Vibration Device for Uniform Electromagnetic Tissue Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high frequency tissue treatment devices cause patient discomfort due to non-uniform energy delivery, leading to hot spot thermal zones and increased pain, as the energy density is highest near the peripheral edge of the electrode, necessitating a reduction in treatment settings to alleviate discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A tissue treatment apparatus with a vibration device mechanically coupled to the delivery device, oscillating or vibrating the treatment tip along an axis normal to the skin surface to distribute heat evenly and reduce pain perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high frequency energy is delivered to treat tissue, then therapeutic heating effect is achieved, but non-uniform energy distribution causes hot spot thermal zones and patient pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the treatment tip at frequencies between 50-200 Hz to physically agitate and distribute the electromagnetic energy more uniformly across the treatment area. This vibration prevents concentration of energy at the peripheral edges where hot spots normally form, thereby reducing thermal discomfort and patient pain while maintaining therapeutic heating effects in the target tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment tip is transformed from a static contact surface to a dynamically vibrating one. By introducing controlled mechanical oscillations during energy delivery, the system creates time-varying contact pressure and energy distribution patterns that prevent localized overheating and promote more uniform thermal fields in the treated tissue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If treatment settings are reduced to alleviate patient discomfort, then patient pain is minimized, but energy delivery effectiveness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mechanism allows the system to maintain higher power settings for effective tissue treatment while simultaneously preventing the formation of painful hot spots. The mechanical agitation redistributes the electromagnetic energy in real-time, enabling clinicians to deliver therapeutic doses without compromising patient comfort or treatment efficacy.
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
The vibration device effectively reduces patient discomfort by averaging heat application across the treatment area, mitigating hot spot thermal zones and enhancing therapeutic outcomes by improving energy distribution and pain management during treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration device mechanically coupled with the delivery device. The vibration device is configured to transfer mechanical vibrations through the skin surface to the region of tissue
Implementation Method 2
The high frequency energy heats the tissue at depths beneath the cooled region to a therapeutic temperature sufficient to denature the collagen, which causes the collagen fibers in the dermis to shrink and contract
Implementation Method 3
actively cooling the epidermis to prevent thermal damage to a depth of the skin tissue near the skin surface
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue and reducing pain experienced by the patient during treatment of the patient's tissue with the delivered electromagnetic energy. The tissue treatment apparatus includes a delivery device configured to transfer the electromagnetic energy through the skin surface to a region of tissue, and also includes a vibration device that is mechanically coupled with the delivery device. The vibration device is configured to transfer mechanical vibrations along an axis substantially normal to the skin surface to the region of tissue being treated.