An endorectal cooling device (ECD) includes an elongated body, a cooling fluid circuit, and a gas bubble removal device. The elongated body includes an insertable portion for insertion into a patient's rectum and an external portion that remains external to the rectum. The cooling fluid circuit is defined in the elongated body from the external portion to the insertable portion and circulates cooling fluid to regulate a temperature of a cooling surface on the insertable portion. The gas bubble removal device can include a coil, a tube, a mesh, and/or a hole that is disposed on or defined in the insertable portion of the elongated body, such as the cooling surface. A low-pressure source, such as a vacuum pump or a Venturi structure, can be fluidly coupled to the gas bubble removal device to remove fluid and bubbles by a suction force after the ECD is inserted into the rectum.

A method of a soft tissue treatment comprises placing an applicator adjacent to a surface of a body part, the applicator including at least one electrode, providing a fastening mechanism fixing the applicator in contact with the body part, providing a radiofrequency energy by the at least one electrode causing a heating of the soft tissue, providing an electric current to the soft tissue by the at least one electrode causing a muscle contraction, and controlling heating of the soft tissue by the radiofrequency energy and parameters of the electric current provided by the at least one electrode via a control unit, wherein an energy flux density of the radiofrequency energy is in a range of 0.01 mW.Math.mm.sup.−2 to 10 W.Math.mm.sup.−2 and a frequency of the radiofrequency energy is in a range of 0.1 MHz to 25 GHz, and wherein the body part comprises a face or a chin.

Systems for treating a subject's tissue can include a thermally conductive cup, a sealing member, and/or a liner assembly. The systems can include an applicator capable of being reconfigured for a particular treatment site. Components of the applicator can be replaced to achieve a desired configuration. The replaceable components can include contoured heads, liners, and/or sensors. The applicator can draw a vacuum to install various components and/or draw tissue into the applicator. The applicator can cool and/or heat the tissue to affect targeted tissue.

Systems and methods for affecting metabolism, such as the treatment of metabolic syndrome are disclosed. A method for treating metabolic syndrome can include one or more of the steps including identifying a region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue; positioning the region of the patient comprising glabrous tissue into an enclosed chamber; adjusting the relative humidity of the enclosed chamber sufficient to create a physiologic metabolic effect; and activating a convection fan within the chamber to promote heat transfer from the glabrous tissue. The method need not involve altering the temperature within the enclosed chamber.

In one example embodiment, a system for stimulating tissue with the application of temperature-regulated fluid and negative pressure comprises a negative-pressure source adapted to provide negative pressure to a dressing. The system may further comprise a thermoelectric module thermally coupled to a first heat exchange chamber and a second heat exchange chamber and adapted to transfer heat between said heat exchange chambers. The thermoelectric module can be further adapted to maintain a temperature-regulated fluid fluidly coupled to the first heat exchange chamber and the dressing within a predetermined temperature range by adding heat to and extracting heat from the temperature-regulated fluid as it passes through the first heat exchange chamber.

A system for treating a subject can include an adjustable vacuum applicator configured to receive the subject's tissue by applying a vacuum. The vacuum applicator can have an cavity adjustment mechanism with different modes for widening and narrowing a tissue-receiving cavity to adjust the thermal contact between the vacuum applicator and the subject's tissue within the applicator. Sidewalls of the vacuum applicator can be moved to positive draft angle positions to help draw tissue deeper into the tissue-receiving cavity.

The present application relates to systems and methods for altering temperature in a mammalian body. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise core body temperature of a mammalian subject. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise the temperature of glabrous skin of a mammalian subject.

The cooling system (100, 300, 400, 500, 700, 750) includes an applicator (101, 501, 701) configured to hold a predetermined amount of solid coolant and fluid coolant (117) to cool a targeted area of the body (162, 570) to crystalize the lipid-rich cells underneath the targeted area to reduce the fat cells. The applicator may include a thermoelectric cooler (TEC, 136, 704, 706) where the hot side is cooled by coolant held within the applicator. The cold side of the TEC may be thermally coupled to a cooling plate (138, 560) configured to cool a targeted area of the skin at a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined period of time. The cooling system may also be used to relieve localized pain at certain area of the body and/or utilized for cryotherapy.

A treatment pad for applying heat, cooling or an antiseptic fluid to a subject's body surface incorporates a heat transfer member or a wound treatment member that is adapted to be held in place by application of a vacuum pressure. The heat transfer member may comprise an electrical resistance wire arranged in a serpentine pattern within a housing or, alternatively, may comprise interconnected heat transmissive tubing through which either a heated or a cooled fluid may be made to pass. Alternatively, the pad may contain a gel that can be cooled in a refrigerator or heated in a microwave oven and held in place on the subject's body by application of a vacuum to the assembly. The wound treatment member may comprise a gaseous antiseptic delivery pad held in place on the patient's body by use of a vacuum.

Apparatus for cooling an object, space, or tissues of a patient. A vacuum chamber is designed to be placed in thermal contact with the object or space to be cooled, or against a patient to be treated. A water sprayer is configured to spray water into the vacuum chamber or against a cooling wall of the chamber. A vacuum pump and control are designed to maintain vacuum below ambient pressure in the vacuum chamber sufficient to cause accelerated evaporation of the water and cooling to a temperature desired for cooling of the object, space, or patient.