Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods, devices, and systems for reducing a pigmentation of a skin of a patient. In some embodiments, freezing of the skin may be desirable to effect the hypopigmentation of the skin of the patient. Generally, embodiments may limit supercooling (or promote freezing) of the skin of the patient during a cooling treatment. In some embodiments, coupling fluids are provided to reduce a thermal contact resistance between a cooling treatment probe and the skin of the patient to improve cooling treatment. Optionally, a fluid carrier may be provided to help retain the coupling fluid at the treatment site. In some embodiments, the coupling fluid may include ice nucleating agents to promote ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid during cooling treatment. The ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid may progress into the skin to limit supercooling of the skin during treatment.

This application relates to a hand-held cooling device for supplying a cryogen to a target region for cryotherapy. The device can include a cryogen container configured to contain a first cryogen having a first temperature and a nozzle configured to spray a first modified cryogen to the target region, the first modified cryogen having a second temperature higher than the first temperature. The device can also include a cryogen temperature regulator configured to receive the first cryogen and output the first modified cryogen to the nozzle, the cryogen temperature regulator disposed closer to the nozzle than the cryogen container. The cryogen temperature regulator can include a holder tube, a porous structure disposed inside a holder tube and a heater disposed around the holder tube and heating the holder tube so as to increase the first temperature to the second temperature while the first cryogen passes through the porous structure.

This application relates to a hand-held cooling device for supplying a cryogen to a target region for cryotherapy. The device can include a cryogen transfer unit configured to receive a first cryogen from an external cryogen reservoir, the first cryogen including i) a first amount of a liquid phase cryogen and ii) at least one of a first solid phase cryogen and a first gas phase cryogen. The device can also include a nozzle configured to spray a first modified cryogen to the target region. The device can further include a cryogen liquefier disposed between the cryogen container and the nozzle and configured to cool the first cryogen received from the cryogen transfer unit and output the first modified cryogen to the nozzle, the first modified cryogen including at least a second amount of the liquid phase cryogen more than the first amount of the liquid phase cryogen.

Treatment systems, methods, and apparatuses for treating acne, hyperhidrosis, and other skin conditions are described. Aspects of the technology can include cooling a surface of a patient's skin and detecting changes in the tissue. The tissue can be cooled a sufficient length of time and to a temperature low enough to affect glands or other targeted structures in the skin.

An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.

An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.

An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.

Treatment systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving the appearance of skin or other target regions are described as well as for providing for other treatments. 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 of cellulite. Treatments can include cooling a surface of a patient's skin and detecting at least one freeze event in the cooled skin. The treatment system can continue cooling the patient's skin after the freeze event(s) are detected so to maintain at least a partially frozen state of the tissue for a period of time.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods, devices, and systems for reducing a pigmentation of a skin of a patient. In some embodiments, freezing of the skin may be desirable to effect the hypopigmentation of the skin of the patient. Generally, embodiments may limit supercooling (or promote freezing) of the skin of the patient during a cooling treatment. In some embodiments, coupling fluids are provided to reduce a thermal contact resistance between a cooling treatment probe and the skin of the patient to improve cooling treatment. Optionally, a fluid carrier may be provided to help retain the coupling fluid at the treatment site. In some embodiments, the coupling fluid may include ice nucleating agents to promote ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid during cooling treatment. The ice crystal formation in the coupling fluid may progress into the skin to limit supercooling of the skin during treatment.

Systems and methods for a medical device configured to provide cooling to a tissue region are provided. The medical device may be configured to noninvasively cool the tissue region to a predetermined operating temperature via a two-phase heat transfer process. In some aspects, the medical device can be configured to be in communication with a vacuum to provide a suction to the medical device. In some aspects, the medical device can be adapted to a medical device to noninvasively cool the tissue region near a fractional treatment area.