70 results about "Non ablative" patented technology

A method and system for non-ablative acne treatment and prevention is disclosed. The method utilizes ultrasound energy which is targeted at a region of interest to treat existing acne and prevent future acne from forming. The application of ultrasound energy causes numerous physiological effects that treat acne. Some of these physiological effects comprise reducing sebum, increasing perfusion at the region of interest, denaturing proteins at the region of interest, creating an uninhabitable environment at the region of interest, initiating programmed cell death at the region of interest and the initiation of mechanical effects at the region of interest.

Ablation performance indicator for electrosurgical devices is described where ablation is typically characterized by the generation of a plasma discharge at the electrode assembly of an electrosurgical probe. When the electrode begins firing, the current waveform assumes a distinct appearance characterized by a spike at the leading edge of each half cycle followed by a lower level for the remaining period of the half cycle. A calculation of the waveform's Crest Factor can be used to determine the state at the electrode, e.g., whether the ablative energy is causing a desirable ablative effect on the electrode. This provides real-time measurements of the RMS and peak current amplitudes along with the Crest Factor and may also be used as limits or inputs to control algorithms or as inputs to indicate whether the device is in its ablative or non-ablative state.

A radio-frequency electrode that is specially configured to provide a reasonably uniform electric field distribution at the skin surface of a patient being treated to improve the skin appearance. Harmful burning is avoided by employing one of the following four features: pre-applying to the skin a thermal gel, a known thermally and electrically-conductive material, using low radio-frequency power at 3.8-4 MHz, relying on the natural cooling provided by a highly conductive electrode material, and continuously moving the electrode while in contact with the skin. Preferably, all four features are combined in carrying out the cosmetic procedure of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the highly conductive electrode material is an alloy comprised mainly of silver with a small percentage of ingredients added to strengthen the silver alloy electrode and preserve its luster and the active surface of the electrode is configured as a section of a sphere, or as dome shaped.

A method and system for non-ablative acne treatment and prevention is disclosed. The method utilizes ultrasound energy which is targeted at a region of interest to treat existing acne and prevent future acne from forming. The application of ultrasound energy causes numerous physiological effects that treat acne. Some of these physiological effects comprise reducing sebum, increasing perfusion at the region of interest, denaturing proteins at the region of interest, creating an uninhabitable environment at the region of interest, initiating programmed cell death at the region of interest and the initiation of mechanical effects at the region of interest.

A laser system has a laser source for generating a laser beam, a control unit, and a hand piece for manually guiding the laser beam onto a target area. A wavelength (λ) of the laser beam is in a range from above 1.9 μm to 11.0 μm inclusive. The laser system is adapted for a thermal, non ablative treatment of mucosa tissue by the laser beam such, that the laser source generates the laser beam in single pulses with a pulse duration (tp) in a range from 1.0 μs, inclusive, to 1.0 sec, inclusive, and that a fluence of each of the single pulses on the target area of the mucosa tissue is in a range from 0.2 J / cm2, inclusive, to 2.5 J / cm2, inclusive, and preferably in a range from 1.40 J / cm2, inclusive, to 1.95 J / cm2, inclusive.

A method and apparatus are provided for treating dermatological conditions, in which a first beam of radiation is used to ablate a hole in skin tissue, and a second beam of radiation is directed into the hole and onto a region of skin tissue adjacent to and / or at the bottom of the hole. The first beam can be provided by an ablative laser such as a CO2 laser or an ER:YAG laser. The second beam can be provided by, e.g., an ablative laser operating at a lower peak power level than the first beam, a non-ablative laser, a flashlamp, a tungsten lamp, a diode or a diode array. A controlled amount of thermal damage can thereby be provided at a desired depth within the skin, using radiation sources that would be absorbed closer to the surface of the skin if an ablated hole were not present. Cooling and / or freezing of the skin prior to ablation can be provided to provide an analgesic effect and / or stabilize the tissue surrounding the ablated hole. The region of skin to be treated can optionally be pulled towards the radiation source using a vacuum to stretch and / or stabilize the skin tissue surrounding the volume to be ablated.

