Treatment device, control method therefor, and treatment method using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a treatment device using energy, a control method therefor, and a treatment method using same, and provides a treatment device, a control method using same, and a treatment method using same, the treatment device comprising: a handpiece for transferring, to a treatment location, energy for treatment; a cooling unit for cooling the treatment location by using a refrigerant stored in a refrigerant accommodation unit; and a control unit for adjusting the cooling performance of the cooling unit by adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant accommodation unit.

Description

Treatment device, control method thereof, and treatment method using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a treatment device using energy, a control method thereof, and a treatment method using the same.

[0002] Techniques for treating tissue lesions by delivering energy to a patient's skin tissue have been developed in various ways. Various energy sources, including light energy such as lasers, RF energy, and ultrasound energy, have been utilized. Recently, technologies have been developed that treat tissue without damaging the skin surface by cooling the skin with electrodes in contact with it and delivering RF energy. These techniques utilize RF energy to treat tissue without damaging the skin surface. These RF energy-based treatment techniques are disclosed in Korean Patent No. 0706115, among others.

[0003] When treating skin tissue using energy, a cooling structure is provided to prevent damage to the skin surface due to overheating. However, conventional cooling structures have limitations in achieving diverse cooling performance depending on the treatment mode.

[0004] The present invention provides a treatment device capable of implementing various cooling performances according to the treatment content when treating a patient's tissue using energy, a control method thereof, and a treatment method using the same.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-described object of the present invention, the present invention provides a treatment device including a handpiece for transmitting energy for treatment to a treatment location, a cooling unit for cooling the treatment location using a refrigerant stored in a refrigerant container, and a control unit for controlling the cooling performance of the cooling unit by controlling the pressure of the refrigerant container.

[0006] Here, when the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is adjusted to increase, the cooling portion cools the treatment site with relatively high cooling performance, and when the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is adjusted to decrease, the cooling portion cools the treatment site with relatively low cooling performance.

[0007] The control unit is configured to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion based on the intensity of energy delivered to the treatment location.

[0008] Specifically, the device further includes a setting unit for a user to set a treatment mode, and the control unit is configured to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit based on the set treatment mode. When a treatment mode in which treatment is performed with relatively high energy is set through the setting unit, the control unit controls the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively high pressure, and when a treatment mode in which treatment is performed with relatively low energy is set, the control unit controls the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively low pressure.

[0009] Alternatively, the control unit may be configured to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit based on the frequency characteristics of the set treatment mode.

[0010] Specifically, when a treatment mode using RF energy of a relatively high frequency is set through the setting unit, the control unit can control the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively high pressure, and when a treatment mode using RF energy of a relatively low frequency is set, the control unit can control the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively low pressure.

[0011] This treatment device further includes a temperature control module provided adjacent to the refrigerant receiving portion to control the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion, and the control portion controls the temperature control module to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion.

[0012] The cooling unit further includes a pressure sensor provided on a cooling channel through which refrigerant is delivered to measure the pressure of the channel, and the control unit controls the operation of the temperature control module based on the value sensed by the pressure sensor.

[0013] The temperature control module may be configured with a thermoelectric element configured to heat and cool the refrigerant receiving portion so as to increase or decrease the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion based on the value sensed by the pressure sensor.

[0014] Alternatively, the handpiece may further include a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the treatment location during treatment, and the control unit may be configured to control the operation of the temperature control module based on the value sensed by the temperature sensor.

[0015] The temperature control module may be provided to be thermally conductively coupled to the outside of the refrigerant receiving portion. In addition, the temperature control module may be provided at a location adjacent to the discharge portion of the refrigerant receiving portion.

[0016] Furthermore, when the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion exceeds a critical pressure, the control unit controls the refrigerant in the refrigerant receiving portion to be discharged through an emergency discharge path, and controls the temperature control module to cool the refrigerant receiving portion. Here, the critical pressure may be a value in the range of 10 bar to 20 bar.

[0017] Meanwhile, the above-described object of the present invention can be achieved by a control method of a treatment device including a step of controlling energy to be applied to a treatment location through a handpiece, a step of delivering a refrigerant contained in the refrigerant receiving portion to the treatment location to cool the treatment location, and a step of controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion to control the cooling performance of cooling the treatment location.

[0018] Here, the method further includes a step of receiving treatment mode information set by a user, and the step of controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion may control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion to be maintained at a pressure determined based on the set treatment mode.

[0019] The step of controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion by operating a temperature control module that is provided at a position adjacent to the refrigerant receiving portion and controls the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion.

[0020] In addition, in order to achieve the purpose of the present invention described above, a treatment method is provided, including a step of applying energy to a treatment location through a handpiece to treat, and a step of cooling the treatment location using a refrigerant contained in the refrigerant receiving portion, wherein the step of cooling the treatment location is characterized in that the cooling performance is controlled by controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion.

[0021] According to the present invention, since it is possible to control the cooling performance by controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion, there is an advantage in that various cooling performances can be implemented while maintaining the pulse width or cycle of the cooling pulse the same.

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a treatment device using RF energy according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the treatment device according to Figure 1;

[0024] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the handpiece of Figure 1;

[0025] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the main configuration of the tip module of Fig. 3;

[0026] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the main configuration of the tip module of Fig. 3;

[0027] Figure 6 is a drawing showing the overall structure of the cooling unit of Figure 4.

[0028] Figure 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion and the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion.

[0029] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the installation part where the refrigerant container is installed.

[0030] Figure 9 shows the results of an experiment showing the change in cooling performance according to the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion.

[0031] Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the main components related to cooling process control.

