Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue with an attendant reduction in the pain experienced by the patient due to tissue heating. Electromagnetic energy is delivered from an electrode through a skin surface to heat a first region of tissue beneath the skin surface and a second region of the tissue between the first region and the skin surface. During the delivery of the electromagnetic energy, a temperature of the second region of the tissue is caused to oscillate between at least one maximum temperature and at least one minimum temperature. The temperature oscillation may be induced by a timed sequence of cryogen pulses delivered to the electrode, which in turn extracts thermal energy out of the second region of tissue through the contacting skin surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for transcutaneously treating tissue located beneath a skin surface with electromagnetic energy delivered from a treatment electrode. A portion of the treatment electrode is contacted with the skin surface. While maintaining the contact between the portion of the treatment electrode and the skin surface, the electromagnetic energy is delivered from the treatment electrode in a plurality of power pulses through the skin surface to the tissue over a treatment time with a time gap between each consecutive pair of the pulses to lower a level of pain perceived by a patient.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue with a reduction in the pain experienced by the patient. Electromagnetic energy is delivered from a treatment electrode through the skin surface to the tissue at a plurality of power levels over a treatment time. During the energy delivery, a portion of the treatment electrode is in a contacting relationship with the skin surface. A dielectric member may be disposed between the treatment electrode and the skin surface when the electromagnetic energy is delivered.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering electromagnetic energy to a patient's tissue with a reduction in the pain experienced by the patient. The tissue treatment apparatus includes a delivery device configured to transfer electromagnetic energy through the skin surface to a region of tissue and a vibration device mechanically coupled with the delivery device. The vibration device is configured to transfer mechanical vibrations through the skin surface to the region of tissue.

Abstract: The invention describes a treatment for skin containing selected targets that provides feedback in response to a measurement enabled by the ablation of holes. The inventive apparatus includes an electromagnetic source configured to emit ablative electromagnetic energy, a delivery system, a sensing element, and a controller. The delivery system can be configured to receive ablative energy from the electromagnetic source and deliver it to multiple discrete locations at the selected region to form a pattern of discrete holes in epidermal and dermal tissue of the skin. The lipid content a portion of the tissue can be evaluated using a sensing element. At least one pulse of electromagnetic energy is delivered to the skin under control of a controller in response to the result of a measurement by the sensing element. The apparatus may include a positional sensor to provide additional dosage control, particularly when the inventive method is used with a continuously movable handpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for transcutaneously treating tissue beneath a skin surface using radiofrequency energy. The apparatus includes an electrode assembly supported by a handpiece. The electrode assembly includes an electrode configured to transfer the radiofrequency energy through the skin surface to the tissue. A force sensor, which is located in the handpiece, is configured to detect an amount of force applied by the electrode against the skin surface.