Patentamt
`European
`
`Patent Office Office européen
`
`mht
`eer
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`"
`
`(12)
`
`HMMMI|WAM
` EP2564894B1
`
`a1)
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION
`
`(45) Date of publication and mention
`of the grant of the patent:
`18.11.2015 Bulletin 2015/47
`
`(21) Application number: 12183158.0
`
`(22) Date offiling: 05.09.2012
`
`(51)
`
`Int CL:
`AGIN 1/32 (2006.01)
`AG1N 2/00 (2008.01)
`A61N 2/02 (2006.01)
`
`AGIN 11/40 (2006.01)
`A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
`AGIN 7/02 (2006.01)
`
`(54) A device for cosmetic improvement of the skin
`Asthetische Vorrichtung
`
`Dispositif esthétique
`
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`« Ron Edoute, Orit
`AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FRGB
`69643 Tel Aviv (IL)
`GR HR HU IE IS IT LILT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
`
`PL PT RORS SE SISK SMTR
`
`(30) Priority: 05.09.2011 US 201161531029 P
`
`(43) Date of publication of application:
`06.03.2013 Bulletin 2013/10
`
`(73) Proprietor: Venus Concept Ltd
`21652 Karmiel (IL)
`
`Inventors:
`(72)
`* Ron Edoute, Oded
`69643 Tel Aviv(IL)
`
`(74) Representative: Caspary, Karsten
`Kroher-Strobel
`
`Rechts- und Patentanwalte PartmbB
`Bavariaring 20
`80336 Miinchen (DE)
`
`(56) Referencescited:
`WO-A1-03/079916
`US-A1- 2004 267 252
`US-B1- 6 500 141
`
`WO-A2-2010/007614
`US-A1- 2007 239 075
`
`EP2564894B1
`
`
`
`Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
`Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
`Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
`paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`

`

`{
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`EP 2 564 894 B1
`
`2
`
`Description
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to means for
`[0001]
`providing cosmetic improvementto the skin. Itspecifically
`relates to means for providing cosmetic improvement to
`the skin that combine pulsed electromagnetic fields, dia-
`thermy, acoustic waves, vacuum, pressure applying
`means and pulsedelectrical currents.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Improving the appearanceofthe skin has been
`[0002]
`the goal of many esthetic products and procedures for
`many years, since a tight skin, without wrinkles or cellu-
`lite, has a younger and more appealing appearance.
`Apart from age related changes, the skin also suffers
`from exposure to chemical and physical injuries, such as
`tobacco, cosmetics, esthetics and radiation from the sun
`and other sources. Those factors contribute to the de-
`
`crease in collagen production, to reduced elasticity, and
`the appearanceof wrinkles.
`[0003]
`It is widely known that as the muscle deterio-
`rates through the aging process, the attached skin loses
`it elasticity, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle. Strength-
`ening relevant muscle groups restores and maintains the
`original shape and contour of the muscles. As the mus-
`cles get stronger, they get shorter and flatter, causing
`the attached skin to become firmer and smoothing wrin-
`kles, thus improving the overallappearance. Additionally,
`since the blood supply to a contracting muscle is 10 times
`greater than of a muscle at rest, the additional supply of
`blood to the muscles being strengthened delivers vital
`oxygen and nutrients to the skin, revitalizing the tissue.
`[0004] A few main approachesto tightening of the skin
`are common practice today. The surgical approach car-
`ries disadvantagesrelated to the anesthesia, the surgical
`complications, and the healing process, which may
`cause scars. The chemical peel approach usually in-
`volvesinjury to the outermostlayer of the skin - the epi-
`dermis - which may causediscoloration. Since collagen
`fibers are found in the dermis - the subcutaneous layer
`of the skin, and since heat was shown to contract these
`fibers and generate their production [Zelickson BD, Kist
`D, Bernstein E, Brown DB, Ksenzenko S, Bums J, Kilmer
`S, Mehregan D, Pope K. Histological and ultrastructural
`evaluation of the effects of a radiofrequency-based non-
`ablative dermal remodeling device: a pilot study. Arch
`Dermatol. 2004 Feb;140(2):204-9], methods ofdifferen-
`tially heating the dermis (deep tissue diathermy) have
`recently arisen.
