Needle tip assembly of skin treatment device, skin treatment device having same, and driving method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a needle tip assembly of a skin treatment device, a skin treatment device having same, and a driving method thereof. A needle tip assembly of a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a needle tip which accommodates needles that penetrate the skin and has first needle through-holes through which the needles can pass; and an electrode tip which surrounds the outside of the needle tip, has second needle through-holes through which the needles that have passed through the first needle through-holes can pass, and applies monopolar RF when in contact with the skin.

Description

Needle tip assembly of a skin treatment device, skin treatment device having the same, and method for operating the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a device that is effective for skin beauty or the treatment of lesions by irradiating the skin surface of the treatment area with radio frequency (RF) energy, thereby promoting the decomposition of skin adipose tissue in the treatment area or forming collagen. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device that can perform cooling of the skin, application of monopolar RF, and application of bipolar RF without removing the skin treatment device from the skin, and a method for operating the same.

[0002]

[0003] Technical ideas for approving monopolar RF or bipolar RF for skin treatment or procedures have been widely disclosed.

[0004] Monopolar RF, or monopolar RF, typically delivers thermal energy deep into the skin, making it more effective at healing deeper layers of the skin than bipolar RF. Depending on the area of ​​skin being treated and the underlying condition, the treatment can have different effects. In some cases, it may be beneficial to combine monopolar and bipolar RF treatments.

[0005] Typically, monopolar RF skin treatments are performed by placing electrodes on the epidermis. An example of a monopolar RF skin treatment device is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0706155, "Handpiece for RF Treatment of Tissue."

[0006] Meanwhile, skin treatment using bipolar RF invasively delivers high-frequency energy after penetrating the skin with needles. This invasive treatment can provide effects such as epidermal regeneration and drug penetration to the epidermis, and can also provide effects such as collagen regeneration induction through high-frequency energy to the dermis corresponding to the tip of the needle. An example of such a skin treatment device using bipolar RF is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1456230, “Dynamic Probe-Type Hyperhidrosis Treatment Device.”

[0007] However, in order to apply monopolar RF and bipolar RF respectively through these conventional devices, a device for applying monopolar RF and a device for applying bipolar RF must be separately provided, and since the treatment must be performed through one device and then again through another device, there is a problem that the treatment locations are not the same.

[0008] Therefore, a needle tip combination capable of applying both monopolar RF and bipolar RF and a skin treatment device equipped with the same are required.

[0009]

[0010] * Prior art literature

[0011] - Patent literature

[0012] Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-0706155, "Handpiece for RF Treatment of Tissues"

[0013] Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1456230, "Dynamic Probe-Type Hyperhidrosis Treatment Device"

[0014]

[0015] The present invention has been devised to improve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a technical idea of ​​a needle tip combination that enables cooling of the skin, application of monopolar RF, and application of bipolar RF without removing the skin treatment device after contacting the skin, and a skin treatment device equipped with the same, and a method for operating the same.

[0016]

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above technical problem, a needle tip assembly of a skin treatment device includes a needle tip that receives needles penetrating the skin and has first needle penetration holes formed therein through which the needles can penetrate, and an electrode tip that surrounds the outside of the needle tip and has second needle penetration holes formed therein through which the needles that have penetrated the first needle penetration holes can penetrate, and applies monopolar RF when in contact with the skin.

[0018] The above electrode tip may be characterized in that it is cooled by a Peltier material provided in the skin treatment device.

[0019] The needle tip assembly surrounds the upper portion of the needle tip assembly and is attached to a joining block for joining the body of the skin treatment device and the needle tip assembly, and the upper portion of the joining block is joined to the cooling side heat transfer medium of the Peltier material, and the lower portion of the joining block can be joined to the electrode tip.

[0020] The above-mentioned connecting block may be characterized in that a protrusion protruding downward is formed at the bottom, the electrode tip is attached to the outside of the protrusion, and the needle tip is attached to the inside of the protrusion.

[0021] The above needles may be characterized as needles that apply bipolar RF energy after penetrating into the skin.

[0022] A skin treatment device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a needle tip assembly and a body part coupled to the needle tip assembly, wherein the needle tip assembly includes a needle tip configured to receive needles penetrating the skin and having first needle penetration holes formed therein through which the needles can penetrate, and an electrode tip configured to surround the outside of the needle tip and have second needle penetration holes formed therein through which the needles that have penetrated the first needle penetration holes can penetrate, and which applies monopolar RF when in contact with the skin.

