96 results about "Energy applicator" patented technology

Described is a system and method for the destruction of adipose tissue using an energy applicator such as a HIFU transducer. The system has a scan head containing an energy applicator, a mechanical arm for carrying the weight of the scan head, and a therapy controller such as a computer for controlling the operation of the scan head. The therapy controller may be part of a general purpose computer, and may be used as a robotic controller to automate the procedure. Methods are included for destroying adipose tissue in a quick, non-invasive manner.

A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece includes a chamber adapted to accept processing gases in an evacuated environment including a workpiece support, a hollow conduit defining a wall of the chamber, and having respective ends opening adjacent opposite sides of the workpiece support, and a chamber wall portion in facing relationship to the workpiece support and defining a workpiece processing zone therebetween, the processing zone and the interior of the conduit forming a torroidal interior path, and an RF energy applicator irradiating gas within the chamber to maintain a plasma within the torroidal interior path.

Disclosed are safe, simple and effective broad-spectrum treatments for halitosis and other microbial infections of the nondental upper respiratory tract useful to treat bacterial and other microorganism species, including anaerobic bacteria. Electromagnetic radiative energy including visible, and optionally, thermal, RF and/or microwave wavelengths, is topically applied to internal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract to destroy or incapacitate superficial microorganisms without the use of antibiotics. One useful apparatus is a handheld energy applicator having a light output head suitable for treating the back of the tongue and the tonsils and which may be interchangeably provided with extensions to reach the sinuses. The energy applicator can be supported and guided by a mounting device held between the subject's teeth, if desired. Useful embodiments of the invention include preparative treatment of the target surfaces with a photosensitizing agent such as an oxidizing agent or a complementary stain. Optionally a pre-treament procedure may be employed to remove detritus and microfloral overgrowths that may mask more deeply resident target microorganisms. Novel treatments include treatment of halitosis by destruction of bacterial species associated with halitosis, such as Atopobium parvulum, by application of non-ionizing radiative energy to the tonsils and the back of the tongue. Another embodiment comprises a candy bar incorporating a halitosis treatment lamp disposed within the candy.

A skin treatment apparatus that includes, a disposable electrode carrier with a plurality of voltage-applying dome-shaped elements protruding from the surface of the electrode carrier. Further, the protruding elements are spaced apart in a pattern. The apparatus operates to apply a voltage to at least some of the protruding elements. The apparatus applies a voltage to the protruding elements with a magnitude that is sufficient to result in an electrical break down of the skin and thereby cause electric current enabling the desired treatment.

Apparatus (20) for application to skin of a subject is provided. The apparatus includes a board (30) having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including a plurality of ablation electrodes (41), which are adapted to be applied to the skin, and the second surface including one or more contact pads (32), each one of the contact pads electrically coupled to at least one of the ablation electrodes. The apparatus further includes one or more driving electrodes (28). An energy applicator (e.g., motor 22), coupled to the driving electrodes, is adapted to pass the driving electrodes over the contact pads. A power source (e.g., power unit 102) is adapted to drive a current from the driving electrodes, to the contact pads, and to the ablation electrodes. The current is capable of ablating at least a portion of stratum corneum of the skin in a vicinity of the ablation electrodes, so as to facilitate transdermal transport of a substance.

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.

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical power generating source, an energy applicator operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source, a heat-distribution indicator adapted to change echogenic properties in response to heat generated by energy delivered by the energy applicator, and a processor unit configured to generate at least one electrical signal for controlling at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source. The system also includes an imaging system capable of acquiring image data. The imaging system is communicatively-coupled to the processor unit. The processor unit is adapted to determine an ablation rate at least in part based on analysis of one or more images acquired by the imaging system.

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical power generating source, an energy applicator operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source, a processor unit, and a data acquisition module configured to receive a reflected signal. The processor unit is disposed in operative communication with the data acquisition module and adapted to determine a tissue desiccation rate around at least a portion of the energy applicator based on one or more signals received from the data acquisition module.

