penetrate into the skin surface at the plurality of discrete locations. 
     
     
         13 . The applicator according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of conducting elements are configured to apply the received energy to the plurality of discrete locations of the skin surface with a pulse duration of less than 200 ms.