Device and method for dot-matrix treatment of skin tissue of patient and electrode for such device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dot-matrix treatment of skin tissue of a patient. The device includes a handpiece having a housing, at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located at a distal end of the handpiece, and an energy source connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The device is adapted to apply radio frequency (RF) energy to tissue. The at least one second electrode is arranged on the substrate and the at least one first electrode is a pin or needle, in particular a microneedle, which penetrates the substrate through the through-hole. The apparatus also includes a vacuum chamber located behind the substrate and inside the housing of the handpiece, in fluid communication with at least one through-hole provided in the substrate, to cause the vacuum chamber to be in fluid communication with the at least one through-hole when the first electrode and the at least one second electrode are placed close to or being in contact with a surface of tissue. An attractive force is applied on the surface of the skin tissue towards the at least one first electrode and towards the at least one second electrode.

Description

[0001] Case information

[0002] This application is a divisional application of patent application No. 202180037459.7, filed on May 19, 2021, entitled "Apparatus and method for dot matrix treatment of a patient's skin tissue and electrodes for the apparatus". Technical Field

[0003] Generally, this invention relates to devices, apparatuses, and methods for treating skin tissue in medical, cosmetic, and / or plastic surgery procedures. More specifically, this invention relates to a device for fractional processing of a patient's skin tissue. The invention also relates to electrodes in a device for fractional processing of a patient's skin tissue. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for fractional processing of a patient's skin tissue. Background Technology

[0004] Fractional ablation devices are a method of skin regeneration that can be based on the creation of micropores in target tissue using an energy source. Fractional ablation devices can include laser and radio frequency (RF) energy. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a device for fractional treatment of a patient's skin tissue, the device comprising: a handheld component having a housing; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located at the distal end of the handheld component; an energy source connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one second electrode is disposed on a perforated substrate, and the at least one first electrode is a microneedle or includes microneedles penetrating the substrate through a perforation; and a vacuum chamber located within the housing of the handheld component, the vacuum chamber being in fluid communication with at least one perforation disposed in the perforated substrate. The device is configured to apply radio frequency (RF) energy to the skin tissue, and the vacuum chamber is configured to apply negative pressure toward the at least one first electrode on the surface of the skin tissue to compress and pull the skin tissue toward the at least one second electrode when the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are placed near or in contact with the surface of the tissue.

[0006] For the device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the microneedle is smaller than the area of ​​the orifice to provide a pathway for negative pressure. For the device, the vacuum chamber is hermetically sealed and includes a port for connecting it to a negative pressure source. For the device, at least one second electrode surrounds at least one first electrode, and a portion of the at least one second electrode concentrically surrounds the at least one first electrode. For the device, at least one second electrode substantially constitutes a large portion of the substrate, and the at least one second electrode is preferably a single second electrode. For the device, at least one first electrode is a plurality of first electrodes arranged in at least one of the following: at least one row; or multiple rows. For the device, the plurality of first electrodes have the same polarity, and at least one second electrode has opposite polarities. For the device, the handheld component includes a body and a detachable head, the detachable head including electrodes and a vacuum chamber.

[0007] In another application, the device defines a vacuum chamber, particularly defined radially by a housing of the head, consisting of a substrate at the front, a backplate, and a handheld component housing. The device also includes a negative pressure pathway configured to generate negative pressure applied into channels established by microneedles, causing compression of the skin tissue. According to the "sponge effect," the bottom of the channel is pulled towards the substrate, and the channels entering the skin tissue are ablated by the microneedles. Furthermore, multiple rows are arranged on the roller surface.

[0008] In yet another objective, an electrode for a device for fractional treatment of skin tissue includes at least one microneedle having an outer surface, the outer surface being provided with an insulating coating covering the entire axis of the microneedle such that only the tip remains conductive. For the electrode, the tip of the microneedle is a blunt, flat front end. For the electrode, the electrode includes a comb-like structure having insulating microneedles having blunt, flat front ends, particularly flat front ends.

