Radio Frequency Technology

What Is Radiofrequency (RF)?

• Radiofrequency, or “RF”, is the term for energy– technically
called “electromagnetic radiation” or “EMR”– comprising a
very large portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS).
• Oscillating waves in the EMS with a frequency (or rate of
oscillation) from as low as 3 Hz to the extreme of 300 GHz
and wavelengths as long as 100 Mm (megameters) to as
short as 1 mm are considered “RF” energy.
• Radiowaves and microwaves are the most popular types of
RF energy.
Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)
• Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is a stream of photons which are
moving at the speed of light
– (186,000 miles per second).
• It takes a photon just 8 seconds to travel 93 million miles from the
sun to the earth
• EMR is classified into different types according to the frequency and
the wavelength of each wave
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) encompasses the following:
– Visible light
– Ultraviolet light
– Infrared radiation
– Gamma, X-ray, etc.
Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)
RF frequency Range = 3 Hz to 300 GHz
(includes radio, radar, microwave and TV waves)
 The RF Spectrum
EHF (Extremely High Frequency) Used for satellite communications 30 GHz to 300 GHz (= wavelengths from 10 mm to 1 mm)

SHF (Super High Frequency) Also known as the microwave band 3 GHz to 30 GHz (= wavelengths from 10 cm to 1 cm)

UHF (Ultra High Frequency) 300 MHz to 3 GHz (= wavelengths from 1 meter to 10 cm)

VHF (Very High Frequency) 30 MHz to 300 MHz (= wavelengths from 10 meters to 1 meter)

HF Shortwave (High Frequency) 3 MHz to 30 MHz (= wavelengths from 100 meters to 10 meters)

MF (Medium Frequency) 300 kHz to 3 MHz (= wavelengths from 1000 meters to 100 meters)

Note: One Hertz = one cycle (oscillation) per second

Note: MHz = megahertz = one million cycles per second

Note: GHz – gigahertz – one billion cycles per second

 Electromagnetic Radiation:
General Principles
• The frequency of a wave is inversely proportional to its
wavelength.
• High frequency waves have higher energy than low
frequency waves.
– High frequency (i.e., gamma rays) waves have a SHORT
wavelength and HIGH energy.
– Low frequency (i.e., radio waves) waves have a LONG
wavelength and LOW energy.
 EMR General Principles
• All EMR is a stream of photons moving at the speed of
light. The only difference in the energy levels from one
wavelength to another is the AMOUNT OF ENERGY in
the photons.
• As a general rule, EMR with the longest wavelengths
have the greater depth of penetration into tissue.
• Conversely, shorter wavelengths have a more superficial
depth of penetration into tissue.
– Therefore, the lower the frequency, the greater the depth of
penetration into tissue.

Note: Other factors can also impact penetration depth, such as

absorption coefficients of skin chromophores.
 RF Principles
• RF current results from charged particles flowing
through a closed circuit. As the energy meets
resistance in the tissue, heat is produced.
• Low frequency RF energy is used for biostimulation
• RF energy in the range of 0.3-10 MHz produces a
pure thermal effect on biological tissue.
• The thermal effect is dependent on the electrical
properties (i.e., conductivity vs. impedance) of the
tissue (including ratio of body fat and skin hydration
levels, etc.), the intensity of the current applied, and
the characteristics of the electrodes.
 RF Principles
• The controlled use of RF for selective
electrothermolysis produces a highly efficient thermal
effect on tissue

• The RF thermal response depends on the electrical

properties (conductivity or resistance) of the tissue for
desired selective thermal stimulation, destruction or
coagulation of targeted tissue structures
 RF Conductivity
• RF conductivity in biological tissue depends on three primary factors:
1. The frequency and wavelength of the RF energy;
2. The composition of tissue
3. The temperature of the tissue
• Human tissues – including the skin- are rich in electrolytes and other
compounds which allow conduction with varying degrees of
impedance and resulting heat production.
• RF energy is conducted by the ions (positively or negatively charged
atoms or molecules) of salts contained in the tissues
• RF energy generates heat from a current of ions that acts in
accordance with the physical principle of impedance (defined later)
• RF energy generates alternating magnetic fields that cause rotation
and friction in the di-pole water molecules of tissue
 RF Conductivity of Different
Tissues
Tissue containing blood Tissue Conductivity (@1
MHz)
and water have the
highest RF conductivity. Blood 0.7
Bone, fat and dry skin
have the lowest Bone 0.02
conductivity as shown in
the accompanying table. Fat 0.03

