Methods and devices for treating tissue
First Claim
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1. An electrode device for treating a target region directly beneath a target surface of tissue, the electrode device comprising:
- a device body having a handle portion, and a tissue engaging surface, where the tissue engaging surface allows placement and orientation of the tissue engagement surface on a positioning surface of tissue;
a first plurality of electrodes adapted to penetrate tissue and being advanceable from the device body at an oblique angle relative to the tissue engaging surface from a first position at least adjacent to the tissue engaging surface to beyond the tissue engaging surface, where the plurality of electrodes advances in a direction away from the tissue engaging surface such that the plurality of electrodes is positioned in the target region beneath the target surface of tissue where the target surface of tissue is uncovered by the tissue engagement surface;
where each electrode includes an active region located at a distal portion thereof;
a connector adapted to couple an energy supply to the plurality of electrodes; and
a cooling surface separately positionable from the tissue engagement surface and adjacent to the tissue engaging surface, the cooling surface being spaced from the plurality of electrodes such that the cooling surface is adapted to engage an area of the tissue surface directly above the active region of the electrodes when the electrodes are advanced from the device body, and where the cooling surface is adapted to maintain a temperature at, below, or slightly above body temperature.
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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
27 Claims
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1. An electrode device for treating a target region directly beneath a target surface of tissue, the electrode device comprising:
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a device body having a handle portion, and a tissue engaging surface, where the tissue engaging surface allows placement and orientation of the tissue engagement surface on a positioning surface of tissue; a first plurality of electrodes adapted to penetrate tissue and being advanceable from the device body at an oblique angle relative to the tissue engaging surface from a first position at least adjacent to the tissue engaging surface to beyond the tissue engaging surface, where the plurality of electrodes advances in a direction away from the tissue engaging surface such that the plurality of electrodes is positioned in the target region beneath the target surface of tissue where the target surface of tissue is uncovered by the tissue engagement surface; where each electrode includes an active region located at a distal portion thereof; a connector adapted to couple an energy supply to the plurality of electrodes; and a cooling surface separately positionable from the tissue engagement surface and adjacent to the tissue engaging surface, the cooling surface being spaced from the plurality of electrodes such that the cooling surface is adapted to engage an area of the tissue surface directly above the active region of the electrodes when the electrodes are advanced from the device body, and where the cooling surface is adapted to maintain a temperature at, below, or slightly above body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification