HANDPIECE CAPABLE OF ATTACHING/DETACHING VACUUM CAP AND ADJUSTING ANGLE OF VACUUM CAP

Abstract

Provided in the present invention is a handpiece (300) for a treatment device with improved stability and hygiene function by being configured so as to freely adjust the angle of a vacuum cap depending on a treatment site and to attach/detach the vacuum cap to/from the handpiece (300). The handpiece (300) capable of attaching/detaching a vacuum cap and adjusting an angle of the vacuum cap comprises: a vacuum cap (310) having an open lower surface and a hollow part formed therein; a body part (410) configured to attach/detach the vacuum cap (310) thereto/therefrom; a vacuum device (350) for providing a reference negative pressure to the vacuum cap so that a target site of the skin can be adhered toward the hollow part of the vacuum cap; a reference negative pressure variable device (360) for varying the reference negative pressure in a pulse form under the condition in which the hollow part of the vacuum cap (310) maintains the negative pressure; RF electrodes (320, 321) configured to be exposed to the inside wall of the vacuum cap (310) so that, when the target site of the skin has been adhered toward the hollow part of the vacuum cap (310), the skin adhered toward the hollow part comes into contact with the inside of the hollow part of the vacuum cap (310); and a control unit (380) for controlling driving of the vacuum device (350), the reference negative pressure variable device (360), and the RF electrodes (320, 321). The driving of the reference negative pressure variable device (360) and the RF electrodes (320, 321) for treating the target site of the skin is controlled so as to select any one of single driving, simultaneous driving, and alternating driving. The attachment/detachment of the vacuum cap (310) to/from the body part (410) is made by simultaneous coupling or simultaneous separation of a vacuum cap connection unit (430) that consists of a vacuum tube coupler (432) configured at an end of the body part (410), power supply connectors (433, 434), and a clip (435).

Claims

1. A handpiece capable of attaching/detaching a vacuum cap and adjusting an angle of the vacuum cap, the handpiece comprising: a vacuum cap having an open bottom surface, and formed therein with a hollow part; a body part to/from which the vacuum cap is attached/detached; a vacuum device for providing a reference negative pressure to the vacuum cap so that a target site of skin is adsorbed toward the hollow part of the vacuum cap; a reference negative pressure variable device for varying the reference negative pressure in a pulse form under a condition in which the hollow part of the vacuum cap maintains a negative pressure; an RF electrode exposed to an inside wall of the vacuum cap so that the adsorbed skin makes contact with an inside the hollow part of the vacuum cap when the target site of the skin is adsorbed toward the hollow part of the vacuum cap; and a control unit for controlling driving of the vacuum device, the reference negative pressure variable device, and the RF electrode, wherein the driving of the reference negative pressure variable device and the RF electrode for treating the target site of the skin is controlled by selecting one of single driving, simultaneous driving, and alternating driving, and the attachment/detachment of the vacuum cap to/from the body part is performed by simultaneous coupling and simultaneous separation of a vacuum cap connection unit including a vacuum tube coupler, a power supply connector, and a clip, which are provided at an end of the body part.

2. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein the body part includes: a first body part to/from which the vacuum cap is attached/detached; and a second body part coupled to the first body part with an angle adjustment device, which is configured as a joint member or a rotation shaft, interposed between the first body part and the second body part so that a user bends the second body part to adjust an angle between the first body part and the second body part, and the vacuum cap connection unit is provided at an end of the first body part.

3. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein the reference negative pressure variable device is configured to vary the reference negative pressure in the pulse form having a period corresponding to 0.5 to 50 times per second by a pressure variable valve under the condition in which the hollow part of the vacuum cap maintains the negative pressure, and the vacuum device is configured to automatically operate to maintain the reference negative pressure when the reference negative pressure within the hollow part is out of a set range due to an adhesion failure occurring in a contact portion between the vacuum cap and the skin.

