Abstract: A skin surface is treated with bipolar RF energy. A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. A thickness of each semiconductive cap between a blunt skin contacting surface and a curved surface affixed to a respective electrode is thicker at an inner portion and thinner at a center portion to homogenize the electrical field at the skin surface.

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with RF energy (e.g., unipolar, monopolar, bipolar or multipolar RF delivery). A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and, optionally, a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. The first semiconductive cap and/or the second semiconductive cap have an electrical conductivity matched or substantially matched to the skin's electrical conductivity (e.g., about 0.1 to about 2 times that of the skin).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with RF energy (e.g., unipolar, monopolar, bipolar or multipolar RF delivery). A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and, optionally, a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. The first semiconductive cap and/or the second semiconductive cap have an electrical conductivity matched or substantially matched to the skin's electrical conductivity (e.g., about 0.1 to about 2 times that of the skin).

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with RF energy (e.g., unipolar, monopolar, bipolar or multipolar RF delivery). A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and, optionally, a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. The first semiconductive cap and/or the second semiconductive cap have an electrical conductivity matched or substantially matched to the skin's electrical conductivity (e.g., about 0.1 to about 2 times that of the skin).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with RF energy (e.g., unipolar, monopolar, bipolar or multipolar RF delivery). A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and, optionally, a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. The first semiconductive cap and/or the second semiconductive cap have an electrical conductivity matched or substantially matched to the skin's electrical conductivity (e.g., about 0.1 to about 2 times that of the skin).

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with bipolar RF energy. A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. A thickness of each semiconductive cap between a blunt skin contacting surface and a curved surface affixed to a respective electrode is thicker at an inner portion and thinner at a center portion to homogenize the electrical field at the skin surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for calibrating spectral data acquisition systems. These calibration methods produce spectral data sufficiently accurate for use in tissue classification algorithms. The invention improves the accuracy of spectral-based tissue classification schemes, in part, by properly accounting for spatial variations, instrument-to-instrument variations, and patient-to-patient variations in the acquisition of spectral data from tissue samples. Effects that are accounted for include, for example, stray light effects, electronic background effects, variation in light energy delivered to a tissue sample, spatial heterogeneities of the illumination source, chromatic aberrations of the scanning optics, variation in wavelength response of the collection optics, and efficiency of the collection optics.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining the probability that a given region of a tissue sample contains tissue of a given category, such as CIN 1 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1), CIN 2/3 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and/or 3), normal squamous, normal columnar, and metaplasia, for example. The invention provides increased diagnostic accuracy by combining a plurality of statistical classification techniques. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the invention comprises combining one or more statistical techniques with one or more non-statistical classification techniques.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for processing tissue-derived spectral data for use in a tissue classification algorithm. Methods of the invention comprise application of spectral and/or image masks for automatically separating ambiguous or unclassifiable spectral data from valid spectral data. The invention improves the accuracy of tissue classification, in part, by properly identifying and accounting for spectral data from tissue regions that are affected by an obstruction and/or regions that lie outside a diagnostic zone of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for displaying diagnostic results obtained from a tissue sample. In general, the invention assigns tissue-class probability values to discrete regions of a patient sample, and creates an overlay for displaying the results. The overlay facilitates display of the tissue class probabilities in a way that reflects the diagnostic relevance of the data. For example, methods of the invention comprise applying filtering and color-blending techniques in order to facilitate display of diagnostic results.

Abstract: A system and method for the in situ discrimination of healthy and diseased tissue. A fiberoptic based probe is employed to direct ultraviolet illumination onto a tissue specimen and to collect the fluorescent response radiation. The response radiation is observed at three selected wavelengths, about 403 nm, about 414 nm, and about 431 nm. The intensities of the 403 nm and 414 mn radiation are normalized using the 431 nm intensity. A score is determined using the ratios in a linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The tissue under examination is resected or not, based on the outcome of the LDA.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining a characteristic of a tissue sample, such as a state of health, using spectral data and/or images obtained within an optimal period of time following the application of a chemical agent to the tissue sample. The invention provides methods of determining such optimal windows of time. Similarly, the invention provides methods of determining other criteria for triggering the acquisition of an optical signal for classifying the state of health of a region of a tissue sample.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for determining whether spectral data obtained from a region of a tissue sample are affected by an artifact. Artifacts include, for example, lighting artifacts such as glare and shadow and obstruction artifacts, such as blood, a speculum, a smoke tube, or other obstruction. Additionally, the invention provides an apparatus and methods for obtaining redundant spectral data of a given region of a sample. A redundant set of spectral data is useful where one or more artifacts affect some but not all sets of the spectral data, such that the redundant set of data is unaffected by the artifact and is representative of the tissue. An embodiment of the invention comprises using representative spectral data in diagnosing a condition of a region of tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for determining whether spectral data obtained from a region of a tissue sample are affected by an artifact. Artifacts include, for example, lighting artifacts such as glare and shadow and obstruction artifacts, such as blood, a speculum, a smoke tube, or other obstruction. Additionally, the invention provides an apparatus and methods for obtaining redundant spectral data of a given region of a sample. A redundant set of spectral data is useful where one or more artifacts affect some but not all sets of the spectral data, such that the redundant set of data is unaffected by the artifact and is representative of the tissue. An embodiment of the invention comprises using representative spectral data in diagnosing a condition of a region of tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining the probability that a given region of a tissue sample contains tissue of a given category, such as CIN 1 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade 1), CIN 2/3 (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and/or 3), normal squamous, normal columnar, and metaplasia, for example. The invention provides increased diagnostic accuracy by combining a plurality of statistical classification techniques. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the invention comprises combining one or more statistical techniques with one or more non-statistical classification techniques.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for calibrating spectral data acquisition systems. These calibration methods produce spectral data sufficiently accurate for use in tissue classification algorithms. The invention improves the accuracy of spectral-based tissue classification schemes, in part, by properly accounting for spatial variations, instrument-to-instrument variations, and patient-to-patient variations in the acquisition of spectral data from tissue samples. Effects that are accounted for include, for example, stray light effects, electronic background effects, variation in light energy delivered to a tissue sample, spatial heterogeneities of the illumination source, chromatic aberrations of the scanning optics, variation in wavelength response of the collection optics, and efficiency of the collection optics.