Methods and apparatus for skin treatment
First Claim
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1. A method for shrinking the skin at a target site of a patient'"'"'s face or neck, comprising:
- a) providing a probe, the probe including a shaft having a shaft distal end, an active electrode at the shaft distal end, and a return electrode spaced from the active electrode;
b) advancing the shaft distal end through the skin from the epidermis toward the subcutis until the shaft distal end is at a subcutaneous location;
c) passing the shaft distal end through the subcutis toward the dermis; and
d) applying a sub-ablation voltage between the active electrode and the return electrode, wherein the sub-ablation voltage effects contraction of the skin in the vicinity of the target site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for electrosurgically treating human skin. The skin may be treated by applying thermal energy to the dermis to shrink the skin following liposuction, or to induce collagen deposition at the site of a wrinkle for wrinkle reduction or removal. In another embodiment, a method involves electrosurgically removing or modifying tissue in the head or neck to provide a face-lift or a neck-lift. In one embodiment, the working end of an electrosurgical instrument is positioned in at least close proximity to the dermis by approaching the dermis from the underside (reverse side) of the skin.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for shrinking the skin at a target site of a patient'"'"'s face or neck, comprising:
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a) providing a probe, the probe including a shaft having a shaft distal end, an active electrode at the shaft distal end, and a return electrode spaced from the active electrode;
b) advancing the shaft distal end through the skin from the epidermis toward the subcutis until the shaft distal end is at a subcutaneous location;
c) passing the shaft distal end through the subcutis toward the dermis; and
d) applying a sub-ablation voltage between the active electrode and the return electrode, wherein the sub-ablation voltage effects contraction of the skin in the vicinity of the target site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for removing or reducing wrinkles on the skin of a patient, comprising:
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a) providing a probe, the probe including a shalt having a shaft distal end, an active electrode at the shalt distal end, and a return electrode spaced from the active electrode;
b) subcutaneously accessing the patient'"'"'s dermis with the shaft distal end, wherein the active electrode is positioned in at least close proximity to a wrinkle targeted for treatment wherein said step b) comprises advancing the shaft distal end in a first direction through the epidermis toward the subcutis until the shaft distal end is positioned subcutaneously; and
advancing the shaft distal end in a second direction from the subcutaneous position toward the epidermis; and
c) applying a sub-ablation voltage between the active electrode and the return electrode, the sub-ablation voltage effective in removing or reducing the wrinkle targeted for treatment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification