Patent ID: 6413253
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for treatment of subsurface tissue using a pulsed energy source and delivery system, the method comprising at least the following steps:preheating both a subsurface target portion of tissue and a non-target surface portion of tissue to a first temperature below a target treatment temperature; maintaining the subsurface target portion of tissue and non-target surface portion of tissue below the target treatment temperature for a period of time; subsequently administering a cryogen spray to the non-target surface portion of tissue for a period of time of about 100 milliseconds and delivering pulsed energy with a delivery device to the preheated tissues, wherein the subsequent administration of cryogen spray and delivery of pulsed energy causes the subsurface target portion of tissue to be raised to a target treatment temperature greater than said first temperature while the non-target surface portion of tissue remains at a temperature below the target treatment temperature; and maintaining the delivery of pulsed energy to the tissues such that the non-target surface portion of tissue is maintained at a temperature lower than the target treatment temperature.