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.

A catheter with an electrode assembly has a functional electrode located at a first position on the electrode assembly and a shunting electrode located proximal to the first position. Irrigation fluid carried by the catheter may be electrically coupled with a patient's blood through the shunting electrode. The shunting electrode may be used to reduce noise in an electrocardiogram signal that results from the pump used to supply the irrigation fluid.

Devices and methods that provide minimally-invasive approaches to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder using various natural access paths such as transvaginal and transurethral. Treatments include the application of energy to nerves found in, under and around the trigone region of the bladder.

A bursitis treatment device (100; 200) for treatment of inflammation of a bursa (150; 502) in a patient's joint includes: a rinsing aid; a reservoir (101; 201) for holding the rinsing aid in fluid, freezing fluid or gaseous state; a supply line (103; 204, 208) for transporting the rinsing aid; a heat exchanger (104; 203) for controlling the temperature of the rinsing aid—such that the temperature of the rinsing aid enables to destroy cells causing the inflammation; an access device (209) for injecting the rinsing aid into the bursa (150; 205); and a drain (105; 210) for removing the rinsing aid from the bursa (150; 205) for elimination.

Surgical systems and methods for administering an ablation treatment and other therapeutic or diagnostic protocols to a patient tissue involve a flexible stabilizer mechanism having an inner recess and an ablation mechanism coupled with the stabilizer mechanism.

A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a distal end for insertion into a body of a subject and an opening at the distal end. A lumen, which includes a flexible tube which passes longitudinally through the insertion tube so as to communicate with the opening at the distal end of the insertion tube, is secured under tension inside the insertion tube.

Methods are provided herein for affecting a region of a subject's body, comprising exposing the region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool subcutaneous adipose tissue in said region; and increasing the blood flow rate to the cooled tissue by exposing the tissue to an energy source. Methods are also provided for treating subcutaneous adipose tissue in a region of a subject's body, comprising exposing said region to a cooling element under conditions effective to cool said tissue; and exposing the tissue to an energy source to increase the blood flow rate to the cooled tissue, thereby stimulating reperfusion in, and/or causing an ischemia-reperfusion injury to, the cooled tissue.

A method for treating a skin lesion can include lowering a temperature of a treatment site to a temperature range sufficient to induce vasoconstriction in a dermis of the treatment site and administering a laser light through a medium to the skin lesion while maintaining the temperature of the treatment site within the temperature range. The medium can include a first portion and a second portion, where the laser light is transmitted through the first portion and the second portion sequentially, the second portion includes a contact surface for contacting the treatment site, and the second portion has a higher thermal conductivity than the first portion. The method can further include identifying the skin lesion and analyzing one or more characteristics of the skin lesion.

An ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation in a patient comprises an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, a lumen therebetween and a housing adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft. An energy source is coupled to the housing and is adapted to deliver energy to a target tissue so as to create a zone of ablation in the target tissue that blocks abnormal electrical activity thereby reducing or eliminating the atrial fibrillation in the patient. A sensor is adjacent the energy source and adapted to detect relative position of the energy source to the target tissue or characteristics of the target tissue. The system also has a reflecting element operably coupled with the energy source and adapted to redirect energy emitted from the energy source in a desired direction or pattern.

An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a plurality of spaced apart small seal plates on opposing jaw members where each seal plate forms a pair of seal plates with the corresponding seal plate on the opposing jaw member. Each pair of seal plates is individually activatable, and the pair of seal plates are activated in sequence. When the opposing jaw members are in an approximated position, the pairs of seal plates around the periphery of each jaw member define a gap therebetween that is larger than the gap between pairs of seal plates along the center of each jaw member.