Abstract: A laminated laser window having an inner layer transparent to light having wavelengths between 3.5 micrometers and 12 micrometers and having as an outer surface a nanometric-thick outer layer of SiO2. The window allows the passage of light within this wavelength range, for example from a CO2 laser. In The SiO2 outer layer maintains biocompatibility when used in laser devices for insertion into externally accessible bodily cavities.

Abstract: A laser treatment head in which an elongate applicator is shaped to access a bodily cavity. At the distal end of the applicator is a deflector protected by a window. At a proximal end of the applicator is a drive that can axially displace and rotate the applicator in a helical pattern such that laser beam pulses deflected to the mucosa area applied along a helical path to the wall of the cavity. The drive comprises a stationary hollow shaft inside a rotatable sleeve. The shaft has a helical channel in its outer surface and the sleeve has a longitudinal slot through its wall. A pin attached to the proximal end of the applicator extends through the slot and into the channel. When the sleeve is rotated, the slot advances the pin along the channel, moving the attached applicator in the helical pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for dermatological treatment that in some embodiments include contacting a plurality of cooling probes with an area of skin and maintaining the plurality of cooling probes in contact with the area of skin for a period of time while the distal ends of the plurality of cooling probes substantially cool a volume of tissue, thereby causing a beneficial effect as a result of the substantial cooling of the volume of tissue, as well as devices useful for implementing the method.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating a volume of material by concurrently conveying acoustic energy and depositing thermal energy using a unipolar RF (radio-frequency) field. Also disclosed are devices suitable for concurrently conveying acoustic energy and depositing thermal energy using a unipolar RF (radio-frequency) field into the same volume of material. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods and devices are implemented for the treatment of subcutaneous fat.

Abstract: A method for medical treatment includes bringing an applicator, having an array of protrusions disposed thereon, into proximity with a skin surface of a patient so as to maintain a space between a plurality of the protrusions and the skin surface. Radio-frequency (RF) electrical power is applied to the applicator so as to cause electrical discharges to be generated, in response to the RF electrical power, between the plurality of the protrusions and respective points on the skin surface via a fluid medium in the space.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) includes a probe (36) and a processor (144). The probe is positioned adjacent to an eye (28) of a patient (32) and is configured to irradiate a trabecular meshwork (56) of the eye with one or more optical beams (52). The processor is configured to select one or more target regions (80) of the trabecular meshwork, and to control the probe to irradiate the selected target regions with the optical beams.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating biological tissue using a plasma gas-discharge are disclosed herein. An electrode for igniting a gas flow to form a plasma gas-discharge, wherein the electrode is configured within the device such that upon encountering a surface of the biological tissue by the electrode, a path of current from the electrode to the surface of the biological tissue is formed, thereby igniting the gas flow and forming the plasma gas-discharge. In some embodiments, electromagnetic interactions between the treated biological tissue and the plasma gas discharge traversing the electromagnetic interaction gap shape the profile of the plasma gas discharge. According to some embodiments, the device includes an electrode for igniting gas of the gas flow, and electromagnetic interactions between the electrode and the skin determine, at least in part, the electromagnetic interactions that shape the profile of the plasma gas discharge.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for thermally treating sweat glands in a volume of skin of a patient. A unipolar RF handpiece comprises a unipolar RF electrode and a bipolar RF handpiece comprises a supply electrode and a ground electrode, separated by an insulator. The unipolar RF handpiece applies RF waves into the volume of skin to dielectrically heat the sweat glands and the bipolar RF handpiece introduces RF current dielectrically heat the sweat glands. In some embodiments, the electrodes of the bipolar RF handpiece are arranged coaxially and are adjustable to allow for adjusting the depth of the RF current. In some embodiments the RF waves are applied first, heating the sweat glands and thus increasing their water content so the RF current can be applied to complete thermal disruption or destruction of the sweat glands without disrupting surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An electrode is disclosed for use in a system for heating biological tissue via RF energy. The electrode comprises a plurality of electrically conductive pins projecting from, and in electrical contact with, an electrically conductive common base. The base is connectible to a source of RF energy and the spaced ends of the pins remote from the base have contact regions for introducing RF energy from the source into the biological tissue. Each contact region is sufficiently small to achieve uniform dielectric heating in the biological tissue beneath the contact region at the frequency of the applied RF energy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for damaging hair follicles using a series of rapidly-delivered low-fluence pulses of coherent or incoherent light are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the pulses of coherent or incoherent light have a wavelength or wavelengths primarily in the range between 750 nm and 1500 nm. In some embodiments, applied electromagnetic radiation comprising the rapidly-delivered low-fluence pulses is effective for concomitantly heating both the sub-dermal layer (i.e. the dermis) of the tissue and the hair follicles. In some embodiments, the thermal damaging of the hair follicles is useful for facilitating hair-removal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for treating adipose tissue located beneath a patient's skin is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a sonotrode 140 and an ultrasound transducer 130 operative to induce longitudinal and/or transversal ultrasound vibrations in a least a portion of the sonotrode 140. In some embodiments, the apparatus provides a “cold” or “transverse” mode where ultrasound energy delivered to the patient is primarily energy of transverse ultrasound waves, and a “hot” or “longitudinal” mode where ultrasound energy delivered to the patient is primarily energy of longitudinal ultrasound waves. The longitudinal waves may be useful for ‘pre-heating’ tissue of the patient before delivering the transverse waves.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating a volume of material by concurrently conveying acoustic energy and depositing thermal energy using a unipolar RF (radio-frequency) field. Also disclosed are devices suitable for concurrently conveying acoustic energy and depositing thermal energy using a unipolar RF (radio-frequency) field into the same volume of material. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods and devices are implemented for the treatment of subcutaneous fat.

