Sequential Multi-Applicator RF Tissue Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for treating body areas with fat deposits, cellulite, or loose skin using energy applicators face challenges in efficiently managing multiple applicators to reduce treatment time and patient discomfort while avoiding overheating, and there is a need for a user-friendly method to organize and store these applicators to prevent tangled cables.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising multiple energy sources and a switching circuit that sequentially energizes multiple applicators using a predetermined pattern to maintain fat tissue temperature within a therapeutic range, with temperature control modules to regulate energy delivery and prevent overheating, and a handpiece cradle for organizing applicators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple applicators are used to treat multiple target body subareas simultaneously, then treatment efficiency is improved and total treatment time is reduced, but system complexity and cable management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the treatment process into sequential phases where different subsets of applicators are activated at different times. The controller manages multiple applicators by segmenting their operation into interleaved time intervals, allowing simultaneous treatment of multiple body subareas while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured control sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If energy is applied continuously to all target subareas, then treatment efficiency is maximized, but patient discomfort and risk of overheating increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies energy in periodic interleaved sequences rather than continuous delivery. Each applicator receives energy in alternating time intervals with other applicators, creating a periodic pattern that maintains treatment efficiency while allowing thermal diffusion during off-periods, thereby reducing patient discomfort and overheating risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

While individual applicators operate intermittently, the system maintains continuous useful action by ensuring that at least one applicator is always delivering energy to some target subarea. This continuous coverage preserves treatment efficiency while the interleaved timing prevents any single area from receiving excessive energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Area of stationary object

If the number of applicators is increased to treat larger body areas, then treatment coverage is improved, but cable tangling and organization difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverageVSAvoidcable management

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the functions of multiple applicators into a single coordinated system managed by one controller. By combining control and using a centralized handpiece cradle to organize all applicators and their cables at one location, the system achieves large treatment coverage while simplifying cable management through unified organization rather than separate management of each applicator.

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

This approach allows for simultaneous treatment of multiple body areas, reducing total treatment time and patient discomfort, while maintaining effective temperature control and preventing cable tangling, thus enhancing treatment efficiency and comfort.

Implementation Method 1

The treatment energy is applied to the patient with an applicator that contacts the patient's skin, which heats the skin and underlying tissue, such as fat in the target area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

each applicator may be coupled to a body temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the target body subarea treated by the applicator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentUS20200237424A1System and methods for controlling activation of multiple applicators for tissue treatment

Publication Date: 2020.07.30 CUTERA

AI summary

Systems and methods for applying energy to treat body areas having fat deposits are disclosed in which treatment energy is applied to a patient with a plurality of energy applicators each in contact with a target body subarea of the patient's skin, thereby heating the skin and underlying tissue, including fat. The temperature of fat tissue of each target body subarea may be sensed, and the application of energy to the corresponding energy applicator may be terminated if the temperature exceeds a maximum temperature for the subarea, which may be individually defined by a system user.