`[0005] Aunique method of treating the dermis is called
`Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) therapy. This
`method usually employs electromagnetic radiation of dif-
`ferent frequencies - ranging from static magnetic fields,
`through extremely low frequencies (ELF) to higher radi-
`ofrequencies (RF) - administered in pulses.
`
`PCT Pat. Appl. No. PCT/IL2009/000644, pub-
`[0006]
`lished as document WO2010/007614, (henceforth 644),
`for example, discloses a device that uses a combination
`of pulses of electromagnetic energy, heating (diathermy),
`and electric current to improve the cosmetic appearance
`of the skin. In contrast to other devices known in the art,
`the device disclosed in ’644 relies on application of elec-
`trical currents of ~1 mA and voltages > 4 V in addition to
`heat and pulsed electromagnetic fields. It was found that
`these conditions provide better results than those pro-
`vided by other devices knownin the art.
`[0007] Other methods known to have therapeutic ef-
`fect is the use of ultrasound. Despite the advances made
`by the above, a need remains for a device that can pro-
`vide cosmetic improvement to the skin in a moreefficient,
`effective and long-lasting manner.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] The present invention is designed to meetthis
`long-felt need. In particular,
`it discloses a device com-
`prises a synergistic combination of skin treatments in-
`cluding acoustic, pulsed magnetic fields, and tissue dia-
`thermy.
`[0009] The housing of the device is designed to be par-
`tially evacuated such that the skin is elevated into the
`housing, increasing the contact between the skin and the
`treatment probes.
`[0010]
`The invention is defined by the device of inde-
`pendentclaim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined by
`the dependent claims. Any disclosed methods using the
`device of the invention are merely exemplary.
`[0011]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said hous-
`ing containing at least one port 400 through which air can
`enter and exit.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0012]
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising at least one probe 200 made ofan electrically and
`magnetically conductive material capable of transferring
`energy to the skin, said at least one probe attached to a
`surface of said housing such that when said deviceis in
`use, said probe is in physical contact with said skin.
`[0013]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said energy
`is heat being transferred to the skin;
`[0014]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said acous-
`tic transducer 300 is made of a metallic material.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0015]
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising at least one second coil 210 wrapped around at
`least a portion of said at least one probe.
`[0016]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising at least one second coil 210 being positioned with-
`in said probe.
`[0017]
`It is another object of the present invention to
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`EP 2 564 894 B1
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`provide the device as defined above, wherein said atleast
`one first coil 310 wrapped around said at least a portion
`of said at least one probe.
`[0018]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said atleast
`one acoustic transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.
`[0019]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of acoustic transducers, wherein a separate coil is
`wrapped around each acoustic transducer.
`[0020]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of acoustic transducers, wherein a single coil
`is
`wrappedaroundall of said acoustic transducers.
`[0021]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of probes.
`[0022]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein each of
`said probes is characterized by substantially a different
`size and shape.
`[0023]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein a single
`coil is wrapped around all of said acoustic transducers.
`[0024]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein at least
`one coil is wrapped around at least one of said probes
`and at least one of said acoustic transducers.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0025]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said hous-
`ing is adapted to produce, when the lip of said open end
`is placed againstor in proximity to the skin and said ports
`are in fluid connection with means for evacuating the in-
`terior of said housing, a seal sufficiently air-tight that
`evacuation of air through said ports produces an atleast
`partial vacuum within the interior of said housing.
`[0026]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, when the lip of said
`open endis placed against the skin and said ports are in
`fluid connection with means for evacuation of air through
`said ports produces an atleast partial vacuum within the
`interior of said housing
`[0027]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of ports.
`[0028]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein the diam-
`eter said housing is sufficiently large relative to its depth
`that when thelip of said open end is placed againstor in
`proximity to the skin, said ports are in fluid connection
`with means for evacuating the interior of said housing
`upon evacuation, and the interior of said housing is evac-
`uated, at least part of the skin enters said housing to a
`depth sufficient to make contact with said at least one
`port.
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0029]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said means
`for evacuating the interior of said housing are adapted
`
`to apply either pulses of suction or a constant vacuum.