[0032] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the treatment device of this embodiment.

[0033] Figure 12 is a flowchart detailing the treatment site cooling step according to one embodiment;

[0034] Fig. 13 is a graph showing an example of cooling performance control according to another embodiment;

[0035] Figure 14 is a flowchart detailing the cooling step of the treatment position according to Figure 13;

[0036] Figure 15 is a flowchart detailing a treatment site cooling step according to one embodiment;

[0037] Figure 16 is a flowchart detailing the cooling step of a treatment location according to one embodiment.

[0038] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a treatment device, its control method, and a treatment method utilizing the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description, the positional relationship of each component is explained primarily based on the drawings. Furthermore, the drawings may simplify the structure of the invention for convenience of explanation or, if necessary, exaggerate it. Therefore, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various devices can be added, modified, or omitted.

[0039] Hereinafter, the term "treatment device" includes all devices for treating mammals, including humans. The treatment device may include various devices that transmit energy for the purpose of improving the condition of a lesion or tissue. The following examples will focus on devices for treating skin lesions. For example, it may mean that RF energy is used to locally heat skin tissue to improve wrinkles, tone and textural changes, scars and acne scarring, sagging mucosa, overall rejuvenation, hyperhidrosis, laxity, lifting, tightening, fat reduction, etc. However, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various devices that transmit RF energy to various affected areas, including devices for surgically treating lesions of internal organs.

[0040] Hereinafter, "energy" encompasses various forms of energy provided to induce tissue transformation for therapeutic purposes. The following examples focus on devices and methods for treating tissue using RF energy. However, these are merely examples, and various devices for treating tissue using various energy sources, such as laser, light, ultrasound, heat, and shock waves, may also be included.

[0041] Hereinafter, "tissue" refers to the collection of cells that make up the various bodily organs of animals, including humans. This includes the skin tissue of the face, neck, arms, legs, and torso, as well as various tissues that make up various organs within the body.

[0042] Hereinafter, a treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0043] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The treatment device of Figure 1 is, by way of example, a treatment device for treating a patient's skin tissue. The treatment device utilizes RF energy as an energy source for treatment and transmits RF energy to the treatment site.

[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the treatment device according to the present embodiment includes a main body (10), a handpiece (20) connected to the main body (10), and a return electrode pad (30).

[0045] The main body (10) is equipped with various components for operating the treatment device of the present embodiment. The outer surface of the main body (10) is equipped with a setting unit for setting the treatment operation and treatment mode of the treatment device and a display unit for displaying treatment-related information to the user. The interior of the main body (10) may be equipped with components such as an RF energy generating unit (50) and a refrigerant receiving unit.

[0046] The handpiece (20) is a component that performs treatment at a treatment location and is provided in a form that a user can hold in his or her hand and use. An electrode (141) that contacts the patient's skin surface and transmits RF energy is provided at one end of the handpiece (20). Various operating parts for manipulating the treatment motion may be provided on the outer surface of the handpiece (20), and a conductive path for transmitting RF energy to the electrode (141) and a cooling channel for cooling the electrode are provided on the inside of the handpiece (20).

[0047] The return electrode pad (30) includes a return electrode. The return electrode is composed of a conductive material and is positioned so as to contact a location on the patient's body opposite the treatment location during treatment. Therefore, when RF energy is applied, the return electrode, together with the electrode (141) of the handpiece, forms a path through which RF energy is transmitted to the patient's body.

[0048] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the handpiece (20) and the return electrode pad (30) are each connected to the main body by a connecting portion. The connecting portion may be formed of a cable or the like, and each is electrically connected to the main body to form an RF transmission path and is configured to transmit or receive various signals.

[0049] In this embodiment, the electrode (141) of the handpiece is configured to be of a monopolar type having a single polarity and includes a separate return electrode pad, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As another example, if the electrode of the handpiece is of a bipolar type having different polarities, the handpiece may be implemented without including the aforementioned return electrode pad.

[0050] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the treatment device according to Figure 1.

[0051] The RF energy generating unit (50) generates RF energy as energy used for treatment. The RF energy generating unit (50) generates RF pulses having various parameters depending on the patient's constitution, treatment purpose, treatment area, etc. The parameters may be at least one of output, pulse duration, pulse interval, and frequency. The RF energy generated from the RF energy generating unit (50) is transmitted to the electrode (141) of the handpiece through the connecting unit and is applied to the skin surface in contact with the electrode (141).

[0052] The RF energy generating unit (50) of the present embodiment generates RF energy having at least two different frequencies. That is, the RF energy generating unit (50) can selectively generate RF energy having a first frequency and RF energy having a second frequency. Here, when the frequency range is divided into a first range (2 MHz or more and less than 6 MHz), a second range (6 MHz or more and less than 10 MHz), and a third range (10 MHz or more and 30 MHz or less), the first frequency may be a frequency within the first range, and the second frequency may be a frequency within the second range. Alternatively, the first frequency may be a frequency within the first range, and the second frequency may be a frequency within the third range. Alternatively, the first frequency may be a frequency within the second range, and the second frequency may be a frequency within the third range. When the RF energy generating unit (50) can generate RF energy of three different frequencies, the first frequency may be a frequency within a first range, the second frequency may be a frequency within a second range, and the third frequency may be a frequency within a third range.

[0053] The RF energy generating unit (50) can be controlled to generate RF energy having a selected frequency or RF energy combining RF pulses of multiple frequencies, depending on the progress of the selected treatment mode or treatment process, but with different frequency ratios.

