RF Electrode Subarray Control for Lower-Pain Skin Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
RF electrode arrays cause significant pain due to large instantaneous action areas and prolonged overall treatment times, especially in minimally invasive and noninvasive treatments.
Innovation Solution
A controller for RF electrode arrays that divides the electrodes into subarrays, controlling them to output RF energy sequentially with overlapping periods, reducing the treatment area per step and overall time through time-sharing treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the RF electrode array delivers RF energy to the entire treatment area simultaneously, then the treatment coverage is maximized, but the instantaneous action area becomes large causing strong pain sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The RF electrode array is divided into multiple subarrays that can be controlled independently. The controller activates subarrays sequentially rather than simultaneously, so that at any given moment only a portion of the treatment area receives RF energy. This segmentation reduces the instantaneous action area and corresponding pain sensation while maintaining comprehensive treatment coverage through sequential activation of all subarrays.
2Productivity
If the RF electrode array treats the entire area at once, then the treatment efficiency per step is high, but the overall treatment time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic sequential activation of RF electrode subarrays, where each subarray is activated in turn according to a predetermined sequence. This periodic action allows the treatment to progress through multiple cycles, with each cycle treating a different portion of the area. The overlapping period between sequential subarray activations ensures continuous treatment progression, reducing overall treatment time while maintaining efficiency.
3Power
If the RF electrode array uses high power to achieve desired treatment effect, then the treatment effect is enhanced, but the pain sensation and overall treatment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the electrode array into multiple subarrays and activating them sequentially, the system can deliver RF energy to smaller areas at any given moment. This allows the use of higher power levels for each subarray without proportionally increasing overall pain sensation, since the instantaneous action area is reduced. The controller manages power delivery across subarrays to achieve desired treatment effects while minimizing pain.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces pain and overall treatment time by minimizing the treated area per step and ensuring continuous energy delivery without gaps, thereby enhancing user comfort and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode array delivers RF energy inside the skin
Implementation Method 2
the whole the array of RF microneedles are simultaneously provided a preset voltage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a controller for controlling a radio frequency (RF) electrode array and an RF treatment equipment, which relate to the field of cosmetic medicine. The controller for controlling RF electrode array is applied to the RF treatment equipment, which includes an RF electrode array, and the RF electrode array includes a plurality of RF electrode subarrays. The controller includes: a subarray determination module, which is used to generate a target sequence according to the RF electrode array, and the target sequence includes at least one Nth subarray and one (N+n)th subarray activated in sequential timings, and N and n are both positive integers; and a control module, configured to control each of the RF electrode subarrays in the target sequence to output RF energy, the Nth subarray and the (N+n)th subarray are controlled to output RF energy sequentially in an overlapping period.