[0009] In one objective, a method for fractional treatment of a patient's skin tissue is provided, the method comprising: providing a handheld device with an electrical power source, the handheld device comprising: a housing; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode located at a distal end of the handheld device; an energy source connected to the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode; and a vacuum chamber located within the housing of the handheld device, the vacuum chamber being in fluid communication with at least one pore disposed in a perforated substrate; and an energy source connected to the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. The handheld device of the treatment device is positioned close to or in contact with the surface of the skin tissue. The skin tissue is drawn toward the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode by a vacuum. Electrical energy is supplied to the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. Finally, the electrical energy is applied to the skin tissue, wherein ablation is induced in selected cells in the dermis and / or subcutaneous tissue layer of the skin.

[0010] In one method, a force is applied to the skin tissue using a handheld device to achieve contact without applying mechanical pressure. In another method, a vacuum force is configured to reduce the thickness of at least the outer layer of the skin tissue, wherein during the application of the vacuum, the total thickness of at least the outer layer of the skin tissue is less than the total thickness when at least the outer layer is relaxed.

[0011] In the final objective, for the method, at least one first electrode is at least one microneedle, and tissue is compressed against at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, thereby creating a "sponge effect" and ablating the channel into the skin tissue through the microneedle, and due to the compression of the skin, the channel is longer than the length of the microneedle. For the method, a vacuum is applied by at least one of the following methods: permanently; intermittently; or pulsatingly. For the method, the vacuum level is variable, particularly decreasing or turning off when no electrical energy is applied. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein...

[0013] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of equipment used for cosmetic skin treatments, which includes multiple different treatment devices;

[0014] Figure 2 It is based on Figure 1 A perspective view of the first side of the head of a processing device;

[0015] Figure 3 It is based on being in an upright position. Figure 2 A perspective view of the second side of the head;

[0016] Figure 4 It is formed Figure 2 and Figure 3 The operating area of ​​the head and a close-up view of the substrate including the microneedles;

[0017] Figure 5 It is based on Figure 4 A perspective view of the distal portion of a microneedle;

[0018] Figure 6A Is with Figure 3 A perspective view of a head with a similar viewing direction, however, in which the substrate is separated and pivoted to the swing-out position;

[0019] Figure 6B It is based on Figure 2 and Figure 3 A perspective view of the head from below;

[0020] Figure 7 yes Figure 6AA front view of the substrate component visible in the image, showing the arrangement of interconnected microneedles;

[0021] Figure 8 It is based on Figure 7 A diagram of the components, which are placed on the skin surface during treatment initiation; and

[0022] Figure 9A Is it like this? Figure 8 The diagram illustrates a later stage of the startup process, while the vacuum remains on.

[0023] Figure 9B Is it like this? Figure 8 The diagram shows a later stage of the startup process, while the vacuum is shut off.

[0024] Figure 10 A functional diagram of an embodiment having an array of microneedles arranged on a roller is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Generally, there are two basic configurations regarding radio frequency energy and the microneedle arrangement detailed below. In a monopolar arrangement, one or more microneedles have one polarity and work in conjunction with separate return plates having different, particularly opposite, polarities. The return plates are typically located in different areas of the body, such as the back or legs. In a bipolar arrangement, at least one pair of adjacent microneedles has, for example, a positive polarity at the first microneedle in the pair and a negative polarity at the second microneedle in the pair. A combination of these two configurations can be used by providing microneedles with a first polarity and return plates with a second, particularly opposite, polarity positioned near the microneedles. What all these configurations have in common is that the degree of treatment effectiveness depends on the treatment performance provided by the operator, particularly uniform application to the skin surface, especially when the handheld device with the microneedles is pressed against the skin surface to be treated, ensuring uniform force.

