Method and device for treating and massaging skin tissue

Abstract

A device for massaging skin, including, a RF generator adapted to generate a radio frequency AC current to heat the skin tissue, an electrical pulse generator adapted to generate pulses of DC current to provide electrical muscle stimulation for the muscles below the skin tissue, an applicator including one or more heads adapted to be placed in contact with the user's skin; and wherein the heads serve as massage contacts to massage the user's skin by back and forth movement of the massage contacts across the skin tissue and further as electrodes to deliver RF heating and electrical muscle stimulation.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a person's skin tissue, comprising:
 providing a radio frequency (RF) generator configured to provide RF energy to heat the skin tissue;   providing an electrical pulse generator configured to provide electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to muscles in a muscle layer located below the skin tissue;   providing a handheld applicator including one or more heads to be placed in contact with the person's skin tissue, the one or more heads serving as contacts to deliver RF energy and EMS from the RF generator and the electrical pulse generator respectively as well as acting as massage contacts to massage the person's skin tissue;   the method including:   manually pressing the handheld applicator on the person's skin tissue and moving the applicator back and forth, thereby positively massaging the person's skin tissue while alternately turning on and off the RF energy and the EMS, whereby the combination of application of RF energy to heat the skin tissue and EMS to provide muscle stimulation stimulates fibroblast metabolism, leading to skin tightening and new collagen production.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RF generator delivers AC current and the EMS delivers direct current. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one head of the one or more heads is in electrical contact with the RF generator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one head of the one or more heads is in electrical contact with the electrical pulse generator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical pulse generator is configured to generate pulses in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein stimulating the muscle layer occurs with electrical current in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RF energy heats the person's skin tissue to a level of no more than 45 degrees C. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a control board for controlling the RF generator and the electrical pulse generator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a temperature sensor in the handheld applicator to provide temperature measurements from the skin tissue surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical pulse generator provides DC pulse signals between +500 ma to −500 ma. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RF energy heats the skin tissue with a frequency between 0.5 MHz to 2 MHz. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EMS is delivered with pulses of DC current between +1 to 500 ma. 
     
     
         13 . A device for treating a person's skin tissue, comprising:
 a radio frequency (RF) generator configured to provide RF energy to heat the skin tissue;   an electrical pulse generator configured to provide electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to muscles in a muscle layer located below the skin tissue;   a handheld applicator including one or more heads configured to be placed in contact with the person's skin tissue, the one or more heads serving as contacts to deliver RF energy and EMS from the RF generator and the electrical pulse generator respectively as well as acting as massage contacts to massage the person's skin tissue;   the handheld applicator configured to be pressed on the person's skin tissue and moved back and forth over the skin tissue, thereby positively massaging the person's skin tissue;   the RF energy and the EMS configured to be alternately turned on and off while the skin tissue is positively massaged, whereby the combination of application of RF energy to heat the skin tissue and EMS to provide muscle stimulation stimulates fibroblast metabolism, leading to skin tightening and new collagen production.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one head of the one or more heads is in electrical contact with the RF generator. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one head of the one or more heads is in electrical contact with the electrical pulse generator. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical pulse generator is configured to generate pulses in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the muscle layer stimulation occurs with electrical current in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the RF energy heats the person's skin tissue to a level of no more than 45 degrees C. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a control board for controlling the RF generator and the electrical pulse generator. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a temperature sensor in the handheld applicator to provide temperature measurements from the skin tissue surface. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical pulse generator provides DC pulse signals between +500 ma to −500 ma. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the RF energy heats the skin tissue with a frequency between 0.5 MHz to 2 MHz. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the EMS is delivered with pulses of DC current between +1 to 500 ma.