[0023] The above electrode tip can be cooled by a Peltier material provided in the body portion.

[0024] A method for operating a skin treatment device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a step of cooling an electrode tip provided in a needle tip assembly provided in the skin treatment device when the needle tip assembly provided in the skin treatment device comes into contact with the skin, a step of sequentially penetrating the skin with needles through first needle penetration holes of a needle tip provided in the needle tip assembly and second needle penetration holes provided in the electrode tip, and a step of applying bipolar RF through the needles that have penetrated the skin.

[0025] The method for operating the above skin treatment device may further include a step of the skin treatment device withdrawing the needles that have penetrated into the skin from the skin, and a step of applying monopolar RF through the electrode tip after the skin treatment device withdraws the needles.

[0026]

[0027] According to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, there is an effect that cooling of the skin, application of monopolar RF, and application of bipolar RF can all be performed without removing the skin treatment device from the skin after contacting the skin.

[0028] Additionally, this has the effect of increasing the effectiveness of skin treatment by performing treatments using different high-frequency energies on the same skin location.

[0029]

[0030] In order to more fully understand the drawings cited in the detailed description of the present invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

[0031] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figures 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is an exemplary drawing of a needle tip assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIGS. 5 to 10 are drawings showing a skin treatment process using a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 11 is a flow chart for explaining a method of operating a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036]

[0037] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated and described in detail in the drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives included within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are included. In describing the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known technology is judged to obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0038] Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0039] The terminology used in this application is solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0040] In this specification, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0041] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail, focusing on embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals in each drawing represent the same components.

[0042] Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, Figs. 2 and 3 are exploded perspective views of a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the skin treatment device (1000) of the present invention may include a body part (100) that also functions as a handle of a handpiece, and a needle tip assembly (200) detachably coupled to the body part.

[0044] The above skin treatment device (1000) may be a device used for skin beauty or skin treatment by penetrating multiple needles into the skin and then irradiating bipolar RF. In addition, the skin treatment device (1000) may be a device capable of applying monopolar RF using an electrode tip included in a needle tip assembly (200), as described below.

[0045] The above body part (100) has a motor block (300) mounted on the inner upper side of the body case (501, 502) and a body block (400) mounted on the inner lower side of the body case (501, 502). RF high-frequency energy and / or electric energy supplied to the skin treatment device (1000) are supplied through a cable (520) coupled to the upper side of the body case (501, 502), and for the convenience of explanation, the connection of the circuit wiring is omitted. According to an embodiment, the skin treatment device (1000) may include a supply source for supplying bipolar RF and a supply source for supplying monopolar RF inside, and in this case, the skin treatment device (1000) may be connected to an external cable (520) to charge each supply source.

[0046] The above motor block (300) may include a drive motor (301) and a shaft (302) that moves forward and backward along the central axis by the power of the drive motor.

[0047] The body block (400) may include a circuit board (not shown) configured to supply monopolar RF and bipolar RF. It may also include components necessary to support the shaft (302) or couple with the needle tip assembly (200). In addition, a vibration motor (not shown) that causes vibration in the body portion (100) may be further included at a predetermined location in the body block (400) or other body portions (100).

[0048] The above-mentioned vibration motor (not shown) can serve to alleviate skin stiffness by gently massaging previously stiffened skin when forming a wound on the skin of the treatment area with a needle. Furthermore, it can also provide the effect of reducing fatigue when the subject of the treatment holds the body part (100) for an extended period of time.

[0049] The above body block (400) can be combined with the needle tip assembly (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention through a predetermined combination block.

[0050] The configuration of the above needle tip assembly (200) will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0051] FIG. 4 is an exemplary drawing of a needle tip assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 4, the needle tip assembly (200) may include a needle tip (210) and an electrode tip (220).

[0053] The needle tip (210) serves to guide the movement of the needles (230) while accommodating the needles (230) inside.

[0054] Additionally, a plurality of needles (230) may be included inside the needle tip (210).

[0055] The above needles (230) can be fixedly connected to a circuit board (not shown), and a predetermined electrode rod can be connected to the circuit board so as to be formed so as to apply bipolar RF energy to the needles (230).