[0026] Figure 1 A perspective view of a device 1 for cosmetic skin treatment according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown. In some embodiments, device 1 includes a base unit or console 3, which includes basic operating components and modules (not shown), such as a power supply unit for providing power to other electrical units, a processor, a memory, and a programmable controller for controlling the operation of the treatment instruments. In some embodiments, the base unit 3 also includes a control unit 5, which includes a touch screen display (GUI) for an operator (i.e., a treatment person) to provide input for the operation of device 1. In some embodiments, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) treatment instruments 7 are connected to the base unit 3, each treatment instrument being used for a specific type of skin treatment.

[0027] In some embodiments, a treatment device is configured for heat treatment that induces epidermal and dermal effects. Following the heat treatment, a healing process is initiated, allowing the skin to regain its youthful appearance. In some embodiments, for performing the heat treatment, the treatment head 9 of a corresponding treatment device 7 includes a two-dimensional array of a plurality of microneedles or pins projecting from a substrate, arranged to be positioned and mounted on the distal end of the treatment head. In some embodiments, the microneedles 11 form first electrodes to provide electrical power relative to a second electrode formed by a perforated metal layer 15 covering the substrate 13 and surrounding the array of microneedles 11. In some embodiments, the substrate is a gold layer. In some embodiments, all the first electrodes have the same polarity, while the second electrode has a different polarity. In some embodiments, the second electrode has a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first electrode is isolated from the second electrode through a plurality of small circular holes 17 in the metal layer 15, which provides a metal-free region around the first electrode or microneedles 11. In some embodiments, each microneedle 11 is located at the center of a circular hole 17. In some embodiments, each microneedle 11 is not located at the center of a circular hole 17. In some embodiments, the microneedles are a plurality of microneedles of equal length or depth penetrating the skin. In some embodiments, the plurality of microneedles have different lengths or depths relative to each other. In some embodiments, the microneedles have the same shape and cross-sectional area. In some embodiments, the microneedles have different shapes and / or cross-sectional areas relative to each other. In some embodiments, the diameter of the circular hole 17 is larger than the diameter of the microneedle 11, and the circular hole 17 provides an annular air gap, thereby forming an insulating region between the microneedle 11 at the center of the hole and the spaced-around metal layer 15. To see more clearly, Figure 4 An enlarged view of a portion of the substrate 13 is provided, wherein a pair of first and second electrodes are formed by microneedles 11 disposed in the center of a circular hole 17 within a metal layer 15.

[0029] In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) energy can be supplied to the first and second electrodes via a power unit forming an electrical energy source. In some embodiments, the microneedle 11 forming the first electrode is connected to a first pole of the RF energy source, and the metal layer 15 forming the second electrode is connected to a second pole of the RF energy source. The RF energy applied to the skin tissue causes ablation of the skin below and in contact with the distal end of the microneedle 11, which is a function not only of the energy intensity but also of the duration of the applied RF energy.

[0030] In some embodiments, the second electrode 15 substantially covers the substrate of the handheld device. For the purposes of this invention, it should be understood that a large portion of the substrate surface, preferably more than 50%, more preferably more than 70%, and even more preferably more than 85%, is considered. More specifically, the second electrode is a single electrode, which may be a flat electrode covering a relevant portion of the substrate in a two-dimensional manner. In particular, the second electrode covers the entire substrate, leaving only one or more unfilled portions, which are occupied by the first electrode, preferably by further providing a distance between the first and second electrodes to leave one or more unfilled portions.

[0031] In some implementation schemes, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the processing head 9 is detachably connected to the body 19 of the processor 7 via a first bayonet fastening device 20a and a second bayonet fastening device 20b, the second bayonet fastening device 20b being diametrically opposed to the first bayonet fastening device 20a on the rear side of the processing head. The first bayonet fastening device 20a and the second bayonet fastening device 20b are configured to engage with corresponding cooperating fastening devices (not shown) at the body 19. In some embodiments, the processing head 9 is detachably connected to the body 19 of the processor 7 by any suitable method in the art.

