High-frequency output device and its control method

Abstract

This invention provides a high-frequency output device and a control method thereof that shortens the time to reach the appropriate temperature by providing wiring on both sides of the electrode plate that comes into contact with the skin, thereby shortening the duration of high-frequency energy irradiation and enabling multiple irradiations. [Solution] The high-frequency output device of the present invention comprises a main unit that performs overall operation control, a handpiece connected to the main unit and operating by receiving power from the main unit, and a tip attached to one side of the handpiece and in close contact with the user's skin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-frequency output device, and more particularly, to a high-frequency output device that transmits high-frequency waves under the skin by closely attaching an electrode to the skin and a control method thereof.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, technologies for treating the skin by deforming the tissue state of the skin or improving tissue characteristics by providing energy to the skin using various energy sources have been widely applied. Skin treatment devices using various energy sources such as laser beams, flash lamps, and ultrasonic waves have been developed, and recently, research on skin treatment devices using RF high-frequency energy has been actively conducted.

[0003] When high-frequency energy is provided to the surface of the skin, every time the direction of the high-frequency current changes, the molecules constituting the skin tissue vibrate and rub against each other, generating deep heat by rotational motion, distortion, or collision motion. Such deep heat can improve wrinkles and strengthen skin elasticity by raising the temperature of the skin tissue and reorganizing the collagen layer. In addition, it has the effect of improving not only the prevention of skin aging but also the overall state of the skin by promoting and enhancing blood circulation in the skin tissue.

[0004] However, when high-frequency energy concentrates on the skin, there is a risk of damaging the skin or causing accidents such as burns in severe cases, so it is necessary to appropriately control energy irradiation. When energy irradiation depends only on the user's operation, there is always a risk of accidents due to the user's carelessness or inexperience, so it is necessary to provide an appropriate control method.

[0005] In order to solve such problems, a technique for controlling the high-frequency irradiation time and irradiating energy suitable for the skin resistance value of a patient has been disclosed. However, due to the heat conduction time of the electrode in contact with the skin, there is a problem that the risk of burns has not been solved.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve these problems, and its objective is to provide a high-frequency output device and a control method thereof that shortens the time to reach the appropriate temperature by providing wiring on both sides of the electrode plate that comes into contact with the skin, thereby shortening the duration of high-frequency energy irradiation and allowing for multiple irradiations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The high-frequency output device of the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises a main unit that performs overall operation control, a handpiece connected to the main unit and operated by receiving power from the main unit, and a tip attached to one side of the handpiece and in close contact with the user's skin. The main body comprises: a first power supply unit connected inside the main body that operates and supplies the power necessary for operation; a first control unit connected inside the main body that receives power from the first power supply unit and performs operation control; a storage unit attached to the first control unit inside the main body and containing data necessary for operation control by the first control unit; an energy generation unit attached inside the main body that receives power from the first power supply unit and generates high-frequency energy; and a cooling unit that receives power from the first power supply unit and can attach a gas canister so that it can irradiate the skin with cooling gas. The handpiece comprises: a second power supply unit coupled to the upper part of the inner surface of the handpiece and receiving power via a wire from the first power supply unit of the main body to enable the operation of the handpiece; a second control unit fixed to the inner surface of the handpiece, with a portion protruding in the shape of multiple buttons from the outer surface of the handpiece, operating by receiving power from the second power supply unit, and working in conjunction with the first control unit of the main body, allowing direct user control; an energy transfer unit that receives energy generated in the energy generation unit of the main body and transmits it to the tip; and a gas transfer unit for transferring cooling gas from the gas canister of the cooling unit of the main body. The chip may be configured to include: a housing that includes a coupling device that protects the chip from external impacts and is coupled to a handpiece; an electrode unit coupled inside the housing that transmits electrical signals via an electrical connection with the energy transmission unit, and to which high-frequency energy generated in the energy generation unit of the main body is transmitted to the energy transmission unit of the handpiece; a data acquisition unit that operates by receiving power from the electrode unit and measures detailed patient information; and a chamber formed inside the housing into which, when cooling gas is output from the cooling unit of the main body, gas is injected to ultimately cool the user's skin via the gas transmission unit of the handpiece.

[0008] The data stored in the memory unit may include data on high-frequency energy irradiation time, cooling gas irradiation time, high-frequency energy output amount, and cooling gas output amount.

[0009] The electrode portion of the chip may further include: a third power supply unit to which power generated in the first power supply unit of the main body is transmitted via the second power supply unit of the handpiece and connected to one side of the second power supply unit to receive power; a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate to which energy generated in the energy generation unit of the main body is transmitted via an energy transmission unit and to which energy is transmitted from the energy transmission unit; and a third electrode plate that receives energy from the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and finally comes into contact with the user's skin to irradiate high-frequency energy.

