Segmented Electrode RF Body Contouring Device Edge Effect Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing use of radio frequency (RF) energy in body contouring often results in unintended tissue damage due to overheating caused by the edge effect when electrodes are heated, leading to increased pain and reduced treatment effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A body contouring device with divided electrodes and a cooling system that intensively cools the electrodes where the edge effect occurs, minimizing tissue damage and pain by uniformly distributing RF energy and adjusting cooling parameters based on energy frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If RF energy is applied through electrodes for body contouring, then tissue heating and fat cell destruction are achieved, but tissue damage occurs due to edge effect overheating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue safetyVSAvoidedge effect damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is divided into multiple segments (first electrode, second electrode, third electrode, fourth electrode) arranged in a specific pattern. This segmentation distributes the current flow paths, preventing excessive current concentration at single edge points and reducing the edge effect that causes tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the electrode structure are designed with different properties - the electrode segments have specific spacing and arrangements optimized for uniform energy distribution, while cooling elements are strategically positioned at edge regions where overheating occurs to provide localized thermal management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If RF energy is concentrated at electrode edges to maximize treatment effect, then energy efficiency increases, but tissue damage and patient pain increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpatient pain

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented electrode design creates multiple controlled current paths that distribute heating more uniformly across the treatment area. This maintains effective treatment zones while avoiding excessive temperature concentration that causes pain and damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cooling elements act as intermediary components between the RF energy source and the tissue. These elements are positioned to provide controlled cooling at specific locations, allowing the system to maintain effective heating where needed while preventing overheating that causes patient pain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a cooling system is added to prevent edge effect damage, then tissue safety improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue protectionVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling function is integrated with the electrode structure itself, combining the heating and cooling functions into a unified device. This merging approach provides tissue protection without requiring entirely separate cooling systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Prevents tissue damage from the edge effect, reduces patient pain, and maximizes treatment effectiveness by ensuring uniform energy distribution and controlled cooling during RF energy transfer.

Implementation Method 1

a cooler configured to intensively cool the electrode where the edge effect occurs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

radio frequency (RF) energy has been widely used for the purpose of removing or excising tissue in such a way that the tissue is heated by the RF energy locally transferred thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20220314015A1Body contouring device using RF energy, control method thereof and body contouring method using the same

Publication Date: 2022.10.06 LUTRONIC

AI summary

Disclosed are a body contouring device using RF energy, a control method thereof, and a body contouring method using the same, in which a surface of tissue overheated due to the edge effect is selectively cooled while the tissue is heated with the RF energy transferred thereto, thereby having a uniform treatment effect on a treatment area, reducing pain, and preventing the tissue from being damaged.