[0056] The circuit board may be formed to move in accordance with the movement of the shaft (302), and it will be readily apparent to an average expert in the technical field of the present invention that a necessary joint structure or the like may be further included in the needle tip (210) for this purpose.

[0057] At the lower part of the needle tip (210), a first needle penetration hole (211) through which the needles (230) can pass, as shown in FIG. 4, can be formed corresponding to each needle (230).

[0058] Meanwhile, the needle tip assembly (200) according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention includes an electrode tip (220) surrounding the outer side of the needle tip (210).

[0059] The above electrode tip (220) can be configured to contact the skin and apply monopolar RF energy to the skin, and functions as an electrode itself.

[0060] The lower portion of the electrode tip (220) may be formed with a second needle through hole (221) that allows the needles (230) to pass through the first needle through hole (211) formed in the needle tip (210) and then pass through to the outside. The second needle through hole (221) may be formed at a position that is in communication with the first needle through hole (211) so that the needles (230) can pass from the inside to the outside of the needle tip assembly (200).

[0061] The above electrode tip (220) can not only apply monopolar RF to the skin, but also perform the function of cooling the skin. To this end, the electrode tip (220) can be implemented with a metal having high thermal conductivity.

[0062] The electrode tip (220) can be cooled by a Peltier material (or thermoelectric element, 420) provided in the skin treatment device (1000). The Peltier material (420) may be provided anywhere in the skin treatment device (1000) so long as it can cool the electrode tip (220). As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the Peltier material (420) is provided inside the body block (400), but it may also be provided inside the needle tip assembly (200), and various other embodiments are possible.

[0063] The above Peltier material (420) is a material that has a property of heating one side and cooling the other side when current is applied, and it is widely known that cooling or heating can be performed through this.

[0064] One side of the above Peltier material (420) becomes the cooling side, and a heat transfer medium (421) can be coupled to this cooling side. The cooling side heat transfer medium (421) can of course be implemented with a metal having high thermal conductivity, such as a heat sink or heat transfer fin.

[0065] The above Peltier material (420) and the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) may be combined through a heat transfer medium (thermal spreading) as needed. The heat transfer medium is used to distribute and uniformly transfer heat, and various embodiments such as sheet type, thermal grease, and paste type are possible.

[0066] The above electrode tip (220) can be cooled by directly or indirectly contacting a cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) attached to one side of the Peltier material (420).

[0067] In one embodiment, the body block (400) and the needle tip assembly (200) can be joined by a predetermined joining block (410).

[0068] The body block (400) may be provided with a Peltier material (420) and a heat transfer medium (421) as described above. In addition, although the embodiment of FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a case where a monopolar RF connection terminal (430) for applying monopolar RF is formed on the outside of the heat transfer medium (421), an energy supply source (e.g., a battery) for supplying monopolar RF and / or bipolar RF may be provided inside the skin treatment device (1000) as described above. In addition, it goes without saying that wiring for connecting the connection terminal (430) or the energy supply source and the needles (230) and / or the electrode tips (220) may be arranged inside the body block (400) and / or the needle tip assembly (200).

[0069] The above-mentioned coupling block (410) can couple the body block (400) and the needle tip coupling body (200) by coupling the lower part of the body block (400) and the upper part of the needle tip coupling body (200), respectively. The coupling of the body block (400) and the needle tip coupling body (200) can be accomplished by various fastening means (e.g., bolts, coupling pins, soldering, magnets, etc.).

[0070] Although FIG. 4 illustrates a case where the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) and the electrode tip (220) are indirectly connected through the coupling block (410), various embodiments are possible in which the electrode tip (220) can be cooled by the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) cooled by the Peltier material (420).

[0071] The above-mentioned coupling block (410) can be implemented with a material having high thermal conductivity (e.g., metal) so as to transfer the cold heat supplied by the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) to the electrode tip (220).

[0072] The above-mentioned coupling block (410) and the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) may form a flat upper surface as illustrated in FIG. 4 to increase the contact area. In addition, the lower portion of the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) may form an L-shaped folded area outward to make wide contact with the upper surface. Then, the upper surface of the coupling block (410) and the folded area of ​​the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) are combined, so that not only the area in which they come into contact with each other increases, but also stable coupling is possible.