`[0030]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, further comprising:
`
`means for exhausting air from said housing, said
`means in fluid connection with said ports;
`a source ofalternating electrical current in electrical
`connection with said transducers;
`a first source of time-varying electric current in elec-
`trical connection with said first coil;
`a source of electrical current in electrical connection
`
`with said at least one probe; and,
`a source of heat in thermal contact with said at least
`
`one probe.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0031]
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising an independent second source of time-varying
`electric current in electrical connection with said second
`coil.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0032]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said source
`of alternating electrical current is adapted to provide al-
`ternating electrical current that will drive said transducers
`such that said transducers produce acoustic (e.g., ultra-
`sonic waves) of frequency between about 0.5Hz and
`about 40MHz and a powerof between about 1 mW/cm2
`and about 100W/cm2, more specifically between about
`1 mWicm2 and about 10W/cm2, a magnetic flux density
`from about 0 to about 3 Tesla, a magnetic field strength
`from about 0 to 50 Gauss, a pulse duration from 0.1 to
`1000 msec.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0033]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said two
`sources of time-varying electric current are adapted to
`produce time-varying electrical currents of substantially
`the same frequency, amplitude, phase, and waveform.
`[0034]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said two
`sources of time-varying electric current are adapted to
`produce time-varying electrical currents in which at least
`one of the frequency, the amplitude, the phase, and the
`waveform differ.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0035]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein the relative
`waveforms, amplitudes, phases and frequencies of the
`electric currents produced by said at least one sources
`of time-varying electric current are adapted to produce a
`predetermined pattern.
`[0036]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said source
`of time-varying electric current is adapted to produce a
`currentthat will induce in said at least one probe a time-
`varying magnetic field of a form chosen from the group
`consisting of square wave, sine wave, saw tooth wave,
`ramped wave, triangular pulses, and any mathematical
`combination thereof.
`
`[0037]
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
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`EP 2 564 894 B1
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`6
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`provide the device as defined above, wherein the peak
`magnetic field provided by said probes is between 0 and
`about 3T, specifically, 0 to 100 Gauss, more specifically
`0 to 50 Gauss.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0038]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said time-
`varying magnetic field is in the form of pulses of duration
`of between about 0.1 milliseconds and about 1000 milli-
`seconds.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0039]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said time-
`varying magnetic field has a frequency of between about
`0.5 Hz and about 40 MHz.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0040]
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of probes and further comprising at least one source
`of RF electrical current in electrical connection with said
`
`plurality of probes.
`[0041]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein each of
`said probes is characterized by substantially a different
`size and shape.
`[0042]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein each of
`said source of RF electrical current is adapted to provide
`to each of said plurality of probes with a substantially
`different RF frequency.
`[0043]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein each of
`said plurality of probes is adapted to apply a substantially
`different RF frequency to the skin of said patient.
`[0044]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, further comprising
`temperature measurement means and control means
`adapted toregulate atleast one said RF electrical current,
`said time-varying current, and said alternating current
`such that the measured skin temperature does not go
`outside of predetermined limits.
`[0045]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said pre-
`determined limits are ambient temperature and 50 °C.
`[0046]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said pre-
`determined limits are 30 °C and 100 °C.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0047]
`provide the device as defined above, further comprising
`modulation means for modulating the output of at least
`one of the group consisting of said first source of time-
`varying current, said second sourceof time-varying cur-
`rent, and said sourceof alternating current.
`[0048]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said mod-
`ulation means comprises means chosen from the group
`consisting of amplitude modulation, frequency modula-
`tion, phase modulation, and any combination of the
`above.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0049]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said mod-
`
`ulation means comprises means chosen from the group
`consisting of pulse-width modulation, pulse-frequency
`modulation, pulse-code modulation (PCT), and pulse-
`density modulation.
`[0050]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said mod-
`ulation means is adapted to provide ELF modulation of
`said current.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0051]
`provide the device as defined above, further comprising
`means for cooling the skin.
`[0052]
`Itis another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said means
`for cooling the skin is chosen from the group consisting
`of a Peltier effect cooling device, irrigation with cool water,
`and means for blowing air.
