Abstract: A catheter US transducer container and method of manufacture thereof including a housing, one or more cooling channels oriented longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the container, a sealing cooling channel cover, one or more PE elements positioned on a floor of the cooling channel, the cooling channel having a trapezoid cross section at any point along the PE element.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

Abstract: A system for treating fat tissue, including: an ultrasound applicator, including: two or more ultrasound transducers configured to generate and direct ultrasonic waves to a selected tissue volume including fat tissue; a control unit, including: a control circuitry electrically connected to the two or more ultrasound transducers, wherein the control circuitry is configured to activate the two or more ultrasound transducers to heat the selected tissue volume.

Abstract: A method for treating skin, including: delivering one or more pulses of non-converging ultrasonic energy through a surface area size in a range of 3 mm2-7 mm2, wherein each pulse having an intensity in a range of 5 W/cm2-60 W/cm2 and a time duration in which the ultrasonic energy is actively transmitted in a range of 1-10 seconds per pulse, wherein the non-converging ultrasonic energy is delivered from a fixed position to one or more skin regions having a maximal surface area size in a range of 5 cm2-100 cm2.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

Abstract: A system for delivery of ultrasonic waves to a tissue volume, including: an ultrasound applicator shaped and sized to be at least partially inserted into a vagina, including: a body with a non-planar surface, wherein said body is shaped and sized to be at least partly introduced into a vagina; a plurality of ultrasound transducers distributed on the non-planar surface of the ultrasound applicator body, wherein at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducers are configured to contact a surface of a wall of the vagina during the generation of ultrasonic waves; at least one cooler configured to apply cooling to prevent overheating of the vagina wall surface being contacted by the transducers; a control unit, comprising: a control circuitry electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducers, wherein the control circuitry signals at least some of the ultrasound transducers to generate ultrasonic waves to heat the tissue volume.

Abstract: A catheter US transducer container and method of manufacture thereof including a housing, one or more cooling channels oriented longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of the container, a sealing cooling channel cover, one or more PE elements positioned on a floor of the cooling channel, the cooling channel having a trapezoid cross section at any point along the PE element.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including positioning an ultrasound transducer at a blood vessel ostium, rotating the transducer about its axis and scanning tissue of the blood vessel ostium, recording one or more baseline returned signals from the tissue, and creating a baseline image of the blood vessel ostium based on at least one of the returned signals. Tissue of the blood vessel ostium is ablated in consecutive segments by rotating the transducer segmentally until full rotation is completed. The returned signals of the ablated segments are recorded in real-time and a real-time image is created based on the one or more returned signals. Ablation is terminated after changes in the real-time returned signals and/or real-time image with respect to the baseline returned signals and/or baseline image indicate an achieved predetermined level of ablation lesion formation. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a catheter ultrasound transducer that includes one or more piezoelectric elements configured to ablate tissue of an ostium of a blood vessel by applying ultrasound energy to tissue of the ostium. An expandable positioner is configured to envelope at least a portion of the catheter ultrasound transducer and to position the catheter ultrasound transducer in the ostium of the blood vessel by contacting a wall of the blood vessel. A system processor in communication with the one or more piezoelectric elements is configured to regulate a parameter of the ultrasound energy emitted from the one or more piezoelectric elements based on impedance measurement between one or more electrodes located on the expandable positioner and one or more electrodes located on the catheter ultrasound transducer. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.