[0073] Meanwhile, a protrusion (411) protruding downward may be formed at the bottom of the above-mentioned connecting block (410).

[0074] And the above-mentioned connecting block (410) can be formed with a plane with a predetermined width on the outside and inside based on the above-mentioned protrusion (411).

[0075] Then, the upper end of the electrode tip (220) can be attached to the outside based on the protrusion (411) of the coupling block (410). The upper end of the electrode tip (220) can also be processed to be flat so that it can be coupled with the outer plane of the coupling block (410), as shown in FIG. 4.

[0076] Additionally, the upper end of the needle tip (210) can be attached inward based on the protrusion (411).

[0077] In addition, although FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the lower surface and inner plane of the protrusion (411) are combined with the upper surface of the needle tip (210), depending on the embodiment, the lower surface and outer plane of the protrusion (411) may be combined with the upper surface of the electrode tip (220).

[0078] In any case, the coupling block (410) forms the protrusion (411) to couple the needle tip (210) and the electrode tip (220), respectively, and the needle tip (210) and the electrode tip (220) can be fixed horizontally and spaced apart by a predetermined distance. Through this, the cold heat transferred from the cooling-side heat transfer medium (421) can be prevented from being unnecessarily transferred to the needle tip (210), so that the cooling efficiency of the electrode tip (220) can be increased. According to an embodiment, the lower end of the needle tip (210) and the lower end of the electrode tip (220) can be fixed in a state of contact, or can be fixed while being spaced apart by a predetermined distance and then temporarily contact each other by a physical force applied upward when in contact with the skin.

[0079] In conclusion, the needle tip assembly (200) according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention forms an electrode tip (220) to surround the needle tip (210) on the outside of the needle tip (210), and can perform the function of applying monopolar RF or cooling the skin through the electrode tip (220). In addition, since the needles (230) are formed to be able to apply bipolar RF after penetrating the skin, the skin treatment device (1000) including the needle tip assembly (200) has the effect of performing all of skin cooling, application of monopolar RF, and application of bipolar RF. In addition, this series of treatment actions can all be performed in one treatment, that is, after making one contact with the skin, without removing the skin treatment device (1000). Of course, only some of these may be performed through the skin treatment device (1000) depending on the choice of the practitioner.

[0080] The process of operating this skin treatment device (1000) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.

[0081] FIGS. 5 to 10 are drawings showing a skin treatment process using a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 5, the skin treatment device (1000) can be brought into contact with the skin of a subject to be treated. The practitioner can cool the skin by cooling the electrode tip (220) using a predetermined control device (button, switch, etc., not shown) provided in the skin treatment device (1000).

[0083] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the skin treatment device (1000) drives the needles (230), so that the needles (230) can continuously penetrate the first needle penetration hole (211) and the second needle penetration hole (221) and then penetrate into the skin while forming a wound.

[0084] Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the skin treatment device (1000) can apply bipolar RF through needles (230). This application of bipolar RF can be performed while the needles (230) are fixed after penetrating the skin, or can be performed while withdrawing the needles (230) from the skin.

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the needles (230) are withdrawn from the skin, the wound gradually decreases, and after a predetermined time after the needles (230) are withdrawn from the skin, the skin treatment device (1000) can apply monopolar RF through the electrode tip (220).

[0086] Then, as shown in Fig. 10, the wound formed on the skin can be healed and reduced more quickly.

[0087] The operation process of the skin treatment device (1000) in these drawings 5 ​​to 10 is exemplary, and the functions of skin cooling, application of monopolar RF, and application of bipolar RF provided by the skin treatment device (1000) can be performed one by one or continuously in various ways according to the judgment of the practitioner.

[0088] In any case, according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, when using the skin treatment device (1000), there is no need to separately provide a device for applying monopolar RF and a device for applying bipolar RF, and thus, there is an effect that allows continuous skin cooling, application of monopolar RF, and / or application of bipolar RF in one treatment.

[0089] Additionally, depending on the embodiment, the needles (230) may simply perform the function of forming a wound on the skin and may not need to apply bipolar RF.

