Patent ID: 6381497
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A method for smoothing contour irregularity of a skin surface, comprising:positioning an apparatus that includes a porous membrane having a skin-contacting surface, and an electromagnetic energy delivery device incorporated into the membrane in contact with a skin surface of a person that overlies tissue that creates the contour irregularity in the person's skin surface and has loculations of fat with fibrous septae made of collagen tissue; inflating the porous membrane with electrolytic media such that the skin-contacting surface of the membrane substantially conforms to the skin surface; creating a reverse thermal gradient, wherein a temperature of the skin surface is less than a temperature of the collagen tissue; producing electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy delivery device; transferring the electromagnetic energy produced through the electrolytic media; and delivering a sufficient amount of energy through the skin surface to contract at least a portion of the collagen tissue with controlled cell necrosis such that contour irregularities created by the contour irregularity creating tissue are smoothed.