Skin care device using RF needles

Abstract

To provide a skin care device using RF needles, in which the needles can be accurately inserted to the skin by generating suction force in a region in contact with the skin and inserting the RF needles in a state where the skin is pulled.SOLUTION: A skin care device, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a handpiece; a needle assembly attachable to / detachable from the front end of the handpiece, and comprising needles which may be driven forward and backward by means of a motor and are inserted into skin; an RF generation part for applying RF energy to the needles inserted into skin at the needle assembly; a skin contact part formed on the front end of the needle assembly; and a vacuum pressure formation part comprising a suction tube connected from one side of the needle assembly to one side of the hand piece, and forming vacuum pressure so as to pull the skin contacting the skin contact part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a skin beauty device using an RF needle, and more particularly, to a skin beauty device using an RF needle, which is configured to apply RF energy to a needle that reciprocates back and forth and inserts it into the skin, so as to apply a thermal effect to skin tissue.

Background Art

[0002] Unless otherwise indicated in this specification, the content described in this section is not prior art with respect to the claims of this application and is not admitted to be prior art as being included in this section.

[0003] In recent years, technologies for improving the skin using various energy sources have been widely applied.

[0004] Currently, research on skin treatment devices using laser beams, ultrasonic waves, and RF high-frequency energy is actively underway.

[0005] Such technologies supply energy to the skin, generate heat by the movement of molecules constituting the skin tissue, raise the temperature inside the skin through the heat, and reorganize the collagen layer, thereby obtaining treatment effects such as improving the elasticity and wrinkles of the skin.

[0006] In the case of conventional RF needle devices, during the treatment, due to the bending of the skin, the contact surface of the device does not accurately contact the skin, so a large number of needles are not inserted into the inner layer of the skin at an appropriate depth, and some needles are not inserted or are inserted shallowly.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a skin beauty apparatus using an RF needle, which generates a suction force in a region in contact with the skin to pull the skin and allows the needle to be accurately inserted into the skin by inserting the RF needle in a state where the skin is pulled.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] A skin beauty apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a handpiece, a needle assembly that is detachably configured with respect to the tip of the handpiece, is capable of being driven forward and backward by a motor, and includes a needle to be inserted into the skin, an RF generation unit that applies RF energy to the needle inserted into the skin in the needle assembly, a skin contact portion formed at the tip of the needle assembly, and a suction tube connected from one side of the needle assembly to one side of the handpiece, and includes a vacuum pressure forming unit configured to form a vacuum pressure to pull the skin in contact with the skin contact portion.

[0010] Further, the vacuum pressure formed by the vacuum pressure forming unit can be transmitted to the skin in contact with the skin contact portion to form a shock wave.

[0011] Further, it may further include a guide tube configured to guide the air sucked through the suction tube to be discharged into a space formed inside the handpiece.

[0012] Further, it further includes a control unit that controls the needle assembly, the RF generation unit, and the vacuum pressure forming unit, and the control unit can control the needle to advance through the motor and generate RF energy by the RF generation unit and apply it to the needle in a state where the skin in contact with the skin contact portion is pulled through the vacuum pressure forming unit.

[0013] Further, the skin contact portion is formed along the circumferential direction of the area where the plurality of needles are formed, and when the control unit forms a vacuum pressure from the vacuum pressure forming unit to the skin contact portion, the control unit advances the needles via the motor only when the skin is in contact with the entire area of the skin contact portion, and controls to apply RF energy to the needles by the RF generation unit.

[0014] Also, the needle assembly has a plurality of needles spaced apart within a predetermined area according to a certain rule, the skin contact portion is formed along the circumferential direction of the area where the plurality of needles are formed, and the vacuum pressure forming unit can be configured to form a vacuum pressure to pull the skin line in contact with the skin contact portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] Through the skin beauty device using RF needles according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that the needles can be accurately and densely inserted into the inner layer of the skin while the skin is pulled by the vacuum pressure forming unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] In this specification, when a certain component (or region, layer, part, etc.) is described as being "above", "connected to", or "coupled to" another component, it means that it may be directly disposed / connected / coupled on the other component, or a third component may be disposed between them.