[0090] Figure 11 is a flow chart for explaining a method of operating a skin treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 11, the skin treatment device (1000) according to an embodiment of the present invention, when starting operation, can first operate a sensor mode for sensing whether an electrode tip is provided (S100). That is, according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, the electrode tip (220) can be selectively attached or detached, and thus operation can be performed differently depending on whether the electrode tip (220) is provided. The skin treatment device (1000) may be equipped with a predetermined processor (not shown), and the processor (not shown) can determine whether the electrode tip (220) is provided (S110). Of course, a predetermined sensing means may be provided in an area where the electrode tip (220) is attached in order to determine whether the electrode tip (220) is provided.

[0092] If it is determined that the electrode tip (220) is not provided (S110), the skin treatment device (1000) can perform a bipolar needle operation for applying bipolar RF, that is, an operation of applying bipolar RF after penetrating the needles (230) into the skin (S120).

[0093] And when the bipolar needle operation is completed (S130), the drive can be finished.

[0094] If it is determined that the electrode tip (220) is equipped (S110), the skin treatment device (1000) can operate a cooling mode to cool the electrode tip (220) (S140) and perform a bipolar needle operation (S150).

[0095] And when the bipolar needle operation is completed (S160), the skin treatment device (1000) can change the mode to monopolar mode (S170) and perform an operation of applying monopolar RF through the electrode tip (220) (S180). And when the monopolar RF application is completed (S190), the skin treatment device (1000) can finish operating.

[0096] The foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention can be readily modified into other specific forms without altering the technical spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single component may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described below rather than the detailed description above, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

[0097] The needle tip assembly (200) of the present invention and the skin treatment device having the same can be used for skin beauty, skin disease, local fat removal, etc.

Claims

1. In the needle tip combination of the skin treatment device, A needle tip configured to receive needles penetrating the skin and having first needle penetration holes formed therein through which the needles can penetrate; and A needle tip assembly for a skin treatment device, comprising an electrode tip that applies monopolar RF when in contact with the skin, and having second needle penetration holes formed around the outer side of the needle tip and through which the needles that have penetrated the first needle penetration hole can penetrate.

2. In the first paragraph, the electrode tip, A needle tip assembly of a skin treatment device characterized in that it is cooled by a Peltier material provided in the above skin treatment device.

3. In the first paragraph, the needle tip assembly, It surrounds the upper part of the needle tip assembly and is attached to a joining block for joining the body of the skin treatment device and the needle tip assembly. The upper part of the above-mentioned coupling block is coupled with a cooling-side heat transfer medium made of Peltier material, and the lower part of the above-mentioned coupling block is a needle tip coupling body of a skin treatment device to which the electrode tip is coupled.

4. In the third paragraph, the combination block, A protrusion that protrudes downward is formed at the bottom, The electrode tip is attached to the outside based on the above protrusion, A needle tip assembly for a skin treatment device, characterized in that the needle tip is attached inwardly based on the protrusion.

5. In paragraph 1, the needles, A needle tip assembly for a skin treatment device characterized by needles that penetrate into the skin and then apply bipolar RF energy.

6. In skin treatment devices, Needle tip assembly; and It includes a body part coupled with the above needle tip assembly, The above needle tip assembly, A needle tip configured to receive needles penetrating the skin and having first needle penetration holes formed therein through which the needles can penetrate; and A skin treatment device comprising an electrode tip that surrounds the outer side of the needle tip, has second needle penetration holes formed through which the needles that have penetrated the first needle penetration hole can penetrate, and applies monopolar RF when in contact with the skin.

7. In the 6th paragraph, the electrode tip, A skin treatment device characterized by being cooled by a Peltier material provided in the above body part.

8. A step of cooling the electrode tip provided in the needle tip combination of the skin treatment device when the needle tip combination provided in the skin treatment device comes into contact with the skin; A step in which the above skin treatment device sequentially penetrates the skin by penetrating the first needle penetration holes of the needle tip provided in the needle tip combination and the second needle penetration holes provided in the electrode tip; A method for driving a skin treatment device through a needle tip assembly of a skin treatment device, comprising a step of applying bipolar RF through the needles that have penetrated the skin treatment device.

9. In the 8th paragraph, the driving method of the skin treatment device is as follows: A step of the above skin treatment device withdrawing the needles that have penetrated into the skin from the skin; A method for operating a skin treatment device, further comprising a step of applying monopolar RF through the electrode tip after the skin treatment device withdraws the needles.

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