[0054] The cooling unit (70) is configured to cool the treatment location where treatment is performed by the handpiece. The cooling unit (70) can utilize various cooling methods, and as an example, the cooling unit (200) of the present embodiment is configured to cool the treatment location using the heat of vaporization of a liquid refrigerant. The cooling method using a refrigerant can also cool the treatment location by directly spraying the refrigerant onto the treatment location, but in the present embodiment, the refrigerant is sprayed onto the rear of the electrode (141) that comes into contact with the treatment location during treatment to indirectly cool the treatment location. In this case, the skin surface in contact with the electrode (141) is cooled, thereby preventing thermal damage to the skin surface during treatment.

[0055] Specifically, the cooling unit (70) includes a refrigerant receiving unit (210) that receives refrigerant, a cooling channel (201) that forms a path through which the refrigerant received in the refrigerant receiving unit is delivered, and a cooling module (150) that sprays the refrigerant delivered through the cooling channel toward the rear surface of the electrode (141) of the handpiece. The refrigerant receiving unit (210) is provided in the main body or at a separate location. The cooling channel (201) is connected from the refrigerant receiving unit to the cooling module (150), and at least a portion of the cooling channel is provided inside the handpiece (20). At least one valve and sensor are provided on the cooling channel, and the control unit (40) monitors the cooling process of the cooling unit (200) and controls the cooling performance using these. Here, the cooling performance refers to the performance that can lower the temperature of the object for the same period of time, and may be the amount of refrigerant sprayed per unit time through the cooling module. The specific structure of the cooling unit (200) will be described in detail below using separate drawings.

[0056] The sensing unit (80) is a component that senses various information necessary for the operation of the treatment device during, before, or after treatment. For example, the sensing unit (80) may be at least one of an impedance sensor that measures the impedance of a tissue, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of an electrode or skin, a contact sensor that detects whether the electrode of the handpiece is in contact with the skin surface, a movement sensor that detects the movement speed of the handpiece, and a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of a cooling channel. As an example, in the present embodiment, the temperature sensor and the contact sensor may be arranged adjacent to the electrode of the handpiece, and a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure at which a refrigerant is provided may be arranged in the cooling channel.

[0057] The setting unit (60) is provided in the main body and is configured to set various operations of the treatment device, including the treatment mode. The user can set the treatment mode to be performed through the setting unit (60). Specifically, the user can set at least one of the energy intensity of the RF pulse, the number of pulses, the pulse width, and the frequency characteristics constituting the pulse through the setting unit (60). Alternatively, the user can set the treatment lesion, the target tissue to be treated, the target depth, etc.

[0058] The storage unit (90) is configured to store various information required for treatment and includes a memory element. The storage unit (90) is provided in the main body (10) and may additionally be provided in the handpiece (20) or the tip module (100). The storage unit (90) can store parameter information for each treatment mode, patient-related information, control information according to sensed conditions, etc. In addition, the storage unit can update and record information sensed during treatment and information input by the user. In addition, the memory provided in the handpiece (20) or the tip module (100) can be configured to store identification information for the handpiece or the tip module.

[0059] The control unit (40) is a component that controls the operation of various components of the treatment device, such as the RF energy generation unit (50) and the cooling unit (70). For example, the control unit (40) controls various components using the contents set by the user through the setting unit or the control information stored in the storage unit. The control unit receives sensed information from the sensing unit (80) and controls various components using the sensed information. For example, the control unit (40) receives a temperature value sensed by a temperature sensor and controls the parameters of the RF energy and the cooling performance for the electrode based on the temperature value. Here, the control unit (40) is configured to include a calculation unit, and can calculate real-time control values ​​from the sensed values ​​using a preset algorithm and control various components based on the calculated control values.

[0060] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the handpiece of Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the handpiece (20) comprises a main body (21) and a tip module (100). One end of the main body (21) is connected to a connecting portion, and various components for performing a treatment operation, such as an RF transmission circuit and a cooling path, are provided inside. An operation portion and a display portion, such as a display, may be provided on the outer surface of the main body (21). The tip module (100) is provided with an electrode (141) for transmitting RF energy by contacting the skin, and is detachably coupled to one end of the main body (21). The tip module (100) is provided with a circuit for transmitting RF energy to the electrode and a cooling structure for cooling the electrode and the treatment site. Hereinafter, the structure of the tip module will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 4 and 5.

[0061] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the main configuration of the tip module of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the main configuration of the tip module of Fig. 3. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the tip module is configured to include a tip housing (110), an electrode module (140), a cooling module (150), an internal case (120), and a rear cover (130).

[0062] The tip housing (110) and the inner case (120) are coupled to each other to support the electrode module (140). A cooling module (150) is arranged inside the inner case (120). The rear cover (130) is coupled to the rear of the tip housing (110) while the electrode module (140), the inner case (120), and the cooling module (150) are arranged inside the tip housing (110). The tip housing (110) or the rear cover (130) is provided with a coupling structure for being fastened to the end of the main body (21) of the handpiece.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the electrode module (140) is configured as a flexible substrate that is foldable, and an electrical element and a circuit for electrically forming the same are formed therein. The electrode (141) is arranged at the front of the electrode module (based on the state in which the electrode module is folded) and is exposed through the opening of the tip housing (110) to come into contact with the skin surface. The electrode (141) is configured to include a conductive layer formed on the flexible substrate, and the conductive layer is configured to be covered by a dielectric layer. Therefore, during treatment, the conductive layer of the electrode comes into contact with the skin through the dielectric layer, and when RF energy is applied to the electrode, the electrode transmits the RF energy to the skin tissue while being capacitively coupled with the skin tissue by the dielectric layer.