[0032] Figure 5 The front portion of a microneedle 11 according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown. In some embodiments, the microneedle 11 is not a needle with a sharp tip and / or a pointed tip. In some embodiments, the distal end of the microneedle is a tapered tip. In some embodiments, the microneedle 11 of device 1 includes a flat tip 21, and the shape of the microneedle 11 is more similar to that of a cylindrical pin. In some embodiments, the electrically insulating coating 23 of the microneedle 11 extends along the entire microneedle axis, and the flat tip 21 is exposed from the insulating coating 23 (not shown in the figure). In some embodiments, the insulating coating 23 combined with the uncovered flat tip 21 results in an electric field being established only between the uncovered flat tip 21 of each microneedle 11 and the surrounding metal layer. Figure 4 The image shows a circular cross-sectional shape; however, it is understood that any suitable shape can be used.

[0033] According to some embodiments of the present invention, Figure 6A and Figure 6B It provides a more detailed view of the interior of header 9. Figure 6AThe interior of the head is shown from the front end of the processing head 9. In some embodiments, the substrate 13, regularly arranged and covering the front end, is shown in a separated and pivoted swing position. In some embodiments, as readily understood by those skilled in the art from the illustrations, the substrate 13 includes a first printed circuit board having an arrangement of parallel-aligned microneedle combs 25, wherein each microneedle comb 25 itself constitutes an arrangement of connected microneedles 11. In some embodiments, microneedles are arranged equidistantly on each comb, and the distance between two adjacent combs 25 is at least approximately the same as the distance between two adjacent microneedles 11 on the same comb 25, thereby providing an equidistant two-dimensional array of microneedles 11. In some embodiments, non-equidistant or arrayed needles of different lengths and arrangements are interchangeably or otherwise deployed.

[0034] In some implementation schemes, such as Figure 6A As shown in the front view of the backplate 27, the backplate includes a second printed circuit board, which is included inside the processing head 9. In some embodiments, the backplate 27 having the second printed circuit board (its back side is on...) Figure 6B (As shown in the diagram) Includes electronic circuitry and is positioned at a distance from and parallel to substrate 13. With this arrangement, substrate 13, backplate 27, and the housing of processing head 9 can form a chamber inside processing head 9. Furthermore, in some embodiments, both substrate 13 and backplate 27 are sealed relative to the housing of processing head 9, making the chamber a sealed chamber 9. In some embodiments, substrate 12 and backplate 28 are sealed to the housing of processing head using silicone.

[0035] In some implementations, a vacuum port 31 (see [link to implementation]) is used at the housing of the processing head 9. Figure 2 A vacuum is generated inside the sealed chamber 9, and the vacuum port 31 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via a vacuum tube (not shown), which may be located inside the basic unit 3. In some embodiments, since the sealed chamber 9 is located behind the substrate 13 (viewed from the outside) and also behind the microneedle array 11, and since the microneedles are surrounded by annular air gaps provided by the circular holes 17, the sealed chamber 9 is in fluid communication with the ambient air through the air gaps, thereby applying a vacuum to each air gap, i.e., adjacent to or around each microneedle 11.

[0036] In some embodiments, the vacuum or negative pressure source is located in a device located away from the handheld device and may be a suction pump, etc. In some embodiments, the negative pressure source / suction pump is connected to the vacuum chamber via a connecting pipe. In some embodiments, the connecting pipe for the negative pressure source is configured in a combined supply pipe, which also includes a device for supplying electrical power to the handheld device.

[0037] In some embodiments, the device includes a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure within the vacuum chamber and transmit the information to a controller. In some embodiments, the vacuum level within the vacuum chamber is maintained at a low, sensing level, such that when the surface of skin tissue comes into contact with the handpiece of the processing device, negative pressure is exerted through the return plate to reach the skin as the epidermis approaches and blocks the orifices in the return plate, reducing the negative pressure within the vacuum chamber. The reduced pressure measurement by the pressure sensor can indicate that the handpiece should be placed on the target tissue, potentially causing the controller to further increase the power to the vacuum pump to generate a processing vacuum level and initiate radio frequency processing.