Abstract: A comb for hair or fibres is discloses which comprises a rigid comb body having a spine extending along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of teeth projecting from the spine and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, and at least one ultrasound generator connected to the spine . In the invention, the or each ultrasound generator comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer operative to apply compression waves to the spine in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spine so as to cause surface waves to propagate along the spine and the teeth of the comb body.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for dermatological treatment of an area of skin of a subject that, in some embodiments, comprise moving a light director aperture in a prescribed direction relative to a skin surface and triggering a light source to produce a short-duration pulse of light and directing the produced short-duration pulse of light at a skin surface as a plurality of individual light beams every time the light director aperture travels a prescribed distance relative to the skin surface. Also disclosed are devices useful for fractional laser therapy to affect dermatological treatment that in some embodiments comprise a trigger functionally associated with a distance measurer functionally associated with a contact surface, the trigger configured to trigger a functionally-associated light source when a distance traveled by the contact surface along a skin surface is a prescribed distance.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for treating adipose tissue located beneath a patient's skin is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a sonotrode and an ultrasound transducer operative to induce longitudinal and/or transversal ultrasound vibrations in a least a portion of the sonotrode. In some embodiments, the apparatus provides a “cold” or “transverse” mode where ultrasound energy delivered to the patient is primarily energy of transverse ultrasound waves, and a “hot” or “longitudinal” mode where ultrasound energy delivered to the patient is primarily energy of longitudinal ultrasound waves. The longitudinal waves may be useful for ‘pre-heating’ tissue of the patient before delivering the transverse waves.

Abstract: A skin treatment device combines an RF treatment arrangement with a mechanical massage arrangement, preferably with the massage device in the form of an annular massage head encircling and rotating around the RF applicator. Also disclosed are configurations with a liquid dispenser for delivering a liquid to the skin under the device. According to one option, the skin contact surface of the RF applicator itself is provided in part by a rolling ball liquid applicator.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus and method are disclosed for applying mechanical ultrasonic vibrations to an area of tissue. The apparatus comprises an applicator movable by an operator over the area of tissue to be treated. Mounted within the applicator are an ultrasonic transducer for generating mechanical vibrations and a sonotrode for transmitting the vibrations generated by the transducer to the tissue to be treated. The apparatus further comprises a sensor for measuring an operating parameter indicative of the efficiency of the acoustic coupling between the sonotrode and the tissue to be treated, and electronic circuitry for generating a signal (e.g. an alarm signal) when the efficiency of the acoustic coupling drops below a threshold.

Abstract: A system 30 and method(s) 100 for thermal treatment of a selected target within a subject is disclosed. System 30 includes RF source 10, phase shifter 14, impedance matching network 11 and resonator 13. Stationary water molecules 1, such as those in fat cells, are heated. The invention is useful in selective heating of cellulite bodies as a means of treating cellulite.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sonotrode and its use for transdermal delivery of therapeutic or cosmetic compounds. The sonotrode 10 comprises a tubular neck 14 attached at a proximal end to a solid head 12 and ending at a distal end in a flared foot 16. When coupled to an ultrasonic transducer and applied to skin of a human or animal, the sonotrode enhances the delivery of compounds into the skin.

Abstract: A system 30 and method(s) 100 for thermal treatment of a selected target within a subject is disclosed. System 30 includes RF source 10, phase shifter 14, impedance matching network 11 and resonator 13. Stationary water molecules 1, such as those in fat cells, are heated. The invention is useful in selective heating of cellulite bodies as a means of treating cellulite.