Method and device for combined heating and muscle stimulation

Abstract

A device for treating the skin tissue, including, a RF generator adapted to generate a radio frequency AC current to heat the skin tissue, a pulse generator, including an electrical pulse generator, adapted to generate pulses of DC current to provide muscle stimulation for the muscles below the skin tissue, and an applicator including one or more heads adapted to be placed in contact with the user's skin.

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;   the method including:   pressing the handheld applicator on 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 sensor in the handheld applicator to provide skin tissue measurements from the skin tissue surface to the control board. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical pulse generator provides DC pulse signals between +500 ma to −500 ma. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RF energy heats the skin tissue with a frequency between 0.5 MHz to 2 MHz. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EMS is delivered with pulses of DC current between +1 to 500 ma. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the pressing against the skin tissue is provided by a vacuum source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld applicator provides cooling to the skin tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing vibrational movement of the handheld applicator. 
     
     
         17 . 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;   the RF energy and the EMS configured to be alternately turned on and off, 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.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein at least one head of the one or more heads is in electrical contact with the RF generator. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein at least one head of the one or more heads is in electrical contact with the electrical pulse generator. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the electrical pulse generator is configured to generate pulses in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the muscle layer stimulation occurs with electrical current in the range of 100 to 500 milliamperes. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the RF energy heats the person's skin tissue to a level of no more than 45 degrees C. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a control board for controlling the RF generator and the electrical pulse generator. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a temperature sensor in the handheld applicator to provide temperature measurements from the skin tissue surface. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the electrical pulse generator provides DC pulse signals between +500 ma to −500 ma. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the RF energy heats the skin tissue with a frequency between 0.5 MHz to 2 MHz. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the EMS is delivered with pulses of DC current between +1 to 500 ma. 
     
     
         28 . 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 a pulse generator configured to provide muscle stimulation (MS) to muscles in a muscle layer located below the skin tissue;   providing a handheld applicator including one or more heads configured to be directed to the vicinity of the person's skin tissue, the one or more heads serving as sources to provide RF energy and MS from the RF generator and the pulse generator respectively;   the method including:
 directing the handheld applicator to the vicinity of the person's skin tissue while alternately turning on and off the RF energy and the MS, whereby the combination of application of RF energy to heat the skin tissue and MS to provide muscle stimulation stimulates fibroblast metabolism, leading to skin tightening and new collagen production.