Methods for creating tissue effect utilizing electromagnetic energy and a reverse thermal gradient

Abstract

A method of creating a tissue effect at a tissue site delivers electromagnetic energy through a skin surface from an electromagnetic energy delivery device coupled to an electromagnetic energy source. At least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or electromagnetic energy source includes a memory. A reverse thermal gradient is created through the skin surface to sufficiently heat an underlying tissue site to provide that a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the underlying tissue. Information is stored from the memory to facilitate operation of at least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or the electromagnetic energy source. Electromagnetic energy is applied through the skin surface to the underlying tissue. A tissue effect is created on at least a portion of the tissue site.

1 . A method of creating a tissue effect at a tissue site using an electromagnetic energy delivery device, the method comprising:
 delivering electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy delivery device transcutaneously through a skin surface at the tissue site to create the tissue effect;   creating a reverse thermal gradient through the skin surface to sufficiently heat an skin layer underlying the skin surface, wherein a temperature of the skin surface is lower than a temperature of the skin layer;   detecting the temperature of the skin surface; and   calculating a temperature profile of the skin from the detected temperature of the skin surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 using the temperature profile of the skin for process control purposes. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 adjusting cooling from the reverse thermal gradient and heating from the delivery of the electromagnetic energy using the temperature profile of the skin. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the heating and the cooling are adjusted to heat the skin layer to a desired tissue temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the reverse thermal gradient comprises:
 controlling an application rate of a cooling fluidic medium used to create the reverse thermal gradient. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device is an electrode having a first side contacting the skin surface, and further comprising:
 applying the cooling fluidic medium to a second side of the electrode. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a proportional-integral-differential algorithm is used to apply the cooling fluidic medium to the electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue effect is dermal remodeling, dermal tightening, wrinkle reduction, elastosis reduction, scar reduction, sebaceous gland removal or deactivation, reduction of sebaceous gland activity, hair follicle modification, adipose tissue remodeling or removal, spider vein removal, modification of skin irregularities, creation of scar or nascent collagen, or modification of skin pore size. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue effect is a reduction of skin bacteria activity or unclogging of skin pores. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing information in a memory coupled to facilitate operation of at least one of the electromagnetic energy delivery device or an electromagnetic energy source coupled with the electromagnetic energy delivery device.