`[0053]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide a method for improving the cosmetic appearance
`of the skin, comprising:
`
`obtaining a device comprising:
`
`a housing 100 comprising an open end adapted
`for being placed against the or in proximity to
`the skin;
`at least one acoustic transducer 300 adapted
`for producing ultrasonic waves, said acoustic
`transducer attached to a surface of said housing
`such that whensaid deviceis in use, said acous-
`tic transducer is in physical contact with said
`skin; and,
`atleast one first coil 310 wrapped around atleast
`a portion of said at least one acoustic transduc-
`er;
`
`placing said device such that said at least one acous-
`tic transducer and at least one probe arein physical
`contact with or in proximity to the skin to be treated;
`at least partially evacuating said housing until said
`skin is elevated sufficiently to make physical contact
`with said at least one port;
`activating said source ofalternating current, thereby
`activating said at least one acoustic transducer; and,
`activating said first source of time-varying current,
`thereby producing an electric currentin said first coil
`and atime-varying magnetic field in said at leastone
`acoustic transducer.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0054]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said hous-
`ing containing at least one port 400 through which air can
`enter and exit.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0055]
`provide the method as defined above, additionally step
`of providing said device with at least one probe 200 made
`of an electrically and magnetically conductive material
`capable of transferring energy to the skin, said at least
`one probe attached to a surface of said housing such
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`EP 2 564 894 B1
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`that when said device is in use, said probeis in physical
`contact with said skin.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0056]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein each of
`said plurality of probes is adapted to apply a substantially
`different RF frequency to the skin of said patient.
`[0057]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the methcad as defined above, additionally step
`of providing additionally said device with at least one sec-
`ond coil 210 wrapped around at least a portion of said at
`least one probe.
`[0058]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising
`a step of activating a second sourceof time-varying cur-
`rent, thereby producing an electric current in said second
`coiland a time-varying magnetic field in said at least one
`probe.
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0059]
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising
`a step of providing said acoustic transducer 300 being
`made of a metallic material.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0060]
`provide the methad as defined above, additionally step
`of positioning said at least one second coil 210 within
`said probe.
`[0061]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the methad as defined above, additionally step
`of disposing said at least one first coil 310 wrapped
`around said atleast a portion of said at least one probe
`[0062]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising
`a step of maintaining for the duration of treatmentthe at
`least partial vacuum obtained in said step of evacuating
`said housing.
`[0063]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said source of alternating current further
`comprisesa step of activating said source of alternating
`current such that said at least one acoustic transducer
`
`produces ultrasonic waves of frequency between about
`0.5 Hz and about 40M Hz and a power of between about
`1 milli W/cm2 and about 100W/cm2, more specifically be-
`tween about 1 milli Wicm2 and about 10W/cm72.
`[0064]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to produce a time-varying
`electric current of substantially the same frequency, am-
`plitude, phase, and waveform as the current producedin
`said step of activating said first source of time-varying
`current.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0065]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to produce a time-varying
`electrical current in which at least one of the frequency,
`
`the amplitude, the phase, and the waveform differs from
`that produced in said step ofactivating said first source
`of time-varying current.
`[0066]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to produce a time-varying
`electrical current in which at least one of the frequency,
`the amplitude, the phase, and the waveformdiffers from
`that producedin said step of activating said first source
`of time-varying current so as to produce a predetermined
`beat pattern.
`[0067]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to induce in said atleast
`one probe a time-varying magnetic field of a form chosen
`from the group consisting of square wave, sine wave,
`sawtooth wave, ramped wave, triangular pulses, and any
`mathematical combination thereof.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0068]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second source of time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to induce in said at least
`one probe a time-varying magnetic field adapted to result
`in eddy currents in said skin.
`[0069]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to induce in said atleast
`one probe a time-varying magnetic field with a peak of
`between 0 and about 3 T, specifically, 0 to 100 Gauss,
`more specifically 0 to 50 Gauss.
`[0070]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to induce in said at least
`one probe a time-varying magnetic field in the form of
`pulses of duration between about 0.1 milliseconds and
`about 1000 milliseconds.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0071]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of activating said second sourceof time-varying current
`further comprises a step of activating said second source
`of time-varying current so as to induce in said at least
`one probe a time-varying magnetic field with a frequency
`of between about 0.5 Hz and about 40 MHz.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0072]
`provide the method asdefined above, further comprising:
`
`obtaining at least two probes;
`placing said at least two probes in contact with said
`skin;
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`obtaining a source of RF electrical current;
`placing said source of RF electrical current in elec-
`trical connection with at least two of said at least two
`
`probes; and,
`activating said source of RF electrical current.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0073]
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising:
`
`obtaining temperature measurement means;
`obtaining control means adapted to regulate at least
`one said RFelectrical current, said time-varying cur-
`rent, and said alternating current; and,
`controlling at least one of said RF electrical current,
`said time-varying current, and said alternating cur-
`rent such that the measured skin temperature does
`not go outside of predetermined limits.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0074]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said pre-
`determinedlimits are ambient temperature and 50 °C.