An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue includes a feedline and a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length. The energy applicator also includes a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section.

A method of directing energy to tissue using a fluid-cooled antenna assembly includes the initial step of providing an energy applicator. The energy applicator includes an antenna assembly and a hub providing at least one coolant connection to the energy applicator. The method also includes the steps of providing a coolant supply system including a fluid-flow path fluidly-coupled to the hub for providing fluid flow to the energy applicator, positioning the energy applicator in tissue for the delivery of energy to tissue when the antenna assembly is energized, and providing a thermal-feedback-controlled rate of fluid flow to the antenna assembly when energized using a feedback control system operably-coupled to a flow-control device disposed in fluid communication with the fluid-flow path.

A method of manufacturing a medical device includes the initial steps of providing a handle assembly and providing a microwave-signal-amplifying module. The handle assembly includes a handle body defining a chamber therein. The handle body is configured to support an energy applicator at the distal end thereof. The microwave-signal-amplifying module includes a microwave amplifier unit adapted to amplify a high-frequency input signal to generate a high-frequency output signal. The microwave-signal-amplifying module includes one or more connector portions including one or more electrical connectors adapted to be removeably coupleable to one or more electrical conductors associated with the handle body. The method also includes the step of positioning the microwave-signal-amplifying module into the chamber to bring the one or more electrical connectors of the one or more connector portions into electrical engagement with one or more electrical connectors associated with the handle body.

A method of directing energy to tissue includes the steps of providing a handheld device including an energy applicator and a handle assembly configured to support the energy applicator at a distal end thereof, and transmitting energy from an output of a microwave amplifier unit disposed within the handle assembly through the energy applicator to tissue.

An apparatus and method for administering focused energy to a body using either a single energy applicator or multiple energy applicators to supply heat prior to, concurrently with and/or after delivery of a drug, gene and/or viral vector. A multi-modality treatment using a localized, focused and/or regional heating apparatus, which supplies heat to a defined area of a patient's body. The apparatus is used heat is used to pretreat a specific body site, to activate thermoactivated drugs, genes, or viral vectors, and/or to deliver drugs, genes, or viral vectors to the specific body site. The heating apparatus is provided with one or more variable and adjustable probes and one or more delivery ports heat the specific treatment site and to deliver the thermoactivated drugs and genes to the specific treatment site. Each probe may optionally be provided with one or more temperature sensors to allow for the temperature in the specific treatment site and the surrounding tissue to be properly regulated. The use of the apparatus and method allow for the heat conditioning of a specific treatment site and for the delivery or activation of a drug, gene, or viral vector limited to only the specific treatment site, allowing for a more accurate treatment of diseased tissue without damaging healthy tissue. In addition, this method is uniquely used with non invasive technologies to help determine on a real time basis the completion of the treatment.

A transmyocardial revascularization system including a plurality of inserts formed of a material to elicit a healing response in tissue of the myocardium and deployment instruments and associated components for deploying the inserts into the wall of the myocardium. The inserts are arranged to be disposed within respective lumens or channels in the wall of the myocardium. The inserts can take various forms, e.g., be solid members, tubular members, or porous members, and may be resorbable, partially resorbable or non-resorbable. In some embodiments the inserts are arranged to be left in place within the channels in the wall of the myocardium to result in plural lumens which enable blood to flow therethrough and into contiguous capillaries. The deployment instruments are arranged to pierce the tissue of the myocardium from either the endocardium or the epicardium to insert the inserts into the myocardium, depending on the particular deployment instrument used. The deployment instruments may make use of a stabilizing device to stabilize them during the procedure of inserting the inserts into the myocardium. A controller may also be provided as part of the system to coordinate the operation of the deployment instrument with the cardiac cycle. The formation of the lumens can be achieved either by the inserts or by some other means, such as a piercing tip or an energy applicator forming a portion of the instrument. The inserts may include one or more of pharmaceuticals, biologically active agents, radiopaque materials, etc.