[0064] Meanwhile, as described above, the temperature sensor (142) and the contact sensor of the sensing unit are provided at a position adjacent to the electrode (141) among the electrode modules (140) to measure the temperature of the electrode or the skin surface and detect whether the electrode is in contact with the skin. In addition, the electrode module (140) further includes a memory, and the memory can store information of the tip module, such as the type of electrode, the size of the electrode, the pattern of the electrode, the size of the cooling space, etc. The electrode module (140) is provided with a conductive lead that extends rearward and is connected to the electrode, each sensor, and the memory described above. A terminal formed at the end of the conductive lead is exposed rearward when the rear cover (130) is coupled, and is electrically connected to the RF circuit on the main body (21) side of the handpiece when the tip module (100) is coupled.

[0065] And, as described above, the cooling module (150) is configured to spray the refrigerant delivered from the refrigerant receiving portion (210) along the cooling passage (201) to the rear of the electrode (141). A conduit having a cooling passage formed therein is provided on the rear side of the cooling module (150), and a plurality of injection holes (151) are provided on the front side of the cooling module (150). The rear end of the conduit is exposed to the rear side of the rear cover (130) when the tip module (100) is assembled. Therefore, when the tip module (100) is coupled to the main body (21) of the handpiece, the cooling passage of the conduit is coupled with the cooling passage on the main body (21) side to form a path through which the refrigerant provided from the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is delivered.

[0066] The tip module (100) having such a structure is detachably coupled to the main body end of the handpiece as described above. When the tip module (100) is coupled, the control unit (40) receives information about the tip module from the memory of the tip module (100), and in consideration of the information, controls the RF energy generation unit (50) and the cooling unit (70) to transmit RF energy to the electrode of the tip module (100) and perform a process of cooling the electrode. In addition, the tip module (100) may be configured as a consumable, and may be replaced with a new tip module (100) when treating a new patient or exceeding the allowed number of uses.

[0067] FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the overall structure of the cooling unit of FIG. 4. As described above, the cooling unit (200) is configured to include a refrigerant receiving portion (210) in which refrigerant is received, a cooling module (150) that sprays refrigerant to the rear surface of the electrode, and a cooling passage (201) formed between the refrigerant receiving portion and the cooling module. As illustrated in FIG. 6, components such as an ICD filter (intelligent cooling device) (220), a pressure sensor (230), a bubble sensor (250), a joint coupling (260), and an ICD valve (270) are arranged on the cooling passage (201).

[0068] Specifically, the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is configured as a pressure vessel that receives liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant receiving portion (210) has a discharge portion formed at one end, and the discharge port is installed downward to facilitate the discharge of the refrigerant. The discharge portion is connected to one end of a cooling channel (201), and the liquid refrigerant is supplied to the cooling channel (201) through the discharge portion at a predetermined pressure.

[0069] Based on the direction in which the refrigerant travels, a front part (201a) of the cooling channel is provided on the inside of the main body (10), and a rear part (202b) is connected from the outside of the main body (10) to the cooling module (150) of the handpiece. The front and rear ends of the cooling channel are connected so as to be selectively separated by a joint coupling (260). The joint coupling (260) is provided on the outer surface of the main body, for example, and is configured so that the cooling channel can be separated from the outside of the main body when necessary.

[0070] An ICD filter (220), a pressure sensor (230), and a bubble sensor (250) are provided on the cooling channel (201a) located in the main body.

[0071] The ICD filter (220) is installed in the discharge portion of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) and is configured to filter foreign substances in the liquid refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant receiving portion (210).

[0072] A pressure sensor (230) is installed on the cooling channel and measures the pressure of the cooling channel. The pressure of the cooling channel is determined by the pressure at which the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant receiving portion (210), and the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion can be determined based on the value measured by the pressure sensor (230). Here, the pressure of the cooling channel measured by the pressure sensor (230) may be the same as the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion, or the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) may be determined by reflecting a weight to the measured pressure of the cooling channel. Since the pressure of the cooling channel affects the cooling performance of the treatment location, the pressure sensor (230) monitors the pressure value during the cooling process and transmits the measured value to the control portion (40).

[0073] The bubble sensor (250) detects whether the liquid refrigerant passing through the refrigerant passage contains bubbles. If the pressure or temperature of the refrigerant passage is not appropriate, bubbles may form within the refrigerant passage (201). Therefore, when the bubble sensor (250) detects bubbles, it transmits the detection to the control unit (40), and the control unit reflects this and performs control.

[0074] Furthermore, an emergency discharge path (240) is additionally provided on the cooling path (201a) located on the main body. The emergency discharge path (240) is a path that branches off from the cooling path and through which the refrigerant is discharged to the outside. An emergency discharge valve (241) is provided on the emergency discharge path (240). In a normal cooling process, the emergency discharge valve (241) closes the emergency discharge path (240), and in an abnormal cooling process, it is selectively opened. When the emergency discharge valve (241) is opened, the refrigerant provided from the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is discharged to the outside through the emergency discharge path (240) rather than proceeding toward the handpiece side.

[0075] Meanwhile, the rear portion (201b) formed on the outside of the main body among the cooling channels has one end connected to a joint coupling (260) and the other end forms a cooling channel inside the handpiece and is connected to the cooling module (150) described above. This cooling channel on the outside of the main body may be provided within the connection part of FIG. 1, or may form a separate conduit.

[0076] An ICD valve (270) is provided on a cooling passage (201b) located on the outside of the main body. The ICD valve (270) is controlled to be open during a cooling process to supply refrigerant to the rear surface of the electrode (141) and closed when the cooling process is not in progress. In addition, the ICD valve (270) performs an on / off operation to inject refrigerant in a pulse form. In a separate embodiment, the ICD valve is configured to control the opening / closing amount of the cooling passage in addition to the on / off operation, so that it is also possible to control the amount of refrigerant delivered under the same conditions.

