A method and an system for vaccinating a mammalian subject. The method includes the steps of: arranging a source of electromagnetic radiation proximate to a target zone of skin of the mammalian subject; controlling the source of electromagnetic radiation to deliver a dose of electromagnetic radiation to the target zone determined to create one or more thermally-denatured zones in the target zone; and intradermally injecting a vaccine within the target zone to vaccinate the mammalian subject. The system for vaccinating a subject may include an electromagnetic radiation source configured to be arranged proximate to a target zone on an exterior of the subject; a user control configured to selectively cause the electromagnetic radiation source to deliver a dose of electromagnetic radiation toward the target zone to create one or more thermally-denatured zones in the target zone; and a vaccine-delivery system configured to deliver a vaccine to the target zone.

An intravascular catheter for nerve activity ablation and/or sensing includes one or more needles advanced through supported guide tubes (needle guiding elements) which expand to contact the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the needles to be advanced though the vessel wall into the extra-luminal tissue including the media, adventitia and periadvential space. The catheter also includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. Electrodes at the distal ends of the guide tubes allow sensing of nerve activity before and after attempted renal denervation. In a combination embodiment ablative energy or fluid is delivered to ablate nerves outside of the media.

Disclosed are a medicine injection tip that may smoothly insert and discharge a needle into and from skin, a hand piece, and a skin treatment device.

A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to heat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a first treatment device having at least one electrode for applying radiofrequency energy to tissue, a controller including a connector to which a first treatment device is coupled for use, and a generator for applying radiofrequency energy to the electrodes. The controller controls application of energy so that the tissue is thermally treated to create lesions but preventing thermal treatment beyond a threshold which would ablate the tissue.

Methods and apparatuses for treating a tissue with an electric treatment by rotating a pattern of electrodes partway through a treatment is disclosed. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses to treat tissue, including treating skin disorders, by selectively de-nucleating epidermal cells without provoking a significant inflammatory response, e.g., without increasing the density of leukocytes in the treated skin, and without affecting the non-cellular components of the dermis.

A medical RF apparatus using an RF pulse and a method of controlling the medical RF apparatus are provided. The medical RF apparatus includes an RF generator, which generates a test pulse for detecting characteristics of tissue, a monitoring unit, which monitors the change in the information on the tissue state while the test pulse is transmitted to the tissue, and a measurement unit, which determines the tissue characteristics of a patient by comparing the values monitored in the monitoring unit with the reference data.

A system for deploying needles in tissue includes a controller and a visual display. A treatment probe has both a needle and tines deployable from the needle which may be advanced into the tissue. The treatment probe also has adjustable stops which control the deployed positions of both the needle and the tines. The adjustable stops are coupled to the controller so that the virtual treatment and safety boundaries resulting from the treatment can be presented on the visual display prior to actual deployment of the system.

Systems and methods for treating tissue are disclosed. The target tissue is ablated. A real-time image of the target tissue is generated during the ablation. The real-time blood perfusion level of the target tissue is determined from the real-time image and compared to an initial blood perfusion level of the target tissue. The comparison provides a metric for the progress of the ablation, and ablation is halted when the real-time blood perfusion drops below a threshold level relative to the initial blood perfusion level.

A method for tissue coagulation includes using a device that has a plurality of conductive elements and a return electrode which is in the form of a grid. A moving mechanism moves the conductive elements so that the tip of each conductive element protrudes distally through the spaces of the grid of the return electrode into a tissue at a first depth. A first radiofrequency (RF) voltage is applied between the tips of each conductive element, which are at the first depth, and the return electrode. The conductive elements are then moved from the first depth to second depth of protrusion, and a second RF voltage is applied between the tips of each conductive element at the second depth and the return electrode.

Disclose are a radio-frequency ablation catheter and a radio-frequency ablation system. The radio-frequency ablation catheter includes a needle tube portion and a handle portion. A sleeve of the handle portion is mounted around a booster of the handle portion. A puncture tube of the needle tube portion is fixed to an end of the sleeve. An electrode tube and a signal conduit of the needle tube portion are disposed passing through the puncture tube. A plurality of needles are provided on the electrode tube and a plurality of supports are provided on the signal conduit. The plurality of supports correspond to the plurality of needles respectively. A plurality of temperature sensors are provided at ends of the plurality of supports.