Abstract: A system and method for applying, essentially simultaneously, RF energy and optical energy to skin. The system comprises one or more RF electrodes for providing RF energy to the skin; and one or more light sources for providing optical energy to the skin. The method comprises applying, essentially simultaneously, RF energy and light energy to the skin. The method may be used for treating complex targets in the skin.

Abstract: A method and system for treating skin. The method comprises deforming the skin so that a region of skin protrudes from surrounding skin, and applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the skin. The system comprises a skin deformer that deforms a region of skin so that a region of skin protrudes out from surrounding skin. The system also comprises one or more RF elemodes configured to apply RF energy to the skin. The invention may be used to treat subcutaneous adipose tissue and cartage.

Abstract: A method and system for treating ski. The method comprises deforming the skin so that a region of skin protrudes from surrounding skin, and applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the skin. The system comprises a skin deformer tat deforms a region of skin so that a region of skin protrudes out from surrounding skin. The system also comprises one or more RF electrodes configured to apply RF energy to the skin. The invention may be used to teat subcutaneous adipose tissue and cartilage.

Abstract: System and method for treating a skin target. A temperature effector creates a temperature difference between the target and the skin tissue surrounding the target such that the target is at a higher temperature than the surrounding the. One or more RP electrodes are attached to the skin and RE energy is applied.

Abstract: A system and method for selective thermal treatment of skin irregularities. The system comprises one or more RF electrodes that are adapted to apply RF energy to the skin. An RF pulse generator generates voltage pulses in the RF range at the electrodes, where the voltage pulses have a duration of 2-500 ms. The method comprises applying RF electrodes to the skin and generating voltage pulses at the electrodes in the RF range, where the pulses have a duration in the range of 2-500 ms.

Abstract: A system and method for treating skin. The system comprises a source of radiation for irradiating the skin and a pair of electrodes for applying a voltage to the skin. An electrical meter measures an electrical response of the skin to the applied voltage. A processor adjusts a parameter of the radiation based upon the measured response. The invention may be used to control skin temperature during thermal treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating skin including applying pulsed light to the skin for heating and shrinking collagen within the skin, thereby reviving the elasticity of the collagen and of the skin. The epidermis and outer layers of the skin may be protected by cooling with a transparent substance, such as ice, gel or crystal. The temperature distribution within the skin is controlled by controlling the delay between the time the coolant is applied, and the time the light is applied, by controlling the pulse duration and applying multiple pulses, and by filtering the light and controlling the radiation spectrum. Preferably, the spectrum includes light having a wavelength in the range of 500-2000 nm. The pulsed light may be incoherent, such as that produced by a flashlamp, or coherent, such as that produced by a Nd(Yag) laser,an Alexandrite laser, a Diode laser, an Er:glass laser or a ruby laser, and may be directed to the skin using a flexible or rigid light guide.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal plan of sessions for hair removal treatment. The method includes the steps of receiving information about a hair growth cycle duration of a person to be treated, a duration of the Anagen stage of the person and at least one parameter of a device to be used for performing the treatment, and processing the received information thereby determining at least one of the group including the optimal number of hair removal tretament sessions and the optimal delay between sessions of the treatment.

Abstract: A method of laser surgery, comprising the steps of selecting lasers whose output radiation has appropriate extinction lengths in the tissue to be ablated, coagulated, and/or shrunk, and directing radiation from those lasers coaxially and substantially simultaneously at the tissue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating skin includes applying pulsed light to the skin to heat and shrinking collagen within the skin, thereby reviving the elasticity of the collagen and of the skin. The epidermis and outer layers of the skin may be protected by cooling with a transparent substance, such as ice or gel, to the skin. The temperature distribution within the skin is controlled by controlling the delay between the time the coolant is applied, and the time the light is applied, by controlling the pulse duration and applying multiple pulses, and by filtering the light and controlling the radiation spectrum, preferably, the spectrum includes light having a wavelength in the range of 600-1200 nm. The pulsed light may be incoherent, such as that produced by a flashlamp, or coherent, such as that produced by a Nd(Yag) laser or a ruby laser, and may be directed to the skin using a flexible or rigid light guide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating psoriasis includes a source of incoherent electromagnetic energy. The energy is directed to a region of tissue to be treated. The pulse duration and the number of pulses may be selected to control treatment parameters such as the heating of healthy tissue and the penetration depth of the energy to optimize the treatment. Also, the radiation may be filtered to control the radiation spectrum and penetration depth. The filtering may include attenuating an UV portion of the radiation spectrum and portions of the spectrum below a desired treatment bandwidth. A light guide for large or small spot sizes may be used to direct the light to the skin. A cooling gel is applied to the skin to be treated in another embodiment. The gel may be cooled either before or after it is applied to the skin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining skin lesion parameters comprise directing light to the skin in which the lesion is located and monitoring the reflection of that light. Then, the spatial and spectral distribution of the reflected light is analyzed. The depth is determined by finding a location where the difference between a spectral intensity of reflected light and an average reflected intensity is greater than a maximal difference between the intensity of each point and an average intensity for normal skin. The wavelength of the light reflected from the location is determined, and from the wavelength the penetration depth is determined. The penetration depth is also the depth of the lesion below the skin surface. The size is determined by determining a plurality of locations where the deviation between the spectral intensity and the average intensity is greater than the maximal deviation for normal skin. Based on the spatial distribution of the locations the size of the lesion is determined.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for the hyperthermic treatment of tumors including the steps of providing a pulsed radiation output from a radiation source; and directing said pulsed radiation output toward a tumor. The invention further includes an apparatus for the treatment of tumors having a radiation source adapted to produce broad-band pulsed radiation output at least in the visible and near-infrared range of wavelengths, a delivery system proximal to the radiation source and adapted to focus and direct the pulsed radiation output to a dermal treatment site, and a filtering system adapted to restrict the pulsed radiation output to bands in the visible and near-infrared range of wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus and method for diagnostic and composite treatment of a wide range of solid tumors. More particularly, the invention relates to an efficient apparatus and method for diagnosing and simultaneously treating certain types of cancer with photodynamic therapy and pulse heating.