# US 8,906,009 B2 · Tissue treatment apparatus with functional mechanical stimulation and methods for reducing pain during tissue treatments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,906,009 B2 - Document ID: US8906009B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/941,077 - Filed: 2013-07-12 - Published: 2013-11-14 - Granted: 2014-12-09 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-12 - Assignees: Solta Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Solta Medical, Inc - Inventors: Dragan D. Nebrigic; Herb Lara; Richard Hatch; Igor Leonidovich Tchertkov; Kai Nakamura; Laura England; Marlo Cinco - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8906009B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/18: by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves - A61B 18/1815: {using microwaves} - A61H 23/0263: {using rotating unbalanced masses} - A61H 2201/0207: heated - A61H 2201/0214: cooled - A61H 2201/10: with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy - A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled - A61H 2201/5041: control is restricted to certain individuals - A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors - A61H 2201/5082: Temperature sensors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract Apparatus and methods for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue with a reduction in the pain experienced by the patient. The tissue treatment apparatus includes a delivery device configured to transfer electromagnetic energy through the skin surface to a region of tissue and 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a tissue treatment apparatus to treat a region of tissue located beneath a skin surface with electromagnetic energy, the tissue treatment apparatus including a handpiece that is handheld, a treatment tip from which the electromagnetic energy is delivered, a carriage inside the handpiece and to which the treatment tip is attached, and a frame inside the handpiece and coupled with the carriage, the method comprising: delivering the electromagnetic energy from the treatment tip through the skin surface to the region of tissue; and delivering the electromagnetic energy, moving the carriage and the treatment tip linearly relative to the frame as constrained by a connection between a first coupling element on the frame and a second coupling element on the carriage so as to transfer mechanical vibrations through the skin surface and into the region of tissue by contact between a portion of the treatment tip and the skin surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical vibrations are transferred through the skin surface and into the region of tissue with a frequency between 20 Hz and 100 Hz. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein moving the treatment tip relative to the skin surface further comprises: operating a solenoid to move the carriage and the treatment tip in a direction primarily perpendicular to the skin surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the solenoid is configured to power movement of the treatment tip at a power between 2 watts and 12 watts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the solenoid is configured to move the treatment tip at a frequency between 20 Hz and 100 Hz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: dampening transfer of the mechanical vibrations to a portion of the tissue treatment apparatus that is handheld while transferring the mechanical vibrations to the region of tissue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy is delivered in a pulse over a time period, and transferring the mechanical vibrations comprises: increasing a vibration power or a vibration frequency of the mechanical vibrations with increasing time during the time period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the vibration power or the vibration frequency is increased upwardly through a plurality of vibration levels having increasing vibration amplitude. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the vibration power or the vibration frequency is constant over an interval comprising each vibration level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the vibration power or the vibration frequency is ramped upwardly at a given rate over at least a portion of the time period. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the mechanical vibrations are initiated subsequent to an initiation of the pulse of the electromagnetic energy. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical vibrations are transferred through the skin surface and into the region of tissue after the delivery of the electromagnetic energy is discontinued. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue treatment apparatus includes a vibration device that generates the mechanical vibrations, a blower, and a housing in which the vibration device and the blower are located, and comprising: directing a forced air flow from the blower over the vibration device in order to cool the vibration device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy is delivered in the radio-frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum. ### Claim 15 A method of operating a tissue treatment apparatus to treat a region of tissue located beneath a skin surface with electromagnetic energy, the tissue treatment apparatus including a handpiece that is handheld, a treatment tip from which the electromagnetic energy is delivered, and a carriage inside the handpiece and coupled with the treatment tip, the method comprising: delivering the electromagnetic energy from the treatment tip through the skin surface to the region of tissue; contacting a cam surface on the carriage with a profiled surface on a rotating cam element; and permitting the carriage to bidirectionally pivot in opposite rotational senses about a pivot axis as the profiled surface on the cam element rides in contact with the cam surface on the carriage to oscillate the carriage and the treatment tip in a direction primarily transverse to the skin surface so that mechanical vibrations are transferred through the skin surface and into the region of tissue by contact between a portion of the treatment tip and the skin surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: dampening transfer of the mechanical vibrations to a portion of the tissue treatment apparatus that is handheld while transferring the mechanical vibrations to the region of tissue. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a tissue treatment apparatus to treat a region of tissue located beneath a skin surface with electromagnetic energy, the tissue treatment apparatus including a handpiece with a housing that is handheld, a treatment tip from which the electromagnetic energy is delivered, and a carriage inside the housing of the handpiece and coupled with the treatment tip, the method comprising: delivering the electromagnetic energy from the treatment tip through the skin surface to the region of tissue; rotating an eccentric mass about an axis of rotation as a counterweight effective to vibrate the carriage and the treatment tip in a direction transverse to a surface normal of the skin surface so that mechanical vibrations are transferred through the skin surface and into the region of tissue by contact between a portion of the treatment tip and the skin surface; and dampening transfer of the mechanical vibrations with vibration dampers suspending the carriage from the housing while transferring the mechanical vibrations to the region of tissue.