Patent ID: 8301264

Claim:
A method of providing a heat therapy to tissue, the method comprising: placing an electromagnetic energy emitting probe adjacent to a first tissue region in the body that is intended to receive a thermal treatment adequate to thermally damage tissue in the first tissue region; placing a temperature sensor adjacent to a second tissue region in the body, proximate to the first tissue region, that is not intended to receive the thermal treatment; calibrating the temperature sensor, the step of calibrating comprising: monitoring temperature values of the temperature sensor for a time adequate to determine that the temperature sensor has attained a stabilized temperature value; further comparing the stabilized temperature value against a predetermined value representative of a normal range of body temperature; and assigning the predetermined value to the temperature sensor if the stabilized temperature value is less than the predetermined value; delivering electromagnetic energy to the first tissue region to provide the thermal treatment; monitoring the temperature of the second tissue region with the temperature sensor; and decreasing the amount of electromagnetic energy delivered to the first tissue region if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold.