Methods and devices for treating tissue
First Claim
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1. A method for applying energy to a region of tissue to improve a cosmetic appearance of the tissue, the method comprising:
- maintaining a cooling surface at or below body temperature;
placing the cooling surface against a tissue surface;
advancing a plurality of electrodes at an oblique angle relative to the tissue surface into the tissue, each electrode including an active region at a distal portion thereof, such that the active region is directly below the cooling surface where the electrodes enter the tissue surface at an entry location that is spaced from the cooling surface to allow for direct cooling of an entire tissue region above the active region, where the electrodes do not pass through the cooling surface when entering the tissue surface; and
applying energy to the active region of the electrodes to a region of tissue beneath the tissue surface to cause a change in the region of tissue.
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Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for achieving the cosmetically beneficial effects of shrinking collagen tissue in the dermis or other areas of tissue in an effective, non-invasive manner using an array of electrodes. Systems described herein allow for improved treatment of tissue. Additional variations of the system include array of electrodes configured to minimize the energy required to produce the desired effect.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for applying energy to a region of tissue to improve a cosmetic appearance of the tissue, the method comprising:
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maintaining a cooling surface at or below body temperature; placing the cooling surface against a tissue surface; advancing a plurality of electrodes at an oblique angle relative to the tissue surface into the tissue, each electrode including an active region at a distal portion thereof, such that the active region is directly below the cooling surface where the electrodes enter the tissue surface at an entry location that is spaced from the cooling surface to allow for direct cooling of an entire tissue region above the active region, where the electrodes do not pass through the cooling surface when entering the tissue surface; and applying energy to the active region of the electrodes to a region of tissue beneath the tissue surface to cause a change in the region of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for applying energy to a region of tissue to improve a cosmetic appearance of the tissue, the method comprising:
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advancing a plurality of electrodes at an oblique angle relative to a tissue surface into the tissue, each electrode including an active region at a distal portion thereof; placing the cooling surface against the tissue surface, where the cooling surface is maintained at or below body temperature and where the active region of the electrode is directly below the cooling surface and where the entry of the electrodes at the tissue surface is at an entry location that is spaced from the cooling surface to allow for direct cooling of an entire tissue region above the active region, where the electrodes do not pass through the cooling surface when inserted into the tissue surface; and applying energy to the active region of the electrodes to a region of tissue beneath the tissue surface to cause a change in the region of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification