Methods and devices for treating tissue

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for achieving the cosmetically beneficial effects of shrinking collagen tissue in the dermis or other areas of tissue in an effective, non-invasive manner using an array of electrodes. Systems described herein allow for improved treatment of tissue. Additional variations of the system include array of electrodes configured to minimize the energy required to produce the desired effect.

1 . A method for applying energy to tissue located beneath a surface layer of the tissue comprising:
 providing an energy transfer unit comprising a faceplate having a plurality of openings and a plurality of electrodes moveable through the faceplate;   placing the faceplate in contact with the surface layer;   drawing and maintaining the surface layer of tissue against the openings in the faceplate;   advancing the electrodes through the surface tissue and into the tissue;   applying energy with a portion of the electrode beneath the skin to create a thermal injury to tissue beneath the skin.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where drawing and maintaining the surface layer of tissue against the openings in the faceplate comprises drawing a vacuum through the openings. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the each electrode extends through one opening. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the electrodes are mounted on an electrode plate, where the electrode plate is proximally spaced from the faceplate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising withdrawing the electrodes proximally to the faceplate prior to placing the faceplate in contact with the surface layer and,
 advancing the electrodes through the tissue comprises advancing the electrodes distally to the faceplate and into the tissue.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising spring loading the faceplate such that advancing the electrode through the tissue comprises advancing the electrodes through the tissue using a spring-force. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising inducing a vibration in the electrode as the electrodes advance through tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , where inducing a vibration in the electrodes comprises applying ultrasound energy to the electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising placing a portion of the surface tissue in traction prior to advancing electrodes through the surface tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , where each electrode extends through an opening in an introducer member, where pressing the introducer member against the surface tissue places the surface tissue in traction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , where adjacent electrodes are placed at an oblique angle such that as the electrodes engage tissue, the tissue is placed in traction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , where the electrodes comprise a curved shape, and where advancing the electrodes comprise rotating the electrodes into tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising advancing the electrodes into tissue until at least one pair of electrodes overlaps in a substantially horizontal manner within the tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , where placing the faceplate in contact with the surface layer comprises applying placing the faceplate against the surface layer with sufficient force to substantially flatten the surface layer; and where advancing the electrodes comprises advancing the electrodes until the electrode plate contacts the faceplate, and subsequently withdrawing the electrode plate a pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , where the plurality of electrodes comprise a plurality of electrode pairs, each electrode pair comprising an active and return electrode, and where each electrode pair is coupled to an independent channel of a power supply. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , where each electrode pair is spaced a sufficient distance from an adjacent electrode pair to minimize formation of a cross-current path between adjacent electrode pairs. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where each active and return electrode is spaced sufficiently close to form a treatment-current path between active and return electrodes and minimizes formation of the cross-current path between adjacent electrode pairs. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , where spacing between active and return electrodes is between 1 and 3 mm, and spacing between adjacent electrode pairs is at least 5 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , where each independent channel of the power supply provides no more than 1 watt of energy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , where the power supply is configured to energize adjacent electrode pairs at different times. 
     
     
         21 - 118 . (canceled)