Method and device for skin treatment by muscle stimulation and pressure

Abstract

A method and a system for skin treatment are presented. A muscle stimulating element is configured to provide muscle stimulation to a muscle layer located below the skin tissue, at least one pressure application element is configured to apply pressure on the skin tissue, a handheld applicator is configured to be placed in vicinity of the skin tissue to deliver said muscle stimulation from said muscle stimulating element and said pressure from said at least one pressure application element to one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue; and a control board is configured and operable to activate the muscle stimulating element and the at least one pressure application element according to one or more activation patterns adapted to provide one or more treatments to the skin tissue.

1 . A method of treating a person's skin tissue, comprising:
 providing a skin tissue treatment apparatus comprising:   a muscle stimulating element configured to provide muscle stimulation to a muscle layer located below the skin tissue,   at least one pressure application element configured to apply pressure on the skin tissue,   a handheld applicator configured to be placed in vicinity of the skin tissue to deliver said muscle stimulation from said muscle stimulating element and said pressure from said at least one pressure application element to one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue;   and   providing a control board configured and operable to activate the muscle stimulating element and the at least one pressure application element according to one or more activation patterns adapted to provide one or more treatments to the skin tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more treatments to the skin tissue comprise one or more of the following: skin tightening, reducing distance between epidermis layer and the muscle layer, fibroblast metabolism and/or collagen production in a skin layer above the muscle layer. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure application element is configured to apply at least one of positive and negative pressure on the skin tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said handheld applicator comprises one or more heads configured to contact the skin tissue during said one or more treatments. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one pressure application element is formed by at least one of said one or more heads, the pressure application element is configured to apply a positive pressure to the skin tissue by manually moving said handheld applicator over the skin tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said pressure application element is configured to apply a positive pressure to the skin tissue by one or more of the following: vibrating, pushing, and pounding at least one of said one or more heads. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one pressure application element comprises a vacuum source configured to apply the negative pressure by suction to the skin tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure application element is configured to apply both positive and negative pressure to the skin tissue, said control board is configured to activate the muscle stimulating element to provide pulses of muscle stimulation signals to the skin tissue, said at least one pressure application element being activated to apply the positive pressure simultaneously with the pulses of the muscle stimulation signals and to apply the negative pressure during intervals between the pulses of the muscle stimulation signals. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said one or more heads comprise one or more electrodes in electrical communication with said muscle stimulating element, wherein said muscle stimulating element comprises an electrical pulse generator configured to provide electrical muscle stimulation signal (EMS) to the one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue, and wherein said one or more electrodes are configured to deliver the electrical muscle stimulation signal to the skin tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said activation pattern of said EMS is user selectable and includes one or more of the following: signal intensity, frequency, and duration, thereby enabling to optimize the one or more treatments for different users or different positions on body of the treated person. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said control board is configured and operable to activate said muscle stimulation and pressure application in one or more of the following activation patterns: sequentially, intermittently and simultaneously, to thereby provide muscle stimulation flow and cause selective contraction and expansion of the one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue. 
     
     
         12 . A system of treating a person's skin tissue, comprising:
 a skin tissue treatment apparatus comprising:   a muscle stimulating element configured to provide muscle stimulation to a muscle layer located below the skin tissue,   at least one pressure application element configured to apply pressure on the skin tissue,   a handheld applicator configured to be placed in vicinity of the skin tissue to deliver said muscle stimulation from said muscle stimulating element and said pressure from said at least one pressure application element to one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue;   and   a control board configured and operable to activate the muscle stimulating element and the at least one pressure application element according to one or more activation patterns adapted to provide one or more treatments to the skin tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said one or more treatments to the skin tissue comprise one or more of the following: skin tightening, reducing distance between epidermis layer and the muscle layer, fibroblast metabolism and/or collagen production in a skin layer above the muscle layer. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one pressure application element is configured to apply at least one of positive and negative pressure on the skin tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said handheld applicator comprises one or more heads configured to contact the skin tissue during said one or more treatments. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one pressure application element is formed by at least one of said one or more heads, the pressure application element is configured to apply a positive pressure to the skin tissue by manually moving said handheld applicator over the skin tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said pressure application element is configured to apply a positive pressure to the skin tissue by one or more of the following: vibrating, pushing, and pounding at least one of said one or more heads. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one pressure application element comprises a vacuum source configured to apply the negative pressure by suction to the skin tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one pressure application element is configured to apply both positive and negative pressure to the skin tissue, said control board is configured to activate the muscle stimulating element to provide pulses of muscle stimulation signals to the skin tissue, said at least one pressure application element being activated to apply the positive pressure simultaneously with the pulses of the muscle stimulation signals and to apply the negative pressure during intervals between the pulses of the muscle stimulation signals. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein said one or more heads comprise one or more electrodes in electrical communication with said muscle stimulating element, wherein said muscle stimulating element comprises an electrical pulse generator configured to provide electrical muscle stimulation signal (EMS) to the one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue, and wherein said one or more electrodes are configured to deliver the electrical muscle stimulation signal to the skin tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said control board is configured and operable to activate said muscle stimulation and pressure application in one or more of the following activation patterns: sequentially, intermittently and simultaneously, to thereby provide muscle stimulation flow and cause selective contraction and expansion of the one or more muscles in the muscle layer located below the skin tissue.