Skin treatment apparatus using high-intensity focused ultrasound, control method thereof, and skin treatment method using the same

A control method of a skin treatment apparatus using high-intensity focused ultrasound, the control method comprising:

• transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy to at least one electrode provided in a tip of a cartridge of a handpiece;
• and
• transmitting energy to a transducer provided in the cartridge to generate ultrasound,
• wherein the transmitting the RF energy is performed without performing the transmitting energy to generate the ultrasound until a temperature of a treatment area reaches a first temperature that is below a temperature at which tissue denaturation occurs, and,
• wherein, after the transmitting the RF energy has been complete, the transmitting the energy to generate the ultrasound is performed without transmitting the RF energy until the temperature of the treatment area increases to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and the second temperature comprises a temperature at which coagulation occurs in the treatment area,
• wherein the skin treatment apparatus comprises:
• the handpiece;
• the cartridge provided at an end portion of the handpiece and facing toward a first side;
• and
• a cartridge mounting unit configured to couple the cartridge to the handpiece,
• wherein the cartridge comprises:
• the transducer configured to generate ultrasound to be focused in a treatment area through a tip of the cartridge;
• and
• the at least one electrode provided in the tip and configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) energy to the treatment area,
• wherein the at least one electrode is configured to heat the treatment area at a first temperature to improve an efficiency of transmitting the ultrasound,
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to transmit the RF energy to the at least one electrode without transmitting the ultrasound to be focused in the treatment area until a temperature of the treatment area reaches the first temperature, and the first temperature is below a temperature at which tissue denaturation occurs,
• wherein the controller is further configured to, after the transmitting the RF energy has been complete, transmit the ultrasound to the treatment area without transmitting the RF energy until the temperature of the treatment area increases to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and the second temperature comprises a temperature at which coagulation occurs in the treatment area,
• wherein the cartridge mounting unit includes a first magnet and the cartridge further comprises a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet are magnetically coupled to each other to make the transducer reciprocate in a specific direction, and the first magnet and the second magnet are spaced apart from each other by a separation film that prevents liquid leakage,
• wherein the cartridge mounting unit further includes a mounting-unit housing, a first shaft, a guide unit, and a holding magnet,
• wherein the first shaft has opposite ends connected to the mounting-unit housing, the guide unit is configured to reciprocate on the first shaft in the specific direction, the first magnet is provided in a lower portion of the guide unit, and the holding magnet is provided in an upper portion of the guide unit,
• wherein the cartridge further comprises a cartridge housing, a second shaft, and a transducer holder, and
• wherein the second shaft is disposed in the cartridge housing, and the transducer holder is configured to move on the second shaft in the specific direction and is provided with the second magnet.