[0077] In this way, the refrigerant contained in the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is delivered to the handpiece side in a liquid state through the cooling passage (201). The ICD filter (220) placed on the cooling passage filters the refrigerant, and the pressure sensor (230) and the bubble sensor (250) detect the pressure on the cooling passage and whether the refrigerant contains bubbles. The refrigerant provided through the cooling passage is delivered to the cooling module (150) in the form of a cooling pulse by the operation of the ICD valve (270) and is sprayed on the rear surface of the electrode to cool the treatment site.

[0078] Figure 7 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion and the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion. The pressure on the cooling passage (201) through which the refrigerant passes is determined by the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210), i.e., the pressure at which the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant receiving portion (210). The pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is configured to remain constant in the same environment, but as the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) changes, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) also changes.

[0079] FIG. 7 is a graph showing an experiment using a cryogen R134a canister as a refrigerant receiving portion (210). The temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) was controlled by controlling the temperature of the outer surface of the canister, and the pressure at which the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant receiving portion (210) was measured accordingly. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, as the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) increases, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) increases. For example, when the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion is 20 degrees, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion exceeds approximately 5 bar, and when the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion is 40 degrees, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion corresponds to approximately 10 bar. In this way, when the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is increased, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion increases, and when the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is decreased, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion decreases.

[0080] The pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is directly related to the cooling performance of the cooling portion (200). If the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is high, the pressure of the cooling passage is formed high, so that a relatively large amount of refrigerant is delivered to the treatment location during the same time, resulting in high cooling performance. Conversely, if the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is low, a relatively small amount of refrigerant is delivered during the same time, resulting in low cooling performance. Therefore, the cooling portion (200) of the present embodiment is configured to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) during the cooling process by utilizing these characteristics to adjust the cooling performance.

[0081] Conventionally, cooling performance has been controlled by adjusting the number of cooling pulses emitted to the treatment site or the width of the cooling pulses. For example, if relatively strong cooling is required, the number of cooling pulses or the pulse width of the cooling pulses are controlled to increase. This method is difficult to control, as it increases the time the treatment site is exposed to the refrigerant, and in order to control cooling performance, the operation of the valve forming the cooling pulses must be frequently changed. Furthermore, the order and timing of the treatment energy pulses and the cooling pulses are often interrelated. Therefore, it is impossible to control cooling performance while applying treatment energy, or to control it, the timing of the energy pulses must also be adjusted simultaneously, which leads to problems such as delayed treatment time.

[0082] In contrast, the cooling unit (200) of the present invention controls the amount of refrigerant injected into the treatment location (or the rear surface of the electrode) per unit time by adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210). Therefore, cooling performance can be adjusted to increase or decrease while maintaining the pulse width and cycle of the cooling pulse, etc., the same, thereby allowing for real-time control of cooling performance while minimizing the impact on the overall treatment process.

[0083] As described above, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) can be controlled by the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210). Therefore, the cooling portion (200) according to the present embodiment is configured to further include a temperature control module (283) for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210).

[0084] Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of an installation portion where a refrigerant receiving portion is installed. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a temperature control module (283) controls the temperature of the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) when the refrigerant receiving portion is installed. The temperature control module (283) is configured to increase or decrease the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) as needed, thereby increasing or decreasing the cooling performance. The temperature control module (283) may utilize various temperature control devices, and in the present embodiment, as an example, a thermoelectric element capable of selectively heating and cooling the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving portion is utilized.

[0085] Specifically, the installation part (280) of the refrigerant receiving part (210) is configured to include a base (281) and a housing (282). The base (281) is coupled to the discharge part while the refrigerant receiving part is turned over, and the discharge part is connected to the cooling passage (201) while coupled to the base (281). The housing (282) accommodates the refrigerant receiving part (210) in an internal receiving space, and supports the refrigerant receiving part (210) by contacting the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving part (210). A temperature control module (283) is installed in the housing (282), and is thermally conductively coupled to the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving part (210) to heat and cool the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving part (210). The temperature control module (283) may be configured to be installed in an opening of the housing (282) and to control the temperature by directly contacting the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving part (210). Alternatively, the temperature control module (283) may be placed indirectly in contact with the outer surface of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) through the side wall of the housing (282) having high thermal conductivity. In this way, when the temperature control module (283) heats the refrigerant receiving portion (210) through thermal conduction, the time required to reach the target temperature can be minimized, enabling a quick response according to temperature control.

[0086] As illustrated in Fig. 8, a plurality of temperature control modules (283) are provided along the outer circumference of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) and are symmetrically arranged at the same angle. For example, four temperature control modules (283) are provided along the circumference of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) and are arranged at 90° intervals. The plurality of temperature control modules (283) are collectively controlled by the control portion (40), thereby enabling the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) to be uniformly controlled.

[0087] Since the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is installed in an upside-down state, the liquid refrigerant received during installation is located at the lower side of the housing. Accordingly, a plurality of temperature control modules (283) are arranged at the lower side of the housing adjacent to the discharge portion so as to heat or cool a location adjacent to the discharge portion when the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is installed. In addition, a cover member (284) is arranged on the opposite side of the surface of the temperature control module (283) that comes into contact with the refrigerant receiving portion (210), and the cover member (284) comes into contact with the opposite side to function as a heat sink.

[0088] Figure 9 shows the results of an experiment on the change in cooling performance according to the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion. In Figure 9, when the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) was changed and the refrigerant was sprayed with the same pulse width, the surface temperature before and after the refrigerant spraying was captured using a thermal imaging camera.

