RF treatment apparatus, method of controlling RF treatment apparatus and skin treatment method using RF energy

A method of controlling an RF treatment apparatus, comprising steps of:

• positioning an electrode in a target tissue;
• applying RF energy;
• calculating a rate of change of impedance of the target tissue by sensing the RF energy and determining whether the target tissue has reached a treatment temperature based on the rate of change of impedance of the target tissue;
• and
• controlling the RF energy in a coagulation mode of treatment or in an ablation prevention mode of treatment,
• wherein, in the coagulation mode, a change in impedance is monitored and the RF energy is controlled based on the change in impedance to maintain impedance of the tissue at a specific level, and
• wherein, in the ablation prevention mode, the RF energy is controlled based on the rate of change of impedance to prevent a sudden rise in the rate of change of impedance.

A skin treatment method using RF energy, comprising steps of:

• positioning an electrode in a tissue;
• heating the tissue to a treatment temperature by applying RF energy to the electrode;
• measuring the RF energy applied to the tissue;
• calculating a rate of change of impedance of the tissue to which the RF energy is applied;
• comparing a parameter and a predetermined range to determine whether the parameter has reached in the predetermined range, the parameter being determined based on the rate of change of impedance between a current time and a predetermined time before the current time;
• and
• controlling power of the RF energy in a coagulation mode of treatment or in an ablation prevention mode of treatment,
• wherein, in the coagulation mode, a change in impedance is monitored and the RF energy is controlled based on the change in impedance to maintain impedance of the tissue at a specific level, and
• wherein, in the ablation prevention mode, the RF energy is controlled based on the rate of change of impedance to prevent a sudden rise in the rate of change of impedance.