[0018] The same reference numerals refer to the same components. Also, in the drawings, the thickness, ratio, and dimensions of the components are exaggerated for the purpose of effective explanation of the technical content. "And / or" includes all combinations of one or more of the related components that can be defined.

[0019] Terms such as "first", "second", etc. can be used in the description of various components, but these components should not be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component can be named the second component, and similarly, the second component can also be named the first component. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly has a different meaning.

[0020] Also, terms such as "below", "beneath", "above", "on top" are used to explain the association relationship of the illustrated components. The above terms are relative concepts and are explained based on the directions shown in the drawings.

[0021] Terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof in advance.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Also, terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries shall be interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the relevant art, and shall not be interpreted in an overly idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined herein.

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] A skin beautifying device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a handpiece 100, a needle assembly 200 that is detachably configured with respect to the tip of the handpiece 100, can be driven forward and backward by a motor 210, and includes a needle to be inserted into the skin, an RF generation unit (not shown) that applies RF energy to the needle inserted into the skin in the needle assembly 200, a skin contact portion 400 formed at the tip of the needle assembly 200, and a suction tube 510 connected from one side of the needle assembly 200 to one side of the handpiece 100, and includes a vacuum pressure forming unit 500 configured to form a vacuum pressure and pull the skin in contact with the skin contact portion 400.

[0025] The handpiece 100 has a shape in which a predetermined space is formed inside and extends long along the longitudinal direction so that a user using the device can easily grip it. It can be connected to the main body via an electric wire formed at the rear end of the handpiece 100, and power can be supplied by the operation of the main body, or the handpiece 100 can be operated under the control of the main body. However, it is not limited thereto, and a control unit for controlling all operations within the handpiece 100 may be provided without connection to the main body.

[0026] A needle assembly 200 may be configured to be detachable from the tip of the handpiece 100. The needle assembly 200 can form a predetermined space capable of accommodating needles arranged therein according to a certain rule. Here, the needles can be regularly arranged on a plate 220 that fixes the needles, with a plurality of needles forming a certain area. As an embodiment, when needles arranged in n rows and n columns in the horizontal and vertical directions are densely arranged within a quadrilateral, when the needles are moved forward and backward toward the skin, a large number of wounds are generated in a quadrilateral shape on the surface in contact with the skin.

[0027] Also, a large number of through-holes 231 may be formed corresponding to the positions of the needles so that the plurality of needles can penetrate and be inserted into the skin, and a needle case 230 that contacts the skin when the needles are inserted into the skin can be included. The needle case 230 can be substantially located at the forefront of the needle assembly 200, and when the needles move forward in a state of contacting the skin, the needles can pass through the through-holes 231 and be inserted into the skin.

[0028] In the arranged needle structure, different alternating current signals having opposite polarities can be transmitted between adjacent needles. More specifically, when RF energy generated via an RF generation unit 300 is applied to the needles to generate wounds within the skin, each needle is configured in a bipolar manner, and high-frequency current flows out from the needle having a + electrode and moves to the needle having a - electrode at an adjacent position, damaging only a certain area centered on the position where the needles are inserted and causing collagen generation, thereby contributing to the skin improvement effect.

[0029] The needle assembly 200 is configured to be driven forward and backward by a motor 210 connected to the rear end. More precisely, the shaft 211 of the motor 210 is connected to the rear end of the plate 220 that fixes the needles in the needle assembly 200, and the plate 220 is driven forward and backward by the operation of the motor 210.

[0030] Next, the needle assembly 200 can include an RF generation unit that applies RF energy to the needle inserted into the skin. The RF generation unit can be formed within the handpiece 100 and generate an RF signal to apply RF energy to the needle, but is not limited thereto, and may receive the transmission of RF energy generated from an external device via an electric wire connected to the handpiece 100 and supply it to the needle. Here, a power switch 300 for controlling the operation of various configurations provided within the handpiece 100 can be formed on one side of the center in the longitudinal direction of the handpiece 100.