[0010] The cooling gas irradiation time may be at least longer than the high-frequency energy irradiation time.

[0011] The cooling gas irradiation time may be between 0.1 and 6 seconds.

[0012] The aforementioned high-frequency energy irradiation time may be between 0.2 seconds and 7 seconds.

[0013] The high-frequency irradiation method of the present invention includes the steps of: supplying power to the second power supply unit of the handpiece when power is supplied from the first power supply unit of the main unit; connecting a gas can to the cooling unit of the main unit and connecting a tip to the handpiece when power is supplied to the second power supply unit of the handpiece; receiving energy output signals from the first control unit of the main unit and the second control unit of the handpiece; bringing the electrode portion of the tip into close contact with the patient's skin; collecting detailed patient information with the data acquisition unit of the tip when the electrode portion of the tip is in close contact with the patient's skin; generating a routine to be performed on the patient with the first control unit based on the data collected by the data acquisition unit; and outputting cooling gas from the cooling unit of the main unit to the user's skin based on the routine generated by the first control unit. The procedure can be configured to include the steps of: cooling the surface of the skin; irradiating the electrode part of the tip with high-frequency energy via the energy transmission part of the handpiece when high-frequency energy is generated in the energy generation part of the main unit; determining whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit of the main unit and the second control unit of the handpiece; and, if it is determined that an energy output signal has been input in the step of determining whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit and the second control unit, repeating the steps from irradiating cooling gas with the cooling part of the main unit to determining whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit of the main unit and the second control unit of the handpiece, based on the generated treatment routine.

[0014] In the step of collecting patient details information using the data acquisition unit of the chip, the collected patient details may be any one of the patient's impedance value, skin surface temperature, and skin color value.

[0015] In the step of generating a routine to be performed on the patient in the first control unit based on the data collected by the data acquisition unit, the generated routine may be at least one of the following: number of cooling gas irradiations, number of high-frequency energy irradiations, cooling gas irradiation time, high-frequency energy irradiation time, cooling gas irradiation amount, and high-frequency energy irradiation amount.

[0016] The number of high-frequency energy irradiations may be 2 to 8 times continuously.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to such characteristics, the present invention has the effect of reducing the proper temperature reaching time of the electrode.

[0018] In addition, by shortening the irradiation time per time, there is an effect of preventing burns as compared with a long irradiation time.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a configuration diagram of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an exemplary diagram schematizing a part of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a graph showing the high-frequency irradiation time and the cooling irradiation time of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart relating to a control method of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily implement them with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention can be realized in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described here. And, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts not related to the explanation are omitted, and throughout the specification, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts.

[0021] Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected (joined, in contact with, coupled) to" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly connected", but also the case where it is "indirectly connected" with another member intervening therebetween. Also, when a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, it does not exclude other components, but can further include other components.

[0022] The terms used in this specification are merely used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and do not limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood not to preclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0023] Hereinafter, a high-frequency output device and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram schematically showing a part of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a graph showing the high-frequency irradiation time and the cooling irradiation time of a high-frequency output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the high-frequency output device includes a main body 10 that performs general operation control, a handpiece 20 that is connected to the main body 10 and operates by receiving power from the main body, and a chip 30 that is bonded to one side surface of the handpiece 20 and adheres to the user's skin.

[0026] The main body 10 comprises: a first power supply unit 11 coupled inside the main body 10, which operates and supplies the power necessary for operation; a first control unit 12 coupled inside the main body 10, which receives power from the first power supply unit 11 and performs operation control; a first display unit 13 coupled to one side of the upper end of the main body 10 and provided to the practitioner and user for operation control by the control unit 12; a storage unit 14 attached to the first control unit 12 inside the main body 10, which contains data necessary for operation control by the first control unit 12; an energy generation unit 15 attached inside the main body 10, which receives power from the power supply unit 11 and generates high-frequency energy; and a cooling unit 16 that receives power from the first power supply unit 11 and can attach a gas canister (not shown) so that it can irradiate the skin with cooling gas.

[0027] The handpiece 20 comprises: a second power supply unit 21 coupled to the upper part of the inner surface of the handpiece 20, which receives power via a wire from the first power supply unit 11 of the main body 10 to enable the operation of the handpiece 20; a second control unit 22 fixed to the inner surface of the handpiece 20, with a portion protruding in the shape of multiple buttons from the outer surface of the handpiece 20, which operates by receiving power from the second power supply unit 21, and which is linked to the first control unit 12 of the main body 10, allowing for direct control by the user; a second display unit 23 coupled to the inner surface of the handpiece 20, with a portion exposed to the outer surface, which operates by receiving power from the second power supply unit 21, and which provides the user with detailed information about the second control unit 22; an energy transmission unit 24 that receives energy generated by the energy generation unit 15 of the main body 10 and transmits it to the chip 30; a gas transmission unit 25 for transmitting cooling gas from the gas can of the cooling unit 16 of the main body 10; and a case (not shown) that includes all of the above components and protects the internal components from external impacts.