4. The handpiece of claim 2, wherein the reference negative pressure variable device is configured to vary the reference negative pressure in the pulse form having a period corresponding to 0.5 to 50 times per second by a pressure variable valve under the condition in which the hollow part of the vacuum cap maintains the negative pressure, and the vacuum device is configured to automatically operate to maintain the reference negative pressure when the reference negative pressure within the hollow part is out of a set range due to an adhesion failure occurring in a contact portion between the vacuum cap and the skin.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a sectional view for describing a treatment device using a vacuum cap according to the related art.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a view showing a cooling member applied to the treatment device using the vacuum cap of FIG. 1.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a sectional view for describing another example of a treatment device using a vacuum cap according to the related art.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a view showing an AC voltage waveform of one cycle for an RF electrode applied to the treatment device using the vacuum cap of FIG. 3.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a stereoscopic view schematically showing a handpiece according to the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the handpiece according to the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a sectional view schematically showing the handpiece in a state in which a vacuum cap is removed according to the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a stereoscopic view schematically showing the handpiece in which an angle is adjusted according to the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which a target site of skin is adsorbed to the vacuum cap of FIG. 6.

[0054] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a reference negative pressure variable pulse according to the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 11 is a view schematically showing a fat cell in the target site of the skin relaxed and disturbed by driving of a reference negative pressure variable device according to the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for describing an operation of the handpiece capable of attaching/detaching the vacuum cap and adjusting the angle of the vacuum cap according to the present invention.

BEST MODE

[0057] A handpiece includes: a vacuum cap 310 having an open bottom surface open, and formed therein with a hollow part; [0058] a body part 410 and 420 to/from which the vacuum cap is attached/detached; [0059] a vacuum device 350 for providing a reference negative pressure to the vacuum cap so that a target site of skin is adsorbed toward the hollow part of the vacuum cap; [0060] a reference negative pressure variable device 360 for varying the reference negative pressure in a pulse form under a condition in which the hollow part of the vacuum cap maintains a negative pressure; [0061] an RF electrode 320 and 321 exposed to an inside wall of the vacuum cap so that the adsorbed skin makes contact with an inside of the hollow part of the vacuum cap when the target site of the skin is adsorbed toward the hollow part of the vacuum cap; and [0062] a control unit 380 for controlling driving of the vacuum device, the reference negative pressure variable device, and the RF electrode.

[0063] The driving of the reference negative pressure variable device and the RF electrode for treating the target site of the skin is controlled by selecting one of single driving, simultaneous driving, and alternating driving.

[0064] The attachment/detachment of the vacuum cap to/from the body part is performed by simultaneous coupling and simultaneous separation of a vacuum cap connection unit 430 including a vacuum tube coupler 432, a power supply connector 433 and 434, and a clip 435, which are provided at an end of the body part.

[0065] In addition, the body part includes: a first body part 410 to/from which the vacuum cap is attached/detached; and a second body part 420 coupled to the first body part with an angle adjustment device, which is configured as a joint member or a rotation shaft, interposed between the first body part and the second body part so that a user bends the second body part to adjust an angle between the first body part and the second body part, and the vacuum cap connection unit 430 is provided at an end of the first body part 410.

[0066] In addition, the reference negative pressure variable device 360 is configured to vary the reference negative pressure in the pulse form having a period corresponding to 0.5 to 50 times per second by a pressure variable valve 361 under the condition in which the hollow part of the vacuum cap 310 maintains the negative pressure, and the vacuum device 350 is configured to automatically operate to maintain the reference negative pressure when the reference negative pressure within the hollow part of the vacuum cap 310 is out of a set range due to an adhesion failure occurring in a contact portion between the vacuum cap 310 and the skin.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0067] Hereinafter, the technical configuration and operations of a handpiece 300 capable of attaching/detaching a vacuum cap and adjusting an angle of the vacuum cap according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 12.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, according to the present invention, the handpiece 300 capable of attaching/detaching the vacuum cap and adjusting the angle of the vacuum cap may include: a first body part 410; a second body part 420 functioning as a handle; and a vacuum cap 310 having an open bottom surface, and formed therein with a hollow part.

