A cryoablation system is provided that can assume a directional activated state and includes a cryoablation probe and a controller. The cryoablation probe has an active region that includes a cooling compartment and an opposing heating compartment that are thermally insulated from one another to minimize energy losses therebetween such that ice is selectively and directionally formed at the target site. The cooling compartment can include a temperature sensor and an exhaust tube to guide a fluid or gas that exhibits a Joule Thomson cooling effect through the probe. The heating compartment can include a temperature sensor and a heater cartridge having a heater zone. The controller of the cryoablation system can process temperature measurement data from the sensors of the heating and cooling compartments and regulate the heater zone based on the temperature measurement data processing to maintain a temperature that is sufficiently constant to mitigate or prevent formation of ice on the heating compartment.

A thulium fiber laser system can be used to treat tissues based on the ability for quick changes between laser pulses. For example, to treat stones in a tissue, a long pulse having low peak power can be used to create bubbles in front of the stone (calculi), then follow a series of shorter pulses and higher peak power can be used to break the stone. The sequence can be repeated to maintain large bubble formation, with the long pulse characteristics changed to accommodate for the changes in the tissue. A fluorescent sensing assembly can be used to detect the tissue conditions for selecting the conditions of the thulium fiber laser.

A heat exchanger is disclosed for causing cryolysis of adipose tissue of a human tongue. The heat exchanger includes a body having cooling channels for circulating fluids therein. The body forms a contact surface that contacts a portion of the dorsal surface of the tongue and a portion of the base of the tongue. The heat exchanger includes a pair of side walls extending from the body and forming a pair of side contact surfaces that are dimensioned so that they contact the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue in a manner so as to constrict the tongue when the contact surface is in contact with the tongue. A method of treatment for apnea using the heat exchanger and/or administering a chemical adipolysis formulation/vasoconstriction agent is also disclosed.

Provided herein is a multifunctional aesthetic system including a housing, an electromagnetic array situated in the housing and having one or more electromagnetic radiation (EMR) sources, a controller in electronic communication with the array to operate the one or more of the EMR sources to direct the EMR beam to a treatment area, and one or more sensors in electronic communication with the controller for providing feedback to the controller based on defined parameters to allow the controller to adjust at least one operating condition of the multifunctional system in response to the feedback.

There is provided a process for treatment of rhinitis by diode laser ablation of the branches of the posterior nasal nerve. The diode laser delivery device with elongated fiber optic with its fiber tip is inserted through a patient's nostril and has the length, flexibility and a curvature to reach both above and under the patient's middle turbinate for treatment of both branches of the posterior nasal nerves. Skin and tissue temperature is raised to approximately 60-70° C. with the process. A control knob on the laser delivery device moves from a first to a second position to move a camera attached to the laser delivery device. The fiber optic includes a distal fiber tip extending from a malleable sheath connected to the body for delivering light energy to a treatment area.

The invention includes a system for generating virtual images of proposed and designated areas on a patient's anatomy that are to be treated in a RFA procedure. The images include a size, shape, and location of lesion/ablation patterns. The virtual images include dynamic (developing) or static (developed) lesions selected for the RFA procedure. The images are provided on at least one user interface that superimposes or overlays the lesion pattern(s) on an image of a patient's anatomy that undergoes the procedure. The images can be used to accurately and efficiently conduct RFA procedures and to record the procedures with enhanced visual data to confirm treated tissue areas. The invention further includes a diagnostic method of generating images in preparation for a RFA procedure, and a method of conducting the RFA procedure in which measured parameters determine the size and shape of the ablated areas achieved in the procedure.

Treatment systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving the appearance of skin or other target regions are described. Aspects of the technology are directed to improving the appearance of skin by tightening the skin, improving skin tone or texture, eliminating or reducing wrinkles, increasing skin smoothness, or improving the appearance sites with cellulite. Treatments can include cooling a surface of a patient's skin and detecting freezing in the cooled skin. The tissue can be cooled after the freeze event is detected so to maintain the frozen state of the tissue to improve the appearance of the treatment site.

Embodiments described herein are directed to a system for providing alternating freeze and thaw cycles. The system includes a controller, a vessel for holding a working fluid, a pressure generator, a cooler, a cooler heat exchanger, a heater, a heater heat exchanger, a check valve, and a treatment instrument. In some embodiments, the treatment instrument includes a distal end, a proximal end, a connecting portion adjacent to the proximal end, a needle element adjacent the distal end, a handle portion disposed between the proximal and distal end, and a depth-limiting element to limit an injection depth of the needle element.

An electrosurgical device includes jaw members, a thermal cutting element coupled to one of the jaw members. When the jaw members are in an approximated position, power is delivered to the thermal cutting element to maintain the temperature of the thermal cutting element at an operating temperature for cutting sealed tissue grasped between the jaw members. When the jaw members are in the spaced apart position, power is delivered to the thermal cutting element to maintain the temperature of the thermal cutting element at a standby setpoint temperature. In response to a determination of contact between tissue and the thermal cutting element when the jaw members are in the spaced apart position, power is delivered to the thermal cutting element to increase the temperature of the thermal cutting element from the standby setpoint temperature to a cutting setpoint temperature for dissecting tissue.

An electrosurgical system includes jaw members having a cutting element extending therebetween and a generator configured to: provide minimal power to the cutting element to maintain a pre-dissection temperature thereof; sense a change in resistance of the cutting element and ramp up power to a dissection temperature; regulate the temperature of the cutting element by regulating power; and terminate power to the cutting element to allow the cutting element to cool to the pre-dissection temperature before providing power back to the cutting element.