[0028] The chip 30 comprises a housing (not shown) which includes a coupling device (not shown) that protects against external impacts and connects to the handpiece 20, an electrode unit 31 which is connected inside the housing and transmits high-frequency energy generated from an energy generating unit 15 of the main body 10 to the energy transmission unit 24 of the handpiece 20, which transmits power via an electrical connection to a second power supply unit 21 of the handpiece 20 and transmits electrical signals via an electrical connection to an energy transmission unit 24, and ultimately irradiates the user's skin with high-frequency energy, a data acquisition unit 32 which operates by receiving power from the electrode unit 31 and measures detailed patient information, and a chamber 33 which is formed inside the housing 36 and into which, when cooling gas is output from the cooling unit 16 of the main body 10, gas is injected via the gas transmission unit 25 of the handpiece 20 to ultimately cool the user's skin.

[0029] The first display unit 13 provides a control UI to the practitioner, and the first control unit 12 operates based on the practitioner's detailed control.

[0030] The storage unit 14 contains data related to detailed settings necessary for operation by the first control unit 12.

[0031] The data stored in the memory unit 14 includes, but is not limited to, data on high-frequency energy irradiation time, cooling gas irradiation time, high-frequency energy output amount, and cooling gas output amount.

[0032] The cooling unit 16 further comprises a case (not shown) to which a cooling gas canister (not shown) is attached, a gas output unit (not shown) for gas discharge connected to the end of the case, and a connecting pipe (not shown) connected to one side of the gas output unit, which, when gas is irradiated from the gas output unit, is connected to the end of the gas transmission unit 25 of the handpiece 20 to transmit the cooling gas.

[0033] The second control unit 22 of the handpiece 20 is characterized in that it is inserted into and protrudes from a hole (not shown) drilled in the handpiece 20 case, or in a touch configuration.

[0034] The second display unit 23 of the handpiece 20 displays the operating status to the user and the patient according to the input value of the first control unit 12 of the main unit 10 and the input value of the second control unit 22 of the handpiece 20.

[0035] The gas transmission unit 25 of the handpiece 20 is connected to one side of the connecting pipe of the cooling unit 16 of the main body 10, and when gas is released from the cooling unit 16, it transmits the cooling gas to the chamber 33 of the tip 30.

[0036] The patient details collected by the data acquisition unit 32 include, but are not limited to, one of the patient's impedance value, skin surface temperature, and skin color value.

[0037] The electrode portion 31 of the tip 30 is configured to include a third power supply unit 31a, 31c which receives power supplied by a third power supply unit 31a, 31c which is connected to one side of the second power supply unit 21 and receives power supplied by a first power supply unit 11 of the main body 10 via a second power supply unit 21 of the handpiece 20, a first electrode plate 31b and a second electrode plate 31d which receive energy supplied by a first electrode plate 31b and a second electrode plate 31d which receives energy transmitted from the energy transmission unit 24 and receives energy from the energy transmission unit 24, and a third electrode plate 31e which receives energy from the first electrode plate 31b and the second electrode plate 31d and finally comes into contact with the user's skin to irradiate high-frequency energy.

[0038] This configuration of the chip 30 allows energy to be simultaneously transferred from the first electrode plate 31b and the second electrode plate 31d to the third electrode plate 31e, which has the effect of shortening the time it takes to reach the appropriate temperature.

[0039] Referring to the graph in Figure 4, the x-axis represents the irradiation time t, and the y-axis represents the irradiation dose p for cooling irradiation 80 and radiofrequency irradiation 90.

[0040] The irradiation time of the cooling irradiation 80 is characterized by being at least longer than that of the high-frequency irradiation 90. More specifically, the irradiation time of the cooling irradiation 80 is 0.1 seconds to 6 seconds, and the irradiation time of the high-frequency irradiation 90 is 0.2 seconds to 7 seconds, but is not limited to these values.

[0041] Next, with reference to the attached drawings, a high-frequency irradiation method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0042] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a high-frequency output device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Referring to Figure 5, first, when power is supplied from the first power supply unit 11 of the main unit 10, power is supplied to the second power supply unit 21 of the handpiece 20 (S10).