[0038] For example, a method for treating hot skin will be described. When the tip 21 of the microneedle 11 is flat and is not individually configured to penetrate into the skin surface 33 when no electrical power is supplied to the first and second electrodes, the skin surface 33 contacts the tip 21 of the microneedle 11 and the return plate 15, which deform the skin by creating troughs in the contact area. Therefore, surface contact can be performed without applying a handpiece to the skin tissue surface to force the first and / or second electrodes into the tissue surface. In some embodiments of the invention, Figure 8 This effect is illustrated by showing only one microneedle comb 25 in contact with and deforming the skin surface 33.

[0039] In some implementations, when the treatment head 9, which has a two-dimensional array of microneedles 11, comes into contact with the skin surface 33, it affects the skin surface 33. If the treatment head 9 is pressed against the skin surface 33 with greater pressure and / or when a vacuum is turned on, the portion of the skin surface 33 between the area in contact with the tip 21 of the microneedles 11 will be pulled by the vacuum force to contact the metal layer 15, thereby sealing the contact between the first electrode (i.e., the tip 21 of the microneedles 11) and the second electrode (i.e., the metal layer 15).

[0040] When radiofrequency energy is applied, a high-density radiofrequency field is generated at the tip 21 of the microneedle 11, which ablates the tissue contacting the tip 21. This ablation breaks the electrical contact between the tip 21 and the plate 15, and the skin, due to its elasticity, moves upward toward the tip 21, re-closing the electrical contact between the tip 21 and the plate 15. In some embodiments, the above process is repeated continuously, gradually ablating the skin tissue until the skin surface is smooth and reaches the plate 15. Figure 9A and Figure 9B As shown, in an advanced stage of the method, in some embodiments, the microneedles 11 penetrate into the skin tissue, causing a depression 35 therein.

[0041] The upper layer of the skin is the stratum corneum, which is a layer of dry skin cells. Below the stratum corneum is the epidermis, which contains more living cells and some moist extracellular matrix. Therefore, due to the presence of moisture, the impedance of the stratum corneum is much higher than that of the layer below it. Thus, in some embodiments, the processing of device 1 is characterized by an initial high-energy pulse configured to ablate the cells of the stratum corneum, and thereafter, as the impedance decreases upon reaching the epidermis, the system continues to supply lower-energy pulses. In some embodiments, at least one initial, shorter-duration energy pulse is used to ablate the cells of the stratum corneum compared to a longer energy pulse used for processing.

[0042] Furthermore, the vacuum applied to the annular air gap on the substrate 13 and the vacuum on the metal layer 15 forming the second electrode create negative pressure on the skin surface, thereby enhancing the aforementioned treatment process. In some embodiments, the vacuum within the sealed chamber 9, or the corresponding negative pressure applied to the annular air gap, allows the operator to place the treatment head 9 on the skin surface 33, which preloads the skin, i.e., the negative pressure pulls the skin surface 33 and the skin tissue beneath it toward the microneedles 11 and the metal layer 15. Process compression (e.g.) Figure 9A (Seen as reference numeral 38) Skin tissue, particularly below the flat tip 21 of the microneedle 11. Similar to processes without a vacuum, due to any such setup, the intent and configuration of the force applied by the operator, and the design of the tip 21 of the microneedle 11, will not penetrate the skin. Penetration of the skin occurs only due to ablation, not due to the mechanical insertion of the microneedle 11 into the skin, when radiofrequency energy is supplied to the first and second electrodes. Instead, there is radiofrequency energy-driven penetration and associated tissue ablation, resulting in gradual decompression of the preloaded skin by gradually creating space within the ablation area.

[0043] The difference between the ablation and penetration processes with and without vacuum is the magnitude of skin compression, where the skin is preloaded against the tip 21 of the microneedles 11 in an enhanced manner. In some embodiments, because the vacuum is activated throughout the treatment and continues to apply attraction and / or pull the skin toward the tip 21 and compress 38% of the skin tissue, particularly below the tip 21, once the tissue is decompressed, the effective penetration depth increases, and the hole drilled and formed in the skin by the microneedles 11 is longer than that drilled without vacuum, and also longer than the length of the microneedles 11. Once the vacuum is turned off, along with the radiofrequency energy or after the radiofrequency energy is terminated, the skin relaxes and returns to its uncompressed state, as... Figure 9B As shown.

