# US 10,245,440 B2 · Tissue treatment apparatus and systems with pain mitigation and methods for mitigating pain during tissue treatments

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- Number: US 10,245,440 B2
- Document ID: US10245440B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/339,667
- Filed: 2014-07-24
- Published: 2014-11-13
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2009-01-09
- Assignees: Solta Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Solta Medical, Inc
- Inventors: Dragan D. Nebrigic; Thomas Markiewicz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245440B2

## CPC

- A61N 5/00: Radiation therapy (ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00)
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61N 1/403: {for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia}
- A61B 2018/00011: {with fluids}
- A61B 2018/00452: {Skin}
- A61B 2018/1467: {using more than two electrodes on a single probe}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue with a reduction in the pain experienced by the patient. Electromagnetic energy is delivered from a treatment electrode through the skin surface to the tissue at a plurality of power levels over a treatment time. During the energy delivery, a portion of the treatment electrode is in a contacting relationship with the skin surface. A tip frame may be disposed between the treatment electrode and the skin surface when the electromagnetic energy is delivered.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a tissue treatment apparatus to transcutaneously treat tissue located beneath a skin surface with electromagnetic energy delivered from a treatment electrode, the method comprising:
contacting a first portion of a surface of the treatment electrode with the skin surface, wherein the first portion of the surface of the treatment electrode is exposed through an opening located inside an inner edge of a tip frame;
covering a second portion of the surface of the treatment electrode with the tip frame, wherein the second portion of the surface of the treatment electrode is located between an outer peripheral edge of the tip frame and the inner edge of the opening in the tip frame; and
while maintaining contact between the first portion of the surface of the treatment electrode and the skin surface, transcutaneously delivering the electromagnetic energy from the first portion of the surface of the treatment electrode through the skin surface to the tissue,
wherein the tip frame is composed of an electrically-insulating material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy is delivered from the treatment electrode through the skin surface to the tissue at a plurality of different energy levels.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment electrode is supported by a housing, and covering the second portion of the treatment electrode about the perimeter surrounding the opening with the tip frame comprises:
covering a gap between an outer peripheral edge of the treatment electrode and a rim of the housing with the tip frame.