[0031] Also, a skin contact portion 400 can be formed at the tip of the needle assembly 200. The skin contact portion 400 consists of the portion that actually contacts the surface of the skin when the needle assembly 200 is in close contact with the skin.

[0032] Preferably, the skin contact portion 400 can be formed along the circumferential direction of the area where the plurality of needles are formed, that is, the needle case 230. The needle case 230 also contacts the skin, but cannot be in complete contact with the skin during all periods when the needle is inserted while being driven forward and backward, and a separation distance is generated by a minute interval, and a vacuum pressure cannot be formed and pulled at this portion. Accordingly, the skin contact portion 400 is formed along the circumferential direction of the needle case 230, and a vacuum pressure is generated through a vacuum pressure forming portion 500 described later, and the needle is inserted with the surrounding skin being completely pulled, thereby preventing the phenomenon that the skin overlaps or is pushed, and having the advantage that the needle can be accurately inserted into a desired skin layer.

[0033] Finally, it may include a suction tube 510 connected from one side of the needle assembly 200 to one side of the handpiece 100, and may include a vacuum pressure forming unit 500 configured to form a vacuum pressure to pull the skin in contact with the skin contact portion 400. The vacuum pressure forming unit 500 may be composed of a separate configuration installed in the handpiece 100, and may include a vacuum pressure forming module 510 for forming a large vacuum pressure, a suction tube 520 interconnected to the needle assembly 200 and the vacuum pressure forming module 510 provided in the handpiece 100, and a guide tube 530 for guiding the air sucked through the suction tube 520 to be discharged into the space formed inside the handpiece 100.

[0034] The vacuum pressure forming module 510 can be installed inside the handpiece 100. More specifically, it can be installed on one side in the circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface of the handpiece 100 at a position adjacent to the needle assembly 200. The suction tube 520 extending from the vacuum pressure forming module 510 can penetrate through one side portion of the handpiece 100 and extend to the side surface of the needle assembly 200. The suction tube 520 extending to the side surface of the needle assembly 200 can have a predetermined diameter so that the connection pipe 521 provided on the side surface of the needle assembly 200 can be inserted.

[0035] The connection pipe 521 is connected to the skin contact portion 400 through the needle assembly 200, more precisely, to the skin contact portion 400 formed along the circumferential direction of the needle case 230, and can form a vacuum pressure on the skin contact portion 400 in a state of being in contact with the skin to pull the skin.

[0036] Also, it is necessary to discharge the air sucked from the vacuum pressure forming module 510, and a guide tube 530 can be formed to guide it to be discharged along the longitudinal direction from the inner side surface of the handpiece 100.

[0037] As another embodiment, the vacuum pressure formed by the vacuum pressure forming unit 500 can be transmitted to the skin in contact with the skin contact part to form a shock wave.

[0038] When a needle is inserted while forming a vacuum pressure and pulling the skin as much as possible, there is an advantage that it can be accurately inserted into the inner layer of the skin. However, while a large number of needles are inserted into the skin, damage is caused to the skin tissue and pain occurs. In order to reduce such pain, when forming a vacuum pressure on the skin contact part 400, it is possible to control the intensity and period of the pressure and induce it to form a fine shock before pulling the skin. Here, when the intensity and period are set by applying pressure by air in the manner of applying pressure, the sensation of the skin becomes dull due to the shock caused thereby, and the pain caused by the wound generated when the needle is inserted immediately while pulling the skin immediately afterwards can be reduced by half.

[0039] Further, it further includes a control unit (not shown) for controlling the needle assembly 200, the RF generation unit, and the vacuum pressure forming unit 500. The control unit can control the needle to advance through the motor 210 while pulling the skin in contact with the skin contact part 400 through the vacuum pressure forming unit 500, and generate RF energy in the RF generation unit and apply it to the needle.

