Methods and systems for acoustic treatment of tissue are provided. Acoustic energy, for example ultrasound energy, under proper functional control can penetrate deeply and be controlled precisely in tissue. Some aspects provide a method configured for removal of at least a portion of targeted tissue, such as a scar, abscess, non-cancerous tumor, or fibrous knot, in a tissue of the body.

A vaginal device is described. A conformable vaginal insert is shaped for insertion into a vaginal cavity of a female human. A contact point is configured to change a shape of the insert. A sensor is configured to measure and to relay characteristics of the vaginal cavity and the surrounding and supportive structures of the vaginal cavity. A processor is configured to control the contact point to adjust the shape of the insert, generate a treatment for the vaginal cavity and the surrounding structures of the vaginal cavity and the supportive structures of the vaginal cavity comprising a vaginal cavity profile generated from the measured characteristics, store the measured characteristics and the vaginal cavity profile, and based on the stored measured characteristics and the stored vaginal cavity profile, automatically modify the shape of the insert by control of the contact point to provide the treatment to the vaginal cavity.

Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.

A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.

Described here are methods and systems for the manipulation of ovarian tissues. The methods and systems may be used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The systems and methods may also be useful in the treatment of infertility associated with PCOS.

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for heating, internally, an ultrasonically absorbent target medium, the probe comprising: at least one piezoelectric transducer (21) having a front face (212) intended to be positioned facing the target medium and a back face (211) opposite the front face (212), the transducer being able to emit at least one primary wave emanating from its front face and at least one secondary wave emanating from its back face, the probe being noteworthy in that it furthermore comprises: a reflector (24) facing the back face (211) of the transducer (21), the reflector (24) being suitable for reflecting the secondary wave emitted by the transducer (21); and a cooling-fluid layer (25) between the transducer (21) and the reflector (24).

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.

A system for deploying needles in tissue includes a controller and a visual display. A treatment probe has both a needle and tines deployable from the needle which may be advanced into the tissue. The treatment probe also has adjustable stops which control the deployed positions of both the needle and the tines. The adjustable stops are coupled to the controller so that the virtual treatment and safety boundaries resulting from the treatment can be presented on the visual display prior to actual deployment of the system.

The invention provides an innovative low cost, efficient, short duration, and painless minimally invasive device and method for tightening sagging skin through linear tensing and stimulation of collagen production. More particularly still, the device and method not only allow applying heat directly in the dermis layer of the skin, but also allows for administering an anesthetic and optionally additional ant-inflammatory or collagen induction fluids through the same apparatus.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.