[0069] An angle adjustment device may be interposed between the first body part 410 and the second body part 420 functioning as a handle so that an angle between the first body part 410 and the second body part 420 may be adjusted.

[0070] The angle adjustment device may be configured as a rotation shaft 415 for coupling one ends of the first body part 410 and the second body part 420 to each other, or may be configured as a joint member instead of the rotation shaft so that the second body part 420 may be bent in any direction with respect to the first body part 410.

[0071] In addition, a vacuum cap connection unit 430 for detachably fixing the vacuum cap 310 may be provided at an opposite end of the first body part 410.

[0072] The vacuum cap connection unit 430 may include: a vacuum tube 431 connected to the vacuum device 350 and the reference negative pressure variable device 360; a vacuum tube coupler 432 coupled to an end of the vacuum tube so as to be detachably coupled to the vacuum cap 310; power supply connectors 433 and 434 for driving a treatment unit such as RF electrodes 320 and 321; and a clip 435 for attaching/detaching the vacuum cap 310.

[0073] The vacuum tube 431 connected to the vacuum device 350 and the reference negative pressure variable device 360 may be preferably formed of a flexible material to prevent damage when the angle is adjusted by bending the second body part 420 from the first body part 410, and, if necessary, a portion (a region in which the angle adjustment device is located) of the vacuum tube 431 may be configured as a curved or spiral tube so as to have flexibility.

[0074] In addition, a portion of a power cable connected to each of the power supply connectors 433 and 434 may have a spiral shape so as to have flexibility when the angle is adjusted.

[0075] As described above, the angle between the first body part 410 and the second body part 420 functioning as a handle may be adjusted, and the vacuum cap 310 may be attached/detached to/from the first body part 410, so that the vacuum cap 310 may be effectively fixed to a curved body site, and fatigue of an operator may be reduced by arbitrarily and easily adjusting the angle of the second body part 420 constituting a handle part of the handpiece.

[0076] In addition, the vacuum cap 310 may be provided with the RF electrodes 320 and 321 exposed toward the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap to function as the treatment unit, and the RF electrodes may be connected to the power supply connectors 433 and 434 when the vacuum cap is coupled to the first body part 410.

[0077] A hole communicating with the vacuum tube 431 may be formed at an upper center of the vacuum cap 310, and a tube connector 311 may be provided at an upper end of the hole so as to be connected to the vacuum tube coupler 432 in an airtight state when the vacuum cap is coupled to the first body part 410.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 9, the vacuum device 350 including a motor, an exhaust pump, and the like may provide a reference negative pressure into the vacuum cap so that a target site of skin 245 including epidermis 241, fat tissue 242, and the like may be adsorbed toward the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap so as to make contact with each of the RF electrodes 320 and 321 functioning as the treatment unit.

[0079] The reference negative pressure variable device 360 including a pressure variable valve 361 and the like may be configured to serve to change the reference negative pressure applied to the vacuum cap 310 into a pulse form, that is, by a predetermined amplitude in a predetermined cycle for a predetermined time under a condition in which the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap maintains a negative pressure.

[0080] The control unit 380 may perform driving control of the RF electrodes 320 and 321 functioning as the treatment unit, the vacuum device 350, and the reference negative pressure variable device 360.

[0081] Although a structure in which the pressure variable valve 361 is provided as a device for providing a fluctuating negative pressure to the reference negative pressure according to the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, the pressure variable valve 361 may be directly provided in the inside wall of the vacuum cap 310 to vary the pressure in the pulse form based on the reference negative pressure, or an air bag or the like for varying a volume of the hollow part 315 in the pulse form may be installed in a portion of the inside wall of the vacuum cap 310.

[0082] The reference negative pressure of the vacuum device 350 for sucking the skin 245 into the vacuum cap 310 may be provided, for example, within a range of −100 mbar to −800 mbar.

