A device for treating a surface with a dielectric harrier plasma, wherein the surface functions as a counterelectrode, having an electrically insulating housing (1) which is formed from a housing body (4) and a housing head (17) and in which a high-voltage feed line (10) and a support for an electrode (18), which is connected to the high-voltage feed line (10) and has a dielectric (19) which shields the electrode (18) front the surface, is located, wherein the electrode (18) is rotatably mounted in the housing head (17) and, by way of a surface section which is covered by the dielectric (19), protrudes out of the housing head (17), allows, with a simple construction, a fundamentally unrestricted movement of the electrode over the surface to be treated in that the electrode has rotary bearing elements (28) which are arranged in a centre axis and with which it is rotatably mounted about the centre axis in the housing head (17) in interaction with rotary hearing elements (29) and is connected to the high-voltage feed line (10), and in that the housing head (17) is connected to the housing body (4) such that it can rotate about a rotation axis which is at an angle to the centre axis and is provided with a contact arrangement (11, 21) for maintaining an electrical connection during the rotary movement.

Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure.

The present invention relates to a method, device, and system for improved mapping and/or ablation of a tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body and a distal assembly affixed to the elongate body that includes a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping region and a selectively conductive ablation region that is conductive of high-frequency current and substantially non-conductive of low-frequency current. Alternatively, the device may generally include a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping or ablation region and a region that is coated with an electrically insulated but thermally conductive layer.

Devices and methods for contactless skin treatment use feedback power control for non-invasive treatment of skin and human tissue. Electromagnetic energy heats skin or tissue. A feedback system measures an output physical quantity before the output of electromagnetic waves from the device into the patient. Alternatively the feedback system scans values of a physical quantity on or near the patient. The devices and methods allow for delivering the optimum amount of energy to the patient while reducing the thermal load of the device. Methods and an apparatus for treatment of target biological structure by combination of magnet treatment and electromagnetic treatment. The method and apparatus may be used for aesthetic applications, e.g. cellulite treatment, body shaping, skin rejuvenation or enhancing skin appearance.

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO.sub.2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall.

A method and system of providing therapy to a patient's uterus is provided, which can include any number of features. The method can include the steps of inserting a uterine device into the uterus and performing a uterine integrity test to determine that the uterus is intact and not perforated. If it is determined that the uterus is not perforated, a patency test can be performed to determine that the uterine device is not clogged or embedded in tissue. If the uterus is intact and the device is not clogged or embedded in tissue, the uterus can be treated with the uterine device, e.g., uterine ablation. Systems for performing these methods are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method, device, and system for improved mapping and/or ablation of a tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body and a distal assembly affixed to the elongate body that includes a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping region and a selectively conductive ablation region that is conductive of high-frequency current and substantially non-conductive of low-frequency current. Alternatively, the device may generally include a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping or ablation region and a region that is coated with an electrically insulated but thermally conductive layer.

A tissue ablation system and method are provided. The system includes a catheter including a distal electrode tip having at least one tip electrode, at least one return electrode positionable independently of the tip electrode, and a voltage generator circuit electrically connected to the tip electrode and to the return electrode. The tip electrode and the return electrode include a dielectric or other non-conductive surface layer. The voltage generator circuit applies a voltage differential across the tip electrode and the return electrode such that the tip electrode and the return electrode are given opposite polarity. Tissue located between the tip electrode and the return electrode acts as a capacitive dielectric medium in which an electric field is present and is not dependent on current flow between the tip electrode and the return electrode, and the electric field induces electroporation of tissue cells in a vicinity of the distal electrode tip.

In one embodiment, controlling the spatial distribution of an electromagnetic field in a system involves determining an inflection frequency for energy applied to the system below which a first spatial distribution results and above which a second spatial distribution results, selecting an excitation frequency to be used to generate an electromagnetic field to be applied to the system based upon the determined inflection frequency, and applying an electromagnetic field generated using the selected excitation frequency.