Dry Skin 0.03

Wet Skin 0.25

 RF Impedance (Resistance)
• Impedance (resistance) is the opposite of conductivity
• RF energy produces a thermal effect in tissue that is dependent
on the conductivity of the tissue
• The physical principle of impedance states that the RF current
always follows the path of least resistance
• Tissue impedance is a product of temperature and the type
(composition) of tissue
– The warmer a structure is, the more it will attract and conduct RF
current (the higher the temperature, the higher the electrical
conductivity and lower impedance)
• Cooler tissue has higher impedance and therefore does not
conduct current well
 Epidermal Cooling
• Cooling the outer skin layer (epidermis) will direct
RF current to the deeper (and warmer) skin
layers (highly desirable)

• Epidermal cooling also protects the outer skin

layers from thermal damage and makes
treatments more comfortable for patients
 Distribution of RF Energy
• The distribution of RF energy depends on the geometry
of the electrodes:
– Uni(mono)polar system (a single electrode)
– Bipolar system (two electrodes)
• The main difference between the two modes is the way
the RF energy is controlled and directed to the target
 Unipolar (Monopolar) System
• Delivers energy through
one small electrode
(while a large ground
electrode is applied to the
body at a distant point)
• Electrical energy
decreases with distance
from the electrode
• Generally unpredictable
due to RF energy having
to pass through the entire
body to grounding
electrode to complete the
circuit
 Bipolar System
• Passes the RF current
between two
electrodes at a fixed
distance apart
• Tissue resistance to
bipolar RF energy
creates precise and
controlled local dermal
heating
 Bipolar System
• The main advantage of bipolar systems vs.
unipolar/monopolar systems is the controlled distribution of
RF energy inside the tissue
• The level of current is limited by volume between the two RF
bipolar electrodes
• The intensity and depth of penetration of the RF energy can
be precisely controlled with bipolar systems
• Bipolar systems avoid the unpredictability and diminished
power at greater depths of monopolar systems due to the
greater distances traveled by RF energy passing through the
body to the grounding electrode with monopolar systems
 Skin Tightening
• A large market exists for medical treatments that tighten the skin.
• Skin tightening tones tissue and helps reduce the effects of aging
and environmental factors (such as UV exposure).
• The traditional methods for accomplishing skin tightening have
been surgical excision and extremely painful chemical peels.
• Lasers and radiofrequency devices promote skin tightening non-
invasively by means of a two stage process:
– The first stage produces an immediate effect
– The second stage is gradual and occurs over a period of 3 to 6
months
 Skin Tightening:
Mechanism of Action

• Collagen Shrinkage
• Collagen Cross-Links
• Collagen Remodeling
• Fibroblasts
 Collagen 1
• Collagen is the most
abundant protein in
mammals (30% of the total
protein the human body).
• Collagen is responsible for
the strength and elasticity of
our skin.
• The gradual degradation of
collagen leads to the
characteristic lines, wrinkles
and folds that accompany
the aging process.
 Collagen 2
• Collagen breakdown increases with both chronological
age and photoaging
• Factors that contribute to collagen breakdown include:
– Sun damage
– Free radical damage
– Age-related hormonal changes
– Tobacco smoking
 Collagen Types
• Collagen occurs in many places throughout the human body. There
are 28 different types of collagen described in the scientific literature.
• Type I
– collagen is by far the most abundant type of collagen found in the body
(comprising over 90% of our total collagen).
• Type VII
– collagen, forms the anchoring fibrils found in the dermal-epidermal
junction (DEJ).
• Types V & VI
– collagen, most interstitial tissue associated with type I
• Types II – XXVIII
– collagen, have more specialized functions.
 The Collagen Molecule
• The collagen molecule—tropocollagen
– is a rod-shaped unit measuring about
300 nm long and 1.5 nm in diameter.
• Tropocollagen is made up of three
polypeptide strands which are twisted
together into a “triple helix” coil. The
triple helix structure imparts
tremendous strength to the collagen
molecule.
• Collagen is described as “nature’s re-
bar”.
 Collagen Fibers
• Tough bundles of collagen called
collagen fibers are a major
component of the extra-cellular matrix
that supports most tissue structure.
 Collagen Cross-Links 1
• The collagen triple helix coil structure is
maintained by hydrogen bonds.

• Collagen molecules contain carbonyl

groups. The molecules self-assemble
into fibers, which become cross-linked
because of reactions between the
carbonyl groups and other amino acids
of adjoining molecules.