`[0075]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said pre-
`determined limits are 30 °C and 100 °C.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0076]
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising
`a step of modulating the output of at least one of said
`first source of time-varying current, said second source
`of time-varying current, and said source of alternating
`current.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0077]
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of modulating includes a step chosen from the group con-
`sisting of modulating the amplitude of said output, mod-
`ulating the frequency of said output, modulating the
`phase of said output, and any combination of the above.
`[0078]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of modulating includes a step chosen from the group con-
`sisting of modulating the pulse width, modulating the
`pulse frequency, modulating the pulse code, and modu-
`lating the pulse density.
`[0079]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising
`a step of modulating said output at an Extremely Low
`Frequency (ELF).
`[0080]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, further comprising
`a step of cooling the skin.
`[0081]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the method as defined above, wherein said step
`of cooling the skin comprises a further step chosen from
`the group consisting of cooling the skin with a Peltier
`effect cooling device, irrigating the skin with cool water,
`and blowing air across the skin.
`[0082]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide a device for providing cosmetic improvement to
`the skin (and any other dermis treatment), wherein said
`
`device comprises:
`
`a housing 100 comprising an open end adapted for
`being placed against the or in proximity to the skin;
`at least one acoustic transducer 300 adaptedfor pro-
`ducing ultrasonic waves, said acoustic transducer
`attached to a surface of said housing such that when
`said device is in use, said acoustic transducer is in
`physical contact with said skin; and,
`at least onefirst coil 310 being positioned within at
`least a portion of said at least one acoustic transduc-
`er.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0083]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said hous-
`ing containing at least one port 400 through which air can
`enter and exit.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0084]
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising at least one probe 200 made ofan electrically and
`magnetically conductive material capable of transferring
`energy to the skin, said at least one probe attached to a
`surface of said housing such that when said deviceis in
`use, said probe is in physical contact with said skin.
`[0085]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein each of
`said probes is adapted to apply a substantially different
`RF frequencyto the skin of said patient.
`[0086]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said energy
`is heat being transferred to the skin;
`[0087]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said acous-
`tic transducer 300 is made of a metallic material.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0088]
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising at least one second coil 210 wrapped around at
`least a portion of said at least one probe.
`[0089]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, additionally com-
`prising at least one second coil 210 being positioned with-
`in said probe.
`[0090]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said at least
`one acoustic transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.
`[0091]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of acoustic transducers, wherein a separate coil is
`wrapped around each acoustic transducer.
`[0092]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of acoustic transducers, wherein a single coil
`is
`wrapped aroundall of said acoustic transducers.
`[0093]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of probes.
`[0094]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein each of
`
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`11
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`EP 2 564 894 B1
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`12
`
`said probes is characterized by substantially a different
`size and shape.
`[0095]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein a single
`coil is wrapped around all of said acoustic transducers.
`[0096]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein at least
`one coil is wrapped around atleast one of said probes
`andat least one of said acoustic transducers.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0097]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said hous-
`ing is adapted to produce, when thelip of said open end
`is placed againstor in proximity to the skin and said ports
`are in fluid connection with means for evacuating the in-
`terior of said housing, a seal sufficiently air-tight that
`evacuation ofair through said ports produces an at least
`partial vacuum within the interior of said housing.
`[0098]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said hous-
`ing is adapted to produce, when the lip of said open end
`is placed against the skin and said ports arein fluid con-
`nection with means for evacuation of air through said
`ports producesan at least partial vacuum within the in-
`terior of said housing.
`[0099]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, comprising a plu-
`rality of ports.
`[0100]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, wherein the diam-
`eter said housing is sufficiently large relative to its depth
`that when the lip of said open end is placed againstor in
`proximity to the skin, said ports are in fluid connection
`with means for evacuating the interior of said housing
`upon evacuation, and the interior of said housing is evac-
`uated, at least part of the skin enters said housing to a
`depth sufficient to make contact with said at least one
`port.
`It is another object of the present invention to
`[0101]
`provide the device as defined above, wherein said means
`for evacuating the interior of said housing are adapted
`to apply either pulses of suction or a constant vacuum.
`[0102]
`It is another object of the present invention to
`provide the device as defined above, further comprising:
`
`means for exhausting air from said housing, said
`means in fluid conn