Patent ID: 7957815
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for use with an energy-generating device to treat tissue of a patient, said apparatus comprising: a handpiece; an electrode assembly removably coupled with said handpiece, said electrode assembly including an electrode having a dielectric portion and a conductive portion disposed on said dielectric portion, and said dielectric portion adapted to be arranged between said conductive portion and the tissue such that treatment energy is transmitted from said conductive portion through said dielectric portion for capacitively coupling with the tissue to perform a non-invasive tissue treatment; an electrical circuit partially in said handpiece and partially in said electrode assembly, said electrical circuit adapted to electrically couple said conductive portion of said electrode with the energy-generating device; and at least one circuit element in at least one of said handpiece or said electrode assembly, said at least one circuit element configured to introduce at least one impedance into said electrical circuit when said electrode assembly is coupled with said handpiece, said at least one impedance being sized to reduce an impedance difference between a patient and a combination of the apparatus and the energy-generating device.