Patent ID: 8150532

Claim:
An improved system for thermal treatment of a selected target within a subject, the system comprising: (a) an electromagnetic (EM) energy source capable of producing an output EM power signal directed to an applicator contactable with a surface of a biological tissue belonging to the subject, said applicator capable of delivering a desired amount of energy to a predetermined energy dissipation zone beneath said surface of said biological tissue, the selected target positioned within said predetermined energy dissipation zone; (b) a phase shifter, said phase shifter capable of shifting a phase of EM waves of said output EM signal so that energy therefrom is concentrated primarily in said predetermined energy dissipation zone, which lies at a desired depth beneath said surface of said biological tissue; (c) an electromagnetic (EM) resonator, said EM resonator capable of cyclically accumulating and releasing said desired amount of energy, said EM resonator further capable of concentrating said desired amount of energy so that a significant portion thereof is concentrated in said predetermined energy dissipation zone; and (d) said applicator capable of conveying said output EM power signal from said EM energy source through said surface of said biological tissue to said predetermined energy dissipation zone after said output has been processed by said phase shifter and said resonator; wherein the absence of a ground electrode permits free propagation of said waves of said output EM power signal in said energy dissipation zone.