• Intermolecular cross-links provide

collagen connective tissue with high
tensile strength and elasticity.
 Collagen Synthesis:
Fibroblasts
• A fibroblast is a type of cell that synthesizes and
maintains the extracellular matrix of tissue.
Fibroblast cells differentiate into collagen and
other connective tissue cells.
• In healthy tissue, the main function of fibroblast is
to maintain the structural integrity of connective
tissue by secreting precursors of the extracellular
matrix, including collagen synthesis and lysis.
 Collagen Synthesis 2:
Fibroblasts
• Fibroblasts normally replace damaged collagen fibers
with new ones.
• The ability of fibroblasts to replace damaged collagen is
compromised by a number of factors including:
– The natural ageing process
– Environmental stressors (including sun exposure and cigarette
smoking)
 Collagen Synthesis 3:
Fibroblasts
During the aging process there is an increased demand and need for external biochemical fibroblast stimulation for the
• increased fibroblast production and collagen needed to maintain a healthy collagen matrix.
 Skin Tightening 1
• The first process of skin tightening is called de-naturation.
This process is both immediate and long lasting.

• De-naturation describes the major change to the tissues’

protein structures when subjected to stressors (such as
heat produced by RF conduction).

• The mechanism of skin tightening involves both

immediate de-naturation of collagen fibers (due to
contraction and shrinkage) and subsequent long term
remodeling and formation of collagen by cross-linking and
new collagen production.
 Skin Tightening 2
• When collagen fibers are heated, some of the cross-
links are broken, causing the triple helix structure to
unwind.

• When the heat is carefully maintained in the correct

range (i.e., 60-65 C), the collagen cross-links are
broken but not destroyed. This results in collagen
shrinkage and thickening while maintaining the
integrity of the tissue.
 Skin Tightening 3
• The safe temperature range to
shrink collagen fibers without
destroying them is narrow
(60 –65C)
• When the collagen molecule is
subjected to temperatures between
60 -65C, the collagen cross-links
rupture and cause the immediate
contraction of the fibers to about 1/3
their original length.
• The molecules, however, remain
intact—provided that temperatures
do not exceed 75 C.
 Skin Tightening 4
• The second process of skin tightening, collagen remodeling,
takes several months to achieve. The thermal damage in the
dermis induces an inflammatory response which triggers a
cascade of events leading to the release of extra-cellular
precursors that stimulate fibroblast activity and remodeling of
dermal collagen.
• The new collagen helps rebuild the areas where collagen has
been lost due to the aging process.
• This results in:
– reduction of tissue laxity
– improved elasticity
– reduction of lines and wrinkles.
• The second process of skin tightening is also characterized by a
gradual proliferation of fibroblasts leading to new collagen
deposits in the collagen depleted areas.
RF Fibroblast Stimulation and Collagen
Remodeling
• Multiple studies have shown that RF energy
penetration non-invasively heats the treated layers of
the deeper dermis
• The resulting thermal energy heats the papillary
dermis triggering a cascade of events leading to
– Stimulation of fibroblasts responsible for collagen remodeling
– Immediate tightening of collagen molecules via coagulation
and shrinkage
– Clinical improvement of rhytides
– Improvement of acne scars
TRIO SkinTightener Benefits
• Tightens, tones, and redefines
beautiful skin
• Non-ablative, non-invasive, minimal
discomfort
• Stimulates collagen tightening with
advanced, proprietary “3D focus wave”
• Allows choice of depth and area of
treatment
 TRIO SkinTightener
Mechanism of Action
• Focus wave technology
penetrates the deepest layers of
the dermis resulting in collagen
contraction and remodeling
• Immediate tightening results due
to thermally induced collagen
denaturation
• Long term results due to
subsequent neocollagenesis and
wrinkle reduction
 TRIO SkinTightener Features
• Advanced 3D Auto Focus technology
• Ten pre-programmed treatment regimens
• Direct contact epidermal cooling
• Multiple, bipolar hand pieces for variable
treatment depths and options:
– Body hand piece 8.4cm
– Facial hand piece 9.9cm contact cooling
– Mini probe hand piece 1.6cm
 TRIO SkinTightener Features
• Large touch screen color (LCD)
display
• User-friendly operator interface
• Pre-set treatment parameters
• Allows customized advanced
parameters
• Contact cooling provides
optimal patient comfort for facial
treatments
• Bipolar hand pieces for safest
operation
TRIO SkinTightener Specifications
• Dimensions: 15” L x 21” W x 51” H
• Weight: 60kg/132 lbs
• Power: Adjustable up to 50 Watts
• RF carrier frequency: 5 MHz
• Electrical Requirements:
100-110V/200-220V, 50-60 Hz