Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating tissue wherein a handpiece with a cartridge of motor driven needles is placed in contact with tissue. The motor is energized to drive the needles. Energy is applied energy to the needles. Tissue impedance at the start of treatment is measured. Tissue impedance at the end of treatment is measured. The operator is then notified that corrective action is needed if the measured ending impedance is higher than the measured starting impedance indicating the needles are not inserted into the tissue.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus includes a motorized subsystem in a handpiece housing having a rotating output shaft, an axial cam driven in rotation by the output shaft, and a push rod linearly driven by the axial cam. A cartridge is removably attachable to the handpiece housing and includes a cartridge housing, a needle assembly, a piston in the housing engaging the needle assembly and linearly driven forward by the push rod, and a first biasing member urging the piston rearward.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus system includes a plurality of needles configured to provide radio frequency energy, a source of radio frequency energy for supplying radio frequency energy to the plurality of needles, and a driving unit configured to insert the plurality of needles to different dermal depths. A user interface is configured to allow a user to select a plurality of depths the needles are to be inserted and, at each depth, an energy level to be applied. A controller subsystem is responsive to a user selected plurality of depths and a user selected energy level at each depth and is configured to control the driving unit to insert the plurality of needles to the user selected plurality of depths and, at each depth, control the source of radio frequency energy to apply the user selected energy level. A computer safety routine is configured to limit a user selected energy level when a user selected depth is less than a predetermined minimum depth from the skin surface.