[0089] Specifically, the control unit (40) controlled the temperature of the temperature control module (283) to set the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) to 7.0 bar, 7.5 bar, 8.0 bar, 8.2 bar, and 9.0 bar, respectively, and conducted experiments. For example, the respective pressures according to the controlled temperatures of the temperature control module (283) were 7.0 bar at 23°C, 7.5 bar at 26°C, 8.0 bar at 29°C, and 8.2 bar at 30°C. As a result of injecting the refrigerant with the same pulse width of 20 ms at each pressure, it was confirmed that cooling of 40.7°C was achieved at the relatively high pressure of 9.0 bar, compared to cooling of 6.9°C at the relatively low pressure of 7.0 bar. In this way, by controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) using the temperature control module (283), the cooling performance can be controlled without changing the temporal parameters (pulse width, cycle, delay time, etc.) of the cooling pulse.

[0090] Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating the main components related to cooling process control. Below, the cooling process will be described with reference to Figure 10, focusing on each component.

[0091] When a user sets a treatment mode through the setting unit (60), the control unit (40) determines the parameters of the cooling pulse based on the set treatment mode. Specifically, the control unit (40) determines the application timing, pulse width, pulse cycle, number of times, etc. of the cooling pulse according to the set treatment mode, and based on this, controls the ICD valve (270) during treatment to apply the refrigerant to the treatment area in the form of pulses. Then, the control unit (40) determines the required cooling performance according to the set treatment mode and determines the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) corresponding thereto. Then, the temperature control module (283) is controlled to adjust the temperature of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) so that the refrigerant can be discharged at the corresponding pressure.

[0092] For example, if the set treatment mode is a mode that uses relatively strong energy for treatment, the control unit (40) controls the temperature control module (283) to heat the refrigerant receiving portion (210) so that cooling is performed with high cooling performance, and the refrigerant is discharged at a high pressure. In contrast, if the set treatment mode is a mode that uses relatively weak energy for treatment, the control unit (40) sets the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) to be relatively low, so that cooling is performed with relatively low cooling performance, and the refrigerant is discharged at a low pressure.

[0093] Alternatively, if the set treatment mode is a treatment mode that uses a frequency that heats the skin surface relatively (a relatively high range of frequency history, for example, a third range frequency) or has a high ratio of the frequency, the temperature control module (283) is controlled to discharge the refrigerant at a high pressure. In contrast, if the set treatment mode is a treatment mode that uses a frequency that mainly heats a location deeper than the skin surface (a relatively low range of frequency history, for example, a first range frequency) or has a high ratio of the frequency, the temperature control module (283) is controlled to discharge the refrigerant at a relatively low pressure.

[0094] In the above, as an example of a set treatment mode, the intensity and frequency of the treatment energy have been described, but in addition, the control unit (40) determines the required cooling performance by considering various parameters of the set treatment mode, and controls the temperature control module (283) accordingly. Here, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) for adjusting the cooling performance can be controlled within a range of 7 bar or more and less than 10 bar, and it is preferable to control the temperature control module (283) so that the pressure is adjusted within the range.

[0095] When the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion corresponding to the set treatment mode is determined, the control unit (40) monitors the pressure of the cooling passage sensed by the pressure sensor (230) during treatment, and controls so that the determined pressure can be maintained. For example, if the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor (230) during treatment is higher than the determined pressure, the temperature control module (283) is used to cool the refrigerant receiving portion (210), and if the sensed pressure is lower than the determined pressure, the temperature control module (283) is used to control so that the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is heated. In this way, the control unit (40) monitors the cooling performance by the cooling portion (200) during treatment in real time, and performs feedback control.

[0096] Meanwhile, the control unit (40) monitors the temperature of the treatment area using a temperature sensor (142) placed adjacent to the electrode (141) during treatment. If the temperature of the treatment area sensed by the temperature sensor (142) is within an appropriate range, the control unit controls to maintain the determined cooling performance. However, if the temperature of the treatment area is detected to exceed the appropriate range, the control unit (40) controls to improve the cooling performance of the cooling unit (200) to prevent damage to the treatment area. That is, the temperature control module is used to heat the refrigerant receiving unit (210) so that the refrigerant is discharged at a high pressure, and the treatment location is maintained within an appropriate temperature range through temperature monitoring.

[0097] In this way, the control unit (40) controls the cooling process based on the treatment mode set by the setting unit (60), and performs feedback control based on information monitored by the pressure sensor and temperature sensor during the treatment. At this time, if the value sensed by the pressure sensor (230) exceeds the threshold pressure, the refrigerant container (210) or the cooling passage (201) may be damaged, so an operation to terminate the treatment and cooling process in an emergency is performed. Here, the threshold pressure value may be a value in the range of the pressure of the refrigerant container exceeding 10 bar and 15 bar or less. If it is detected that the threshold pressure value is exceeded, the control unit (40) can open the emergency discharge valve (241) so that the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant container (210) is discharged to the emergency discharge passage (240) rather than to the handpiece side.

[0098] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16, the control method and treatment method of the treatment device according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail. However, in describing the control method and treatment method, the contents already described through FIGS. 1 to 9 will be replaced with the preceding description, and in describing each embodiment of the control method, the same contents will be omitted to avoid duplication.

[0099] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating the control method of the treatment device of this embodiment. Prior to treatment, the user sets the treatment mode via the setting unit (60) (S10). The user-set information includes various information such as target location, energy parameters, and treatment time. The setting unit (60) receives the treatment mode information set by the user and transmits it to the control unit (40).