[0083] In addition, the reference negative pressure variable device 360 may change, for example, the pulse form by ±50 mbar with respect to the reference negative pressure formed by the vacuum device 350 so that the skin 245 sucked into the vacuum cap 310 may be repeatedly contracted and relaxed in a vertical direction.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 10, the reference negative pressure variable device 360 may form a pulsed negative pressure based on the reference negative pressure, and an amplitude and a wavelength of the pulse may be appropriately controlled by the reference negative pressure variable device 360.

[0085] For example, when a positive pressure of 50 mbar is applied into the hollow part 315 by using the pressure variable valve 361 provided in the reference negative pressure variable device 360, a vacuum pressure in the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap may be decreased, so that the skin 245 including the epidermis 241 and the fat tissue 242 may descend from a position A to a position B as shown in FIG. 9.

[0086] On the contrary, when a negative pressure of −50 mbar is applied into the hollow part 315 by using the pressure variable valve 361, the vacuum pressure in the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap may be increased, so that the skin 245 including the epidermis 241 and the fat tissue 242 may ascend from the position B to the position A.

[0087] As described above, a predetermined positive pressure or a predetermined negative pressure may be alternately applied into the hollow part 315 by using the pressure variable valve 361, so that the skin may be repeatedly contracted and relaxed in a pulse wave form at a predetermined interval.

[0088] The interval at which the skin is contracted and relaxed in the vertical direction based on a top surface of the target site of the skin may be set, for example, within a range of 0.1 mm or more to 5 mm or less, and a period of a variable pulse of the reference negative pressure formed by the pressure variable valve 361 constituting the reference negative pressure variable device 360 may correspond to 0.5 to 50 times per second.

[0089] The RF electrodes 320 and 321 constituting the treatment unit may be mounted on both inside walls of the vacuum cap 310 facing each other as positive (+) and negative (−) electrodes, respectively, and, when RF high-frequency waves are generated from a high-frequency wave generation unit (not shown) and applied to the target site of the skin sucked into the hollow part of the vacuum cap, ions of cell molecules constituting the fat tissue may be configured such that an alternating current of the RF electrode allows positive (+) charges to be attracted to the negative electrode and allows negative (−) charges to be attracted to the positive electrode, resulting in a polarization phenomenon. When Joule heat is intensively generated within fat cell tissue due to the polarization action, fat cells may be decomposed, so that obesity and the like may be treated.

[0090] When the skin is repeatedly contracted and relaxed in the vertical direction within the hollow part 315 by using the reference negative pressure variable device 360 according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, a cellulite granular layer 242a that surrounds and protects the fat tissue 242 of the skin may be sufficiently and forcibly relaxed in the vertical direction so as to be broken or disturbed to facilitate transmission of the RF high-frequency waves, so that a decomposition effect of subcutaneous fat tissue may be further promoted as compared with a general treatment device using a vacuum cap, which includes a vibration device or a massage device, according to the related art.

[0091] According to the present invention, the handpiece 300 capable of attaching/detaching the vacuum cap and adjusting the angle of the vacuum cap may be provided with a temperature sensor 331 for detecting heat generated during the driving of the RF electrode.

[0092] In addition, various cooling devices (not shown) for cooling the skin making contact with the RF electrode, the vacuum cap 310, or the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap according to a temperature detection signal of the temperature sensor 331 may be additionally provided.

[0093] A driving process of the handpiece 300 capable of attaching/detaching the vacuum cap and adjusting the angle of the vacuum cap, which is configured as described above, will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0094] First, the vacuum cap 310 may be fitted and coupled to the first body part 410, and the angle of the second body part 420 functioning as a handle may be appropriately adjusted (S10).

[0095] Thereafter, the target site of the skin 245 may make close contact with an edge of an open portion of the vacuum cap 310 (S20).

[0096] Thereafter, the vacuum device 350 may be driven until the hollow part 315 of the vacuum cap 310 reaches the reference negative pressure (S30) so as to allow the skin 245 to be sucked into the hollow part 315 within the vacuum cap so that the RF electrodes 320 and 321 and a surface of the skin 245 may make contact with each other.

