Handpiece with RF electrode and non-volatile memory

Abstract

An RF device includes a support structure coupled to an RF electrode that has conductive and dielectric portions. A cooling member is coupled to the support structure and is configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode. The cooling member is distanced from the back surface of the RF electrode. A memory is coupled to the RF electrode. The memory is configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions;    a cooling member coupled to the support structure and configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode, wherein the cooling member is distanced from the back surface of the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in controlling an amount of current delivered by the RF electrode  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in controlling energy delivery duration time of the RF electrode.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in controlling a temperature of the RF electrode relative to a target temperature  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a maximum number of firings of the RF electrode.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a maximum allowed voltage that is deliverable by the RF electrode.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a history of RF electrode use.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a controllable duty cycle to cooling member.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a controllable delivery rate of cooling delivered from cooling member.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing an amount of time that the RF electrode can be used.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing an amount of RF electrode usage.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a number of areas treated by the RF electrode  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a number of times the RF electrode has been moved relative to the skin surface.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing at least one of time or date RF electrode usage.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a thickness of the stratum corneum.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing an amount of energy delivered by the RF electrode.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a status of the RF electrode.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing a status of an RF energy system coupled to the RF electrode.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is utilized to assist in providing information relative to a change of tissue in response to energy delivered by the RF electrode.  
     
     
         20 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, and a flex circuit;    a cooling member coupled to the RF electrode and configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         21 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and having conductive and dielectric portions;    first and second engagement members formed in the body of the support structure, the first and second engagement members providing engagement and disengagement with a handpiece structure; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         22 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode configured to be capacitively coupled when at least a portion of the RF electrode is in contact with a skin surface;    a back plate positioned at a proximal portion of the support structure;    a plurality of electrical contact pads coupled to the back plate; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         23 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode including conductive and dielectric portions, a tissue interface surface and an opposing back surface,    a back plate positioned at a proximal portion of the support structure, the back plate including a front surface that faces the opposing back surface of the RF electrode and an opposing back surface;    a cooling member with a channel with a distal section that extends through the back plate and a proximal section that is raised above the back surface of the back plate; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         24 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode having a tissue interface surface and an opposing back surface;    a cooling member coupled to the RF electrode;    at least a first sensor coupled to the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         25 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and having conductive and dielectric portions;    a cooling member coupled to the RF electrode and configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode, wherein the cooling member is distanced from the back surface of the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         26 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure defining a body of an RF device;    an RF electrode with conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode including a flex circuit;    a cooling member coupled to the RF electrode and configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF device, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         27 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions;    first and second engagement members formed in the body of the support structure, the first and second engagement members providing engagement and disengagement with a handpiece support structure; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         28 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode configured to be capacatively coupled when at least a portion of the RF electrode is in contact with a skin surface;    a back plate positioned at a proximal portion of the support structure; and    a plurality of electrical contact pads coupled to the back plate; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         29 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, a tissue interface surface and an opposing back surface,    a back plate positioned at a proximal portion of the support structure, the back plate including a front surface that faces the opposing back surface of the RF electrode and an opposing back surface;    a cooling member with a channel with a distal section that extends through the back plate and a proximal section that is raised above the back surface of the back plate; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         30 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode having a tissue interface surface and an opposing back surface;    a cooling member coupled to the RF electrode;    at least a first sensor coupled to the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         31 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode having a tissue interface surface and an opposing back surface and having and outer edge with a geometry configured to reduce an amount of capacitively coupled area at the outer edge; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         32 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode having a tissue interface surface and an opposing back surface, wherein at least a portion of the RF electrode has voids that reduce an amount of conductive material in the RF electrode;    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         33 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, the RF electrode being configured to provide a controllable tissue effect on subcutaneous tissue while preserving a skin surface overlying the subcutaneous tissue; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         34 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure;    a flex circuit coupled to the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         35 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode;    a flex circuit coupled to the RF electrode;    a plurality of electrical contact pads coupled to the flex circuit; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         36 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions;    a plurality of electrical contact pads coupled to the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         37 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, at least portions of the RF electrode having different widths; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         38 . An RF device, comprising: 
 a support structure;    an RF electrode coupled to the support structure and including conductive and dielectric portions, at least portions of the RF electrode having different conductivities; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         39 . An RF device, comprising: 
 an RF electrode with conductive and dielectric portions;    a support structure coupled to the RF electrode, the support structure and the RF electrode forming a seal where the support structure is coupled to the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode and an RF energy source.    
     
     
         40 . An RF device, comprising: 
 an RF electrode coupled including conductive and dielectric portions;    a support structure coupled to the RF electrode;    a cooling member coupled to the RF electrode and configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode, wherein the cooling member is distanced from the back surface of the RF electrode, the support structure and the RF electrode forming a seal where the support structure is coupled to the RF electrode; and    a memory coupled to the RF electrode, the memory configured to store information to facilitate operation of at least one of the RF electrode, the cooling member and an RF energy source.