[0040] The control unit can control the process of inserting and discharging the needle and all processes of applying RF energy. First, in order to recognize that the skin contact part 400 has come into contact with the skin, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of skin contact can be provided on one side of the surface of the skin contact part 400. The control unit that has received the signal indicating contact forms a vacuum pressure through the vacuum pressure forming unit 500 to pull the skin in contact with the skin contact part 400, and the needle advances through the needle case 230 while being pulled by the motor 210 in the state where the skin is pulled and is inserted into the skin. Then, RF energy is applied to the needle inserted into the skin, and it is initialized by returning the needle to its original position after the end of the process.

[0041] Here, when a vacuum pressure is formed from the vacuum pressure forming unit 500 to the skin contact unit 400, the needle can be advanced via the motor 210 and RF energy can be applied to the needle by the RF generation unit only when the skin is in contact with the entire area of the skin contact unit 400. By being connected to the suction tube 520 in a part of the area of the skin contact unit 400, the needle can be inserted in a state where sufficient vacuum pressure is not formed in all areas of the skin contact unit 400, and thus there is a possibility that not all needles are accurately inserted. To prevent this, by means of a configuration such as a sensor provided on one surface of the skin contact unit 400, the motor 210 and the RF generation unit are controlled so that they can perform subsequent processes only when the entire area of the skin contact unit 400 is in contact with the skin, thereby enhancing accuracy and efficiency.

[0042] The overall processor will be described in more detail in FIG. 5.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 5, in step a, the needle assembly 200 is brought into close contact with the skin. Then, in step b, the skin is pulled by the vacuum pressure forming unit 500 to be in close contact with the skin. In step c, the needle in the needle assembly 200 is inserted into the skin by a predetermined depth via the motor 210. In step d, RF energy is applied to the needle under the control of the control unit. Finally, in step e, the needle is returned to its original position to end.

[0044] Above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference thereto. However, those skilled in the art or those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the idea and technical field of the present invention described in the claims to be described later. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the content described in the detailed description of the specification, but should be determined by the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 100 Handpiece 200 Needle Assembly 210 Motor 211 Shaft 220 Plate 230 Needle Case 231 Through-Hole 300 Power Switch 400 Skin Contact Part 500 Vacuum Pressure Formation Part 510 Vacuum Pressure Formation Module 520 Suction Tube 521 Connecting Pipe 530 Guide Tube

Claims

1. A handpiece, a needle assembly configured to be detachable from the tip of the handpiece, capable of being driven forward and backward by a motor, and including a needle to be inserted into the skin, an RF generation unit that applies RF energy to the needle inserted into the skin in the needle assembly, a skin contact portion formed at the tip of the needle assembly, including a suction tube connected from one side of the needle assembly to one side of the handpiece, and a vacuum pressure forming unit configured to form a vacuum pressure to pull the skin in contact with the skin contact portion, The skin beauty device further includes a guide tube configured to guide the air inhaled through the suction tube to a space formed inside the handpiece.

2. The skin beauty device according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pressure formed by the vacuum pressure forming unit is transmitted to the skin in contact with the skin contact portion to form a shock wave.

3. The skin beauty device further includes a control unit for controlling the needle assembly, the RF generation unit, and the vacuum pressure forming unit, wherein the control unit controls to advance the needle through the motor and generate RF energy by the RF generation unit and apply it to the needle while pulling the skin in contact with the skin contact portion through the vacuum pressure forming unit. The skin beauty device according to claim 1.

4. The skin contact portion is formed along the circumferential direction of the area where the plurality of needles are formed, wherein the control unit controls to advance the needle through the motor and apply RF energy to the needle by the RF generation unit only when the skin is in contact with the entire area of the skin contact portion when a vacuum pressure is formed from the vacuum pressure forming unit to the skin contact portion. The skin beauty device according to claim 3.

5. In the needle assembly, a plurality of needles are arranged at intervals within a predetermined area according to a certain rule, The skin contact portion is formed along the circumferential direction of the area where the plurality of needles are formed, and is configured to pull the skin line in contact with the skin contact portion by forming a vacuum pressure with the vacuum pressure forming unit. The skin beauty device according to claim 1.

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