[0100] The control unit (40) determines the cooling performance of the cooling unit (200) based on the treatment mode set through the setting unit (60). The cooling performance may be determined equally throughout the entire treatment process, or may be determined differently for each section depending on the treatment process. As described above, since the cooling performance is determined by the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210), the control unit (40) determines a reference pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit corresponding to the determined cooling performance (S20). Then, the temperature control module (283) is controlled to adjust the temperature of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) so that the refrigerant can be discharged from the refrigerant receiving unit (210) at the corresponding pressure. In this way, the control unit (40) determines the cooling performance of the cooling unit (200) based on the treatment mode set in the setting unit, and this cooling performance adjustment can be performed by controlling the temperature of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) using the temperature control module (283).

[0101] Meanwhile, as the user initiates treatment, the control unit (40) controls the RF generator (50) to apply RF energy through the electrode (141) of the handpiece (S30). The applied RF energy is transmitted to the skin surface at the treatment location through the electrode (141), thereby performing treatment.

[0102] As the treatment progresses, the control unit (40) controls the cooling unit (200) to cool the treatment site to prevent the treatment site from overheating. Cooling of the treatment site is achieved by the control unit (40) controlling the opening and closing of the ICD valve (270), whereby the refrigerant is sprayed onto the treatment site in a preset pulse pattern.

[0103] However, although Fig. 11 illustrates that the step of applying RF energy and the step of cooling the treatment location are performed sequentially as separate steps, it should be noted that the order can be changed or performed in parallel so that cooling of the treatment location is performed before, during, or after applying RF energy.

[0104] Figure 12 is a flowchart detailing a treatment site cooling step according to one embodiment. As described above, the control unit (40) monitors the pressure value sensed from the pressure sensor (230) of the cooling channel during the cooling process, and based on this, performs real-time feedback control of the cooling performance.

[0105] As illustrated in FIG. 12, when refrigerant injection into the treatment location is initiated (S410), the pressure sensor (230) on the cooling channel measures the pressure of the cooling channel in real time (S421). The control unit (40) monitors the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor (230) in real time and compares the sensed pressure value with a reference pressure value set based on the treatment mode (S431). At this time, if the sensed pressure value is determined to be outside the reference pressure value or reference pressure range, the temperature control module (283) is controlled to adjust the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210). For example, if the sensed pressure value is lower than the reference pressure, the temperature control module (283) is used to heat the refrigerant receiving portion (210), and if it is higher than the reference pressure, the temperature control module (283) is used to cool the refrigerant receiving portion (210). By this feedback control, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210), i.e., the pressure of the cooling passage, is maintained at the set reference pressure while the cooling process is in progress, thereby maintaining the cooling performance (S460).

[0106] Fig. 13 is a graph illustrating an example of cooling performance control according to another embodiment, and Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating in detail the cooling step of the treatment location according to Fig. 13. As illustrated in Fig. 13, an RF energy pulse is applied to the treatment location through an electrode (141), and a cooling pulse can be controlled to be applied subsequently to prevent skin overheating resulting therefrom. In addition, a temperature sensor (142) positioned adjacent to the electrode (141) monitors the temperature of the treatment location in real time during the treatment.

[0107] At this time, if the temperature of the sensed treatment location rises beyond the appropriate range, cooling performance needs to be improved to prevent skin damage. Therefore, the control unit can detect this and improve cooling performance. Here, the control unit (40) increases the pressure of the coolant reservoir (210) to increase the amount of coolant injected in each pulse, thereby enabling cooling performance control without changing the temporal parameters of the cooling pulse.

[0108] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 14, when the cooling process is initiated, the control unit injects a refrigerant pulse into the treatment location (S410). While the treatment is in progress, the temperature sensor (142) of the electrode measures the temperature of the treatment location in real time (S422). The control unit (40) compares the appropriate temperature range of the treatment area with the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (S432), and, if the measured temperature rises above the appropriate temperature range, as in section A of FIG. 13, performs control to improve the cooling performance. This control is performed by heating the refrigerant receiving portion (210) using the temperature control module (283) (S440), thereby increasing the pressure in the refrigerant receiving portion and improving the cooling performance.

[0109] And, the temperature of the treatment location is continuously monitored, and when the treatment location maintains an appropriate temperature, the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) is controlled to be maintained (S460).

[0110] Figure 15 is a flowchart detailing a treatment site cooling step according to one embodiment. As described above, the control unit monitors the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor (230) of the cooling channel during the cooling process, and performs control to discharge the refrigerant in an emergency if an abnormality occurs in the cooling channel.

[0111] As illustrated in FIG. 15, when refrigerant injection into the treatment location is initiated (S410), the pressure sensor on the cooling passage measures the pressure of the cooling passage in real time (S421). The control unit (40) monitors the pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor (230) in real time and compares the sensed pressure value with a threshold pressure value (S433). Then, if it is determined that the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion exceeds the threshold pressure value, the emergency discharge valve (241) is opened, thereby discharging the refrigerant in the refrigerant receiving portion to the non-recovery discharge passage (240) (S451). Then, the temperature control module (283) is controlled to cool the refrigerant receiving portion (210) (S452). However, in the present embodiment, the above-described emergency discharge operation is described as being performed during the cooling process, but it is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to perform the emergency discharge operation by monitoring the pressure of the cooling passage in a state where the cooling process is not in progress.

[0112] Above, in Figures 12 to 15, during the treatment site cooling stage, feedback control based on pressure sensor monitoring, feedback control based on temperature sensor monitoring, and emergency discharge control based on pressure sensor monitoring are described in separate drawings. Each control can be performed as a separate embodiment, but two or more of these controls can also be combined.