[0044] In some embodiments, as previously described, the shaft of the microneedle 11 is completely insulated; that is, unlike in the past, it is not insulated except in the region around the tip of the microneedle 11. Instead, only the flat front surface of the blunt tip 21 is non-insulated. Therefore, no radial electric field is generated from the axial surface (i.e., the outer surface of the cylindrical microneedle 11), but only from the surface of the flat tip 21.

[0045] Utilizing the non-sharp, flat, and insulated design of the microneedle 11, the penetration process due to the application of radiofrequency energy is performed in the same manner as described above. However, one advantage of this radiofrequency penetration method using the microneedle 11 with a fully insulated shaft is that the outer surface of the needle in contact with the shaft of the microneedle 11 experiences little or no incidental thermal damage to the tissue. Such incidental damage occurs in the case of a non-insulated or only partially insulated shaft of the microneedle 11.

[0046] In some embodiments, non-insulated microneedles 11 are used, and the coagulation zone is known to begin at the top, i.e., near the tip 21 of the first electrode 11, and grow downwards as treatment with radiofrequency energy proceeds. In some embodiments, the coagulation zone grows deeper into the tissue as radiofrequency energy is delivered to the microneedles 11. The more radiofrequency energy supplied, the larger the coagulation zone will be. The process continues even after the entire microneedles 11 have reached their final depth of tissue penetration until the radiofrequency energy supply is terminated. In short, the process is terminated only by stopping the supply of radiofrequency energy. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the resulting depression is conical in shape, such as... Figure 9B As shown, there is an extended coagulation area around the microneedle 11 at and near the topmost skin layer.

[0047] In some implementations, a fully insulated shaft is used, preventing condensation from growing even if the radio frequency power supply continues. The process has an "inherent" endpoint. Furthermore, as in... Figure 9A and Figure 9B As can also be seen, the "feeding motion" into the skin tissue caused by the electric field originating from the flat tip 21 acts or protrudes only axially, leaving little or no thermal damage area on the outer surface along the axis of the microneedle 11. In some embodiments, the recess 35 created by the radiofrequency penetration process is at least approximately cylindrical, with a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the microneedle 11.

[0048] Therefore, once penetration terminates, the structure of the penetrating microneedle 11 within the resulting depression 35 is like... Figure 9A and Figure 9BAs shown, there is no coagulation along the needle, but only coagulation occurs along with a portion of the tissue 37 below the flat tip 21. Furthermore, once the microneedle 11 is fully inserted into the skin, the radiofrequency power of the electrode can be reduced to below the ablation level to create a dotted thermal effect zone 39 at the bottom of the depression 35.

[0049] In some implementations, when only the flat tip 21 of the microneedle 11 is active, the process requires less energy compared to the case of a non-insulated microneedle 11, which results in “energy waste” due to the energy consumed when ablating large depressions in skin tissue.

[0050] In some implementations, when a vacuum is used, as discussed, skin tissue is pulled toward a substrate, allowing the use of shorter needles compared to other devices that use longer needles or pins, while still achieving the same depth of penetration into the skin tissue as devices with longer needles, without the same degree of pain or at least discomfort.

[0051] In this article, for example, in such Figure 9A The vacuum applied during the processing stage shown "works" into the channel formed by the pins and pulls the bottom of the channel toward the substrate. Due to the skin's flexibility, a "sponge effect" occurs, thereby compressing the skin transversely to the channel wall along a length toward the pins by 38.