Abstract: A clot removal device and method for removing a clot from a blood vessel are provided, where the clot removal device includes a shaft and an elongate clot engagement element having one end connected to the shaft and a distal end remote from the end connected to the shaft, and where the shaft and elongate clot engagement element having a principal longitudinal axis. Further, the distal end can include an end formation forming a curved contact surface at the distal end, and the end formation can be displaced to one side of the principal longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that affect vacuum to massage a volume of the skin and one or more types of skin treatment energies coupled to the massaged volume to treat the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and produce a desired treatment effect. The method and apparatus are based on coupling an array or a number of arrays being an assembly of skin treatment units with each skin treatment unit including a hollow cavity and a number of different energy to skin applying elements operative to receive skin treatment energy from a source of such energy and couple or apply the received energy to a treated segment of skin.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an angioplasty device may include a flexible shaft. The angioplasty device may also include an expandable wire mesh structure extending from the flexible shaft. At least one actuator, connected to the expandable wire mesh structure, the actuator being configured to cooperate with the wire mesh structure to transfer angioplasty forces to a vessel obstruction.

Abstract: A clot removal device and method for removing a dot from a blood vessel may include an expandable clot engagement element, an expandable dot capture element, and a sheath surrounding and compressing the capture element and the engagement element. The sheath may be removable to thereby enable the capture element to expand in a blood vessel in which the sheath is deployed, and to enable the engagement element to expand within the capture element.

Abstract: A treatment device (500) is provided including a shaft (507), an expandable member, a first elongated control member (508) and a second elongated control member (502). The expandable member can further include at least a first controllable portion (504) and a second controllable portion (503), where the expandable member, including the first controllable portion and the second controllable portion, is configured to transition between at least a partially retracted configuration and an expanded configuration under control of at least the first elongated control member (508). Further still, the first controllable portion can be configured to transition between at least a partially retracted configuration and an expanded configuration, while the second controllable portion (503) is configured to remain substantially unchanged, under control of at least the second elongated control member (502).

Abstract: A method and apparatus that affect vacuum to massage a volume of the skin and one or more types of skin treatment energies coupled to the massaged volume to treat the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue and produce a desired treatment effect. The method and apparatus are based on coupling an array or a number of arrays being an assembly of skin treatment units with each skin treatment unit including a hollow cavity and a number of different energy to skin applying elements operative to receive skin treatment energy from a source of such energy and couple or apply the received energy to a treated segment of skin.

Abstract: The application discloses a number of methods and apparatuses suitable for selective skin treatment have been described. In one example, a pair of RF electrodes is applied to skin. The RF electrodes receive RF energy from an RF energy generator. The RF electrodes are also configured to apply positive pressure to a segment of skin located between the pair of RF electrodes to partially or completely occlude the blood flow in one or more vessels in the segment of skin located between the pair of RF electrodes. Occlusion of the blood flow reduces heat dissipation by the skin segment located between the pair of RF electrodes and supports further increase of temperature of both the skin segment and vessels located between the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for safe personal aesthetic skin treatment including a carrier with a plurality of voltage applying electrodes arranged so that at least one electrode operative to contact the skin at any one time, an electrode-to-skin contact detecting mechanism, and a controller communicating with and operative to receive information from the mechanism regarding the status of the electrode-to-skin contact and limit the number of simultaneously activated electrodes such as to enable safe skin treatment and avoid skin ablation.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus seek to provide cosmetic skin care including application in concert or consecutively of various types of energy to bring about a welcomed combination of skin cleansing and skin rejuvenation and enhancing. There is thus provided, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the current method and apparatus an apparatus for cosmetic skin care including a brush-like head having a multiplicity of bristles attached to one or more carriers at least a portion of which is operative to apply forms of energy to the skin. At least one of the forms of energy is RF energy while other forms include light energy, mechanical energy, ultrasound energy and any suitable combination thereof.

Abstract: An oral treatment device for treating gingival hyperpigmentation including an applicator configured to accommodate at least one dental arcade and gingival tissue associated therewith, having a plurality of voltage to gingiva RF voltage-applying elements arranged in a matrix on one or more walls of the applicator and configured to apply to the gingiva ablative voltage and deepithelialize the gingival tissue. The voltage to gingiva RF voltage-applying elements are also configured to apply to the gingiva tissue, deep to the epithelium layer, sublative RF voltage configured to stimulate gingiva blood circulation and retard and sometimes even stop progression of gum recession.