To control cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation post-operatively, various non-ablative agents include polymers, fibroblasts, neurotoxins, and growth factors are introduced into one or more cardiac fat pads into the atrioventricular nodal fat pad in proximity to the autonomic ganglia therein. Any desired technique may be used for introducing the agent, including injection. The sinoatrial nodal fat pad target site and the atrioventricular nodal fat pad target site are identified using a stimulator, which may have electrodes coupled thereto or which may coupled to electrodes built into a delivery system.

The invention comprises a system and method for non-ablative laser treatment of dermatologic conditions. A laser energy is transmitted to an underlying target element in the skin. The target element is heated to a temperature of at least forty degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, a pulsed, near infrared, high peak power laser energy is used. The systems and methods of the present invention may be used to treat acne, smooth wrinkles, remove hair, treat leg veins, treat facial veins, improve skin texture, decrease pore sizes, reduce rosacea, reduce “blush / diffuse redness, reduce striae, reduce scarring, or the like.

Exemplary methods and devices can be provided for fractional resurfacing of skin that include formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using one or more pulses of ablative electromagnetic radiation (EMR), e.g., optical energy. One or more pulses of substantially non-ablative can then be directed into the ablated holes to coagulate tissue therein, followed by at least one further ablative pulse of EMR to ablate and remove some of the coagulated tissue. Optionally, one or more further pulses of non-ablative EMR can then be directed into the hole to reduce the hole depth. Such procedures and device can provide reduced healing times and / or enhanced rejuvenation effects.

To control cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation post-operatively, various non-ablative agents include polymers, fibroblasts, neurotoxins, and growth factors are introduced into one or more cardiac fat pads into the atrioventricular nodal fat pad in proximity to the autonomic ganglia therein. Any desired technique may be used for introducing the agent, including injection. The sinoatrial nodal fat pad target site and the atrioventricular nodal fat pad target site are identified using a stimulator, which may have electrodes coupled thereto or which may coupled to electrodes built into a delivery system.

A non-ablative structure and method for forming a variable resistor includes providing a programmable resistive element including two or more different conductive materials, and changing a resistance of the programmable resistive element to a finite value by heating the programmable element by either providing a current flow through the programmable element, or directing a laser beam onto the programmable element. The conductive materials are interdiffused to form an alloy of the conductive materials. A resistance value of the variable resistor is determined, at least in part, by the degree to which the conductive materials are alloyed or interdiffused. The method and structure of the variable resistor prevents ablative damage to adjoining circuit structure, allowing tighter pitch, and has application to digital programmable elements, and to resistance trimming for impedance matching in RF integrated circuits.

A device and method is disclosed for the treatment of early stage wounds, i.e. those wounds that have resulted in little or no breach of the skin tissue. The invention utilizes non-ablative laser or non-coherent electromagnetic radiation applied to a stage one or two wound to stimulate wound healing, destroy viral and bacterial bodies, and prevent the development of such wounds into higher stage wounds. An appropriate wavelength is chosen from the range of 193 nm to 10.6 microns, and is delivered at a power density of about at least 1 W / cm2 over a predetermined treatment duration typically in the range of 1 second to 3 minutes. To achieve the desired energy density, radiation is typically delivered at a power between 1 Watt and 15 Watts, with an average power of 5-10 Watts. Early stage wounds that can be addressed with this invention include but are not limited to spider or other insect bites, bee stings, rashes, eczema, psoriasis, and poison ivy. The present invention is especially useful for patients with a compromised ability to heal or stave off infection due to diabetes or other conditions.

RF energy for skin conditioning with a non-ablative electrode is applied with a handpiece incorporating means to prevent electrical shock to the patient when the energized electrode surface makes or breaks contact with the skin. In a preferred embodiment, switch means are incorporated in the handpiece and configured such that the active electrode surface is not energized until it is in actual contact with the patient's skin, and remains energized only while the active electrode surface remains in contact with the patient's skin, so that no voltage is present on the electrode, when an air gap whose dielectric breakdown can cause an electrical shock to the patient arises, immediately before or immediately after skin contact during a skin conditioning procedure. In another preferred embodiment, the electrode to skin impedance change as the electrode touches the skin is used to activate a switch that transfers RF to the electrode.