One embodiment provides a tightly targeted minimally invasive therapy (TTMIT) parathyroid tissue ablating instrument. A substance that cytotoxically ablates parathyroidal tissue during application in the parathyroidal tissue of therapeutically sufficient units of an electromagnetic energy having a frequency only ranging from ultraviolet to visible to near infrared. A substance delivery device is configured to introduce the substance into the parathyroidal tissue. An electromagnetic energy treatment device is configured to apply the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy within a thermal range that is non-cytotoxic to the parathyroidal tissue to the substance after the substance has been introduced by the substance delivery device. A sensor is configured to monitor activation of the substance as the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy are applied. The electromagnetic energy treatment device is further configured to modulate applying the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy once the substance has been activated.

A portable hair-removal apparatus (1) is provided, which includes an air-suction mechanism (10). The air-suction mechanism (10) includes a heat-generating assembly (101) and a heat-dissipation housing (102). The heat-dissipation housing (102) is provided with an air outlet (1021). The heat-generating assembly (101) is connected to the heat-dissipation housing (102) and defines at least one air inlet (1022). External air is sucked into the heat-dissipation housing (102) via the air inlet (1022), flows through the heat-generating assembly (101) to reduce the temperature thereof, and is discharged via the air outlet (1021). A short-range air-passing channel is formed by means of the cooperation of multiple components, such that the heat dissipation performance is improved, the size is further reduced by simplifying the internal structure and the portability is improved.

The present invention relates to an optical apparatus for skin treatment and to a method for controlling the optical apparatus. The optical apparatus includes a radiating part for radiating light generated in a light-generation part onto a target position of the skin, a cooling part for spraying cooling gas onto the target position to cool the surface of the skin, and a control part for controlling operations of the radiating part and cooling part. The control part controls the radiating part and the cooling part such that the radiating part radiates a first light onto the target position, the cooling part sprays the cooling gas onto the target position, and then the radiating part radiates a second light onto the target position.

A method for determining parameters for operating a light source within a photo-thermal targeted treatment system is disclosed. The method includes cooling a treatment location, administering first laser pulses at the treatment location, the first laser pulses having thermal energy below a known damage threshold, tracking skin surface temperatures at the treatment location while administering the first laser pulses, estimating a relationship between parameters for operating the light source and the skin surface temperature by fitting tracked skin surface temperature to a correlation model, determining a safe operating range for the light source to avoid thermal damage at the treatment location while still effectively targeting the chromophore, administering second laser pulses at the treatment location, the second laser pulses staying within the safe operating range for the light source, and adjusting the light source according to the tracked skin surface temperatures to stay within the safe operating range.

A temperature measurement system for measuring a temperature of a measured surface includes: 1) a first temperature sensor; and 2) a reference surface including a second temperature sensor integrated therein. The first temperature sensor includes a field of view simultaneously covering both at least a portion of the measured surface and at least a portion of the reference surface, thus is configured for simultaneously taking a first measurement of both the portion of the measured surface and the portion of the reference surface. The first measurement of the reference surface taken by the first temperature sensor is compared to a second measurement taken by the second temperature sensor for use in calibrating the first temperature sensor.

In an embodiment, a method for effecting thermal therapy using an in vivo probe includes positioning the probe in a volume in a patient, identifying an irregularly shaped three-dimensional region of interest and automatically applying thermal therapy to the region using the probe. Applying thermal therapy may include identifying a first emission level at a first rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission of the probe, causing rotation of the probe to a next rotational angle, identifying a next emission level at the next rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission to deliver therapeutic energy, and repeating rotation and emission until therapeutic energy has been delivered to the volume.

Targeted ablation of parathyroidal tissue is provided through hyperthermia adjuvant therapy. An in situ localization of parathyroidal tissue is obtained. A temperature-sensitive adjuvant is instilled into the parathyroidal tissue. Hyperthermia is therapeutically induced within the parathyroidal tissue. Heat-inducing energy is targeted into the parathyroidal tissue, which selectively includes the temperature-sensitive adjuvant. Application of the heat-inducing energy to the parathyroidal tissue is continued over a therapeutic range. In a further embodiment, the targeted ablation of the parathyroidal tissue is provided through hypothermia adjuvant therapy with the targeted use of cold-inducing energy.

A gas-enhanced electrosurgical generator. The gas-enhanced generator has a housing, a first gas control module in the housing and configured to control flow of a first gas, a second gas control module in the housing and configured to control flow of a second gas, a high frequency power module, and a controller, processor or CPU within the housing and configured to control the first gas control module, the second gas control module and the high frequency power module. The first gas and second gas may be any of CO.sub.2, argon and helium or another gas. The gas-enhanced electrosurgical generator may have a third gas control module in the housing and configured to control flow of a third gas and a third connector secured on an exterior of the housing.

A method for removing hair by thermolysis is provided. The method steps include oscillating a direct current to create an alternating current (“AC”) micro-pulse, pulsing the AC micro-pulse on and off continuously, delivering the AC micro-pulse to a probe, applying the probe to a hair follicle, and inverting the direction of the AC micro-pulse on the hair follicle. When the probe is applied to the hair follicle, the AC micro-pulse travels from the top of the dermis of the hair follicle to a dermal papilla of the hair follicle. The AC micro-pulse reverses direction at the dermal papilla and travels to the top of the dermis of the hair follicle. The AC micro-pulse produces heat that destroys the tissues controlling the growth of the hair follicle.

Dermatological systems and methods for providing a therapeutic laser treatment using a handpiece delivering one or more therapeutic laser pulses to a target skin area along a first optical path, and sensing the temperature of the target skin area based on infrared energy radiating from the target skin area along a second optical path generally counterdirectional to the first office action, and sharing a common optical axis with the first optical path for at least a portion of the first and second optical paths. The handpiece may also provide contact cooling for a first skin area comprising the target skin area.