Effects of tissue impedance on heat generation during RF delivery with the Thermage system

Sara Tomkoria; Karl Pope

doi:10.1117/12.591054

14 April 2005 Effects of tissue impedance on heat generation during RF delivery with the Thermage system

Sara Tomkoria, Karl Pope

Proceedings Volume 5698, Thermal Treatment of Tissue: Energy Delivery and Assessment III; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.591054
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2005, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The Thermage ThermaCool TC system is a non-ablative RF device designed to promote tissue tightening and contouring. The system delivers RF energy to a target area under the skin, with volumetric tissue heating in that area. While the amount of energy delivered to a patient can be controlled by ThermaCool system settings, the distribution of energy to the treatment area and underlying layers is variable from individual to individual due to differences in body composition. The present study investigated how local tissue impedance affects the amount of discomfort experienced by patients during RF energy delivery. Discomfort results from heat generation in the treatment area. By using features of the ThermaCool TC System, local impedance (impedance of the treatment area), bulk impedance (impedance of the underlying tissue layers), and total impedance (the sum of local and bulk impedance) were measured for 35 patients. For each patient, impedance measurements were compared to discomfort levels expressed during treatment. Analysis of whole body, local, and bulk impedance values indicate that the percent of total body impedance in the local treatment area contributes to discomfort levels expressed by patients during treatment.

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Sara Tomkoria and Karl Pope "Effects of tissue impedance on heat generation during RF delivery with the Thermage system", Proc. SPIE 5698, Thermal Treatment of Tissue: Energy Delivery and Assessment III, (14 April 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.591054

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KEYWORDS

Electrodes

Tissues

Resistance

Skin

Control systems

Bone

Cryogenics

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