[0097] Thereafter, the control unit 380 may determine whether to drive the reference negative pressure variable device 360 according to a control signal of the operator (S40).

[0098] When the reference negative pressure variable device 360 is driven, the fluctuating negative pressure for the reference negative pressure may be configured such that a wavelength and an amplitude of a negative pressure pulse are selected within a range of 0.5 to 50 times per second, that is, 0.5 to 50 Hz (S50), and the skin may be massaged because the target site of the skin fluctuates in the vertical direction according to the amplitude of the negative pressure pulse (S60). The amplitude of the negative pressure pulse may be increased in order to increase a vertical movement interval of the skin, and the amplitude of the negative pressure pulse may be decreased in order to decrease the vertical movement interval of the skin. When the wavelength of the negative pressure pulse, that is, a number of fluctuations per second of the fluctuating negative pressure is decreased, a vertical movement speed of the skin may be decreased, and conversely, when the number of fluctuations per second is increased, the vertical movement speed of the skin may be increased.

[0099] In addition, the number of fluctuations per second of the fluctuating negative pressure may be controlled by controlling a pulse operation timing of the pressure variable valve 361. In this case, the vacuum device 350 may be configured to automatically operate to maintain the reference negative pressure when the reference negative pressure within the hollow part 315 is out of a predetermined set range due to an adhesion failure occurring in a contact portion between the vacuum cap 310 and the skin.

[0100] Thereafter, the control unit 380 may determine whether to drive the RF electrodes 320 and 321 constituting the treatment unit according to a control signal of the operator (S70).

[0101] When the treatment unit using electromagnetic waves, such as the RF electrodes, is driven, a treatment mode such as a frequency level, an emission time, and an emission period may be selected (S80), and the RF high-frequency waves may be emitted to the skin according to the selection of the treatment mode so that the fat tissue may be decomposed, or a skin lesion may be treated (S90).

[0102] Thereafter, when a treatment is finished, the negative pressure may be released (S100), and the operator may separate the vacuum cap 310 from the first body part 410 of the handpiece (S110).

[0103] Meanwhile, when the driving of the reference negative pressure variable device 360 is not selected in the step S40, the step S70 may be performed.

[0104] For convenience, it has been described in FIG. 12, that the driving of the reference negative pressure variable device 360 is determined first, and the driving of the RF electrodes 320 and 321 constituting the treatment unit is determined later. The driving of the treatment unit and the reference negative pressure variable device may be operated by selecting one of single driving, simultaneous driving, and alternating driving without being limited to the driving process illustrated above.

[0105] A cold and warm heat device, a device using light rays, or the like may be used as the treatment unit instead of the RF electrodes 320 and 321 using the electromagnetic waves.

[0106] The handpiece 300 capable of attaching/detaching the vacuum cap and adjusting the angle of the vacuum cap according to the present invention as described above is not limited to the structure and description of the drawings illustrated above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims and objects of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0107] 11, 315—Hollow part, 12, 13, 320, 321—RF electrode, 15, 245—Skin [0108] 100, 200—Treatment device using vacuum cap, 220, 310—Vacuum cap [0109] 242—Fat tissue, 242a—Cellulite granular layer [0110] 300—Handpiece capable of attaching/detaching vacuum cap and adjusting angle of vacuum cap [0111] 311—Tube connector, 331—Temperature sensor, 350—Vacuum device [0112] 360—Reference negative pressure variable device, 361—Pressure variable valve, 380—Control unit [0113] 410—First body part, 415—Rotation shaft, 420—Second body part [0114] 430—Vacuum cap connection unit, 431—Vacuum tube, 432—Vacuum tube coupler [0115] 433, 434—Power supply connector, 435—Clip

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0116] The handpiece capable of attaching/detaching the vacuum cap and adjusting the angle of the vacuum cap according to the present invention may be used in medical devices used for skin care, skin diseases, and obesity treatments.