[0044] When power is supplied to the second power supply unit 21 of the handpiece 20, the gas can is connected to the cooling unit 16 of the main unit 10, and the tip 30 is connected to the handpiece 20 (S11).

[0045] Energy output signals are input from the first control unit 12 of the main unit 10 and the second control unit 22 of the handpiece 20 (S12).

[0046] The electrode portion 31 of the tip 30 is brought into close contact with the patient's skin (S13).

[0047] When the electrode portion 31 of the chip 30 comes into close contact with the patient's skin, the data acquisition unit 32 of the chip 30 collects detailed patient information (S14).

[0048] The patient details collected at this time may include, but are not limited to, the patient's impedance value, skin surface temperature, and skin color value.

[0049] Based on the data collected by the data acquisition unit 32, the first control unit 12 generates a routine to be performed on the patient (S15).

[0050] In this case, the generated routine differs for each user and is characterized by being at least one of the following: number of cooling gas irradiations, number of radiofrequency energy irradiations, cooling gas irradiation time, radiofrequency energy irradiation time, cooling gas irradiation amount, and radiofrequency energy irradiation amount.

[0051] Furthermore, if the data collected from the data acquisition unit 32 regarding the user's skin temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the number of cooling gas irradiations before the start of high-frequency energy irradiation can be further increased.

[0052] Based on the routine generated by the first control unit 12, first, cooling gas is output from the cooling unit 16 of the main unit 10 to the user's skin to cool the surface of the skin (S16).

[0053] Next, when high-frequency energy is generated in the energy generation unit 15 of the main unit 10, the high-frequency energy is irradiated onto the electrode unit 31 of the tip 30 via the energy transmission unit 24 of the handpiece 20 (S17).

[0054] In this case, the cooling irradiation time is preferably longer than the high-frequency irradiation time, but is not limited to this.

[0055] Furthermore, the number of high-frequency energy irradiation sessions is characterized by being 2 to 8 consecutive times, but is not limited to this.

[0056] Next, it is determined whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit 12 of the main unit 10 and the second control unit 22 of the handpiece 20 (S18).

[0057] In the step of determining whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit 12 and the second control unit 22, if it is determined that an energy output signal has been input, the procedure is characterized in that the steps from the step of irradiating the cooling unit 16 of the main unit 10 with cooling gas again (S16) to the step of determining whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit 12 of the main unit 10 and the second control unit 22 of the handpiece 20 (S18) are repeated based on the generated procedure routine.

[0058] In the step of determining whether or not an energy output signal has been input from the first control unit 12 and the second control unit 22, if it is determined that no energy output signal has been input, the procedure is terminated.

[0059] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 Main unit 11 1st power supply section 12 First Control Unit 13. First Display Unit 14 Storage section 15 Energy generation unit 16 Cooling section 20 handpieces 21 2nd power supply section 22 Second Control Unit 23. Second display unit 24 Energy transmission section 25 Gas transmission section 30 chips 31 Electrode part 32 Data Acquisition Unit 33 Chambers

Claims

1. The main unit and A handpiece connected to the main body and operating by receiving power from the main body, The handpiece is equipped with a tip that is attached to one side and makes close contact with the user's skin, The main body includes a first power supply unit, an energy generation unit that generates high-frequency energy by receiving power from the first power supply unit, and a cooling unit to which a gas can is attached. The handpiece includes an energy transfer unit that receives the high-frequency energy generated in the energy generation unit and transmits it to the tip, and a gas transfer unit for transmitting the cooling gas from the gas canister. The chip includes a housing that includes a coupling device coupled to the handpiece, an electrode unit coupled inside the housing and electrically connected to the energy transmission unit to irradiate the high-frequency energy, and a data acquisition unit that operates by receiving power from the electrode unit and measures detailed patient information. The main unit further includes a first control unit that generates a routine to be performed on a patient based on the data collected from the data collection unit, The routine includes at least one of the following: number of cooling gas irradiations, number of high-frequency energy irradiations, cooling gas irradiation time, high-frequency energy irradiation time, cooling gas irradiation amount, and high-frequency energy irradiation amount, and is characterized in that the number of cooling gas irradiations increases when the data related to skin temperature among the data collected from the data acquisition unit is higher than a predetermined temperature.

2. The high-frequency output device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode section includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate that receive energy from the energy transfer section, and a third electrode plate that receives energy from the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and contacts the user's skin to irradiate high-frequency energy.

3. The high-frequency output device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling unit includes a case to which the gas can is attached, a gas output unit connected to the end of the case, and a connecting pipe connected to one side of the gas output unit for transmitting the cooling gas irradiated from the gas output unit.

4. The high-frequency output device according to claim 1, characterized in that the patient details include one of the patient's impedance value, skin temperature, and skin color value.

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