Apparatus for transcutaneously treating tissue

Abstract

Apparatus for transcutaneously treating tissue beneath a skin surface using radiofrequency energy. The apparatus includes an electrode assembly supported by a handpiece. The electrode assembly includes an electrode configured to transfer the radiofrequency energy through the skin surface to the tissue. A force sensor, which is located in the handpiece, is configured to detect an amount of force applied by the electrode against the skin surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transcutaneously treating tissue beneath a skin surface, the method comprising:
 generating radiofrequency energy with a conductive portion of an electrode;   contacting the electrode with the skin surface;   transmitting the radiofrequency energy from the conductive portion through a dielectric portion of the electrode and through the skin surface to capacitively couple the radiofrequency energy into the tissue; and   detecting an amount of force applied by the electrode against the skin surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of force is detected by a force sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 acquiring and analyzing, by a microprocessor, data received from the force sensor. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 controlling a radiofrequency generator with control signals received from the microprocessor. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 zeroing out, by the force sensor, gravity effects of a weight of the electrode. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 zeroing out, by the force sensor, gravity effects of a weight of the electrode in any orientation of a front surface of the electrode relative to a direction of gravity. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 providing, by the force sensor, a signal indicating contact between the electrode and the skin surface. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 providing, by the force sensor, a signal indicating that a force applied by the electrode to the skin surface is below a minimum threshold. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 providing, by the force sensor, a signal indicating that a force applied by the electrode to the skin surface is above a maximum threshold. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 spring loading the electrode so as to pre-load the force sensor. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 receiving user input at an activation button; and 
 in response to the user input, taring the force sensor. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the force sensor is tared before contacting the electrode with the skin surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electrode is configured to reduce at least one of an edge effect, an electrode edge effect, an electrode temperature gradient, an electrode current density gradient, or a tissue interface surface temperature gradient 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 delivering a cooling medium to the electrode. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 storing, in a non-volatile memory, at least one of a duty cycle for controlling the delivery of the cooling media, a number of times the electrode has been moved relative to the skin surface, or a number of areas treated by the electrode. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cooling medium evaporatively cools a back surface of the electrode, and further comprising:
 conductively cooling the skin surface in contact with a front surface of the electrode. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cooling medium vaporizes during the evaporative cooling, and further comprising:
 venting the vaporized cooling medium from the electrode.