[0113] Fig. 16 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a cooling step of a treatment location according to one embodiment. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 16, when a cooling process is initiated by refrigerant injection (S410), the control unit (40) monitors the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit (210) and the temperature of the treatment location in real time through the pressure sensor (230) and the temperature sensor (142) (S420), and based on this, performs feedback control for maintaining a set reference pressure (S431) and feedback control for maintaining the temperature of the treatment location within an appropriate range (S432) by controlling the temperature control module (S440).

[0114] In addition, by performing critical pressure monitoring (S433), if it is detected that the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) exceeds the critical pressure, the non-renewable exhaust path is opened (S451) and the refrigerant receiving portion is controlled to be cooled using the temperature control module (S452).

[0115] On the other hand, if the monitoring results show that the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) is maintained at a normal reference pressure and the temperature of the treatment location is also maintained at an appropriate temperature, the cooling process is performed while maintaining the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion (210) (S460).

[0116] In this way, the present invention allows for cooling performance control by adjusting the pressure of the refrigerant reservoir, thereby maintaining the temporal parameters of the therapeutic energy pulse and cooling pulse while maintaining the cooling performance. Furthermore, by controlling the cooling performance by controlling the temperature control module capable of heating and cooling the refrigerant reservoir, it offers the advantages of easy control and real-time control.

[0117] Although the embodiments described above focus on a treatment device that transmits RF energy to treat skin tissue, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to treatment devices that utilize various energy sources such as light energy and ultrasonic energy. In addition, although the embodiments described above focus on a treatment field using a monopolar type electrode, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to a treatment field using a bipolar type electrode. In addition, the above-described content may be applied to a field that utilizes RF energy to treat skin tissues of various areas such as the face, neck, abdomen, and thighs.

[0118] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It should be understood that those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the technical features defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A handpiece that delivers energy for treatment to the treatment location; A cooling unit that cools the treatment location using refrigerant stored in a refrigerant container; and; A treatment device including a control unit that controls the cooling performance of the cooling unit by controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit.

2. In paragraph 1, A treatment device in which, when the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is adjusted to increase, the cooling portion cools the treatment position with a relatively high cooling performance, and when the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is adjusted to decrease, the cooling portion cools the treatment position with a relatively low cooling performance.

3. In paragraph 1, A treatment device in which the control unit controls the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit based on the intensity of energy transmitted to the treatment location.

4. In paragraph 1, It further includes a setting section for the user to set the treatment mode, The above control unit is a treatment device that controls the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit based on the above set treatment mode.

5. In paragraph 4, When a treatment mode in which treatment is performed with relatively high energy is set through the above setting unit, the control unit controls the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively high pressure, A treatment device in which a treatment mode in which treatment is performed with relatively low energy is set, and the control unit controls the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively low pressure.

6. In paragraph 4, The above control unit is a treatment device that controls the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit based on the frequency characteristics of the above-set treatment mode.

7. In paragraph 6, When a treatment mode using RF energy of a relatively high frequency is set through the above setting unit, the control unit controls the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively high pressure, A treatment device in which the control unit controls the refrigerant receiving unit to maintain a relatively low pressure when a treatment mode using RF energy of a relatively low frequency is set.

8. In paragraph 1, It further includes a temperature control module that is provided adjacent to the refrigerant receiving portion and controls the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion. A treatment device in which the control unit controls the temperature control module to control the pressure of the refrigerant receiving unit.

9. In paragraph 8, The above cooling unit further includes a pressure sensor provided on the cooling channel through which the refrigerant is delivered to measure the pressure of the channel, The above control unit is a treatment device that controls the operation of the temperature control module based on the value sensed by the pressure sensor.

10. In paragraph 9, A treatment device comprising a thermoelectric element configured to heat and cool the refrigerant receiving portion so as to increase or decrease the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion based on a value sensed by the pressure sensor.

11. In paragraph 8, The above handpiece further includes a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the treatment location during treatment, The above control unit is a treatment device that controls the operation of the temperature control module based on the value sensed by the temperature sensor.

12. In paragraph 8, A treatment device in which the temperature control module is provided to be thermally conductively coupled to the outside of the refrigerant receiving portion.

13. In paragraph 12, The above temperature control module is a treatment device provided at a location adjacent to the discharge port of the refrigerant receiving portion.

14. In paragraph 8, A treatment device in which the control unit controls the refrigerant in the refrigerant receiving unit to be discharged through an emergency discharge path when the pressure in the refrigerant receiving unit exceeds a critical pressure, and the temperature control module controls the refrigerant receiving unit to be cooled.

15. In paragraph 14, A treatment device characterized in that the above critical pressure is a value in the range of 10 bar to 20 bar.

16. A step of controlling the application of energy to the treatment location through the handpiece; A step of delivering the refrigerant contained in the refrigerant receiving portion to the treatment location to cool the treatment location; and A method for controlling a treatment device, comprising: a step of controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion to control the cooling performance for cooling a treatment location; 17. In paragraph 16, Further comprising a step of receiving treatment mode information set by the user, A method for controlling a treatment device in which the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is controlled so that the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is maintained at a pressure determined based on the set treatment mode.

18. In paragraph 16, A method for controlling a treatment device in which the step of controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion is performed by operating a temperature control module provided adjacent to the refrigerant receiving portion and controlling the temperature of the refrigerant receiving portion.

19. A step of applying energy to the treatment location through a handpiece; and A step of cooling the treatment location using the refrigerant contained in the refrigerant receiving portion, A treatment method characterized in that the step of cooling the above treatment location is characterized in that the cooling performance is controlled by controlling the pressure of the refrigerant receiving portion.

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