[0052] Figure 9B Some embodiments of the present invention are shown, such as Figure 8 The vacuum is shut off later in the initiation process, as shown. Once the negative pressure no longer pulls the bottom of the channel toward the substrate, the channel fills with air. If bodily fluids or other liquids are supplied during the process, and due to the flexibility of the skin tissue, the compressed skin 38 expands, pushing the bottom of the channel away from the substrate. Thus, the skin is decompressed, and the channel in the skin formed by the pins is much longer than the pins themselves.

[0053] Figure 10 Functional schematic diagrams of some embodiments are shown, which have a needle array arranged on a roller 32. As shown, in some embodiments, the roller 32 includes a cylindrical surface 34, instead of... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The planar surface shown is flat. In some embodiments, roller 32 is extended and functions similarly to substrate 13 by bending it into a cylindrical shape to form the side 34 of roller 32. In some embodiments, roller 32 has an axis 36 that can be supported by a handheld component. In some embodiments, the roller rotates about axis 36 so that it can roll over the patient's skin surface 33 during treatment.

[0054] In some implementations, multiple rows are arranged on the roller surface in such an arrangement that continuous skin tissue or skin surface treatment can be performed over an area larger than that of the handheld device, without requiring the handheld device to be visibly lifted from the skin tissue surface and repositioned. Instead, the handheld device can move along the skin surface to be treated while the treatment process is performed continuously.

[0055] Unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms “an embodiment,” “implementation,” “multiple embodiments,” “the embodiment,” “the multiple embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “some embodiments,” and “an embodiment” refer to “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention.”

[0056] Unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” mean “one or more.”

[0057] The description of an embodiment having several components that communicate with each other does not imply that all of these components are necessary. Rather, various optional components are described to illustrate various possible embodiments of the invention.

[0058] When a single device or article of manufacture is described herein, it will be apparent that more than one device / article of manufacture (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of the single device / article of manufacture. Similarly, when more than one device or article of manufacture (whether or not they cooperate) is described herein, it will be apparent that a single device / article of manufacture may be used in place of the more than one device or article of manufacture, or that a different number of devices / articles may be used in place of the number of devices or programs shown. Alternatively, the function and / or features of the device may be implemented by one or more other devices not explicitly described as having such function / features. Therefore, other embodiments of the invention do not necessarily need to include the device itself.

[0059] The language used in this specification has been chosen primarily for readability and instruction purposes and may not have been chosen to depict or limit the subject matter of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not limited to this detailed description, but is defined by any claims made herein. Thus, the disclosure of embodiments of the invention is intended to illustrate, rather than limit, the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the appended claims.

[0060] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and not intended to be limiting; their true scope and spirit are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for processing a patient's skin tissue, the apparatus comprising: Handheld components with a housing; At least one first electrode and at least one second electrode are located on the distal end of the handheld device; An electrical energy source is connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one second electrode is disposed on a perforated substrate, and the at least one first electrode penetrates the perforated substrate distally through at least one hole in the perforated substrate, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one hole is larger than the area of ​​the at least one first electrode, and the device is configured to: Ablation radiofrequency energy from the electrical energy source is applied to the skin tissue, wherein at least one first electrode is in the form of a pin or needle having a flat, blunt conductive distal end, the pin or needle not penetrating into the skin surface when no electrical energy is supplied from the electrical energy source; as well as When the ablation radiofrequency energy is applied, the skin tissue in contact with the flat, blunt conductive distal end is ablated and a hole is drilled in the skin tissue.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one second electrode surrounds and concentrically encircles the at least one first electrode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one second electrode substantially constitutes a large portion of the substrate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a single second electrode substantially constitutes a large portion of the substrate.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrode is a plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of first electrodes being arranged in at least one of the following configurations: At least one row; or Multiple rows.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of first electrodes have the same polarity and the at least one second electrode has opposite polarities.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the handheld component comprises a body and a detachable head, the detachable head comprising the electrodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged in multiple rows on the roller surface.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrode comprises at least one pin or needle having an outer surface, the outer surface being provided with an insulating coating covering the entire shaft of the pin or needle such that only the tip remains conductive.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrode comprises a plurality of said pins or needles in the form of a comb-like structure.

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