Patent ID: 8485818

Claim:
An apparatus using conditioned fluid to treat a tissue target, comprising: a fluid output pointed in a general direction of an interaction region, the fluid output being constructed to place conditioned fluid particles into the interaction region, the interaction region being defined at a location above the target and the conditioned fluid being compatible with the target; a flow-control cassette coupled to the fluid output and comprising a plurality of selectable passages coupled to pass the conditioned fluid with different flow rates; and an electromagnetic energy source pointed in a direction of the interaction region, the electromagnetic energy source being constructed to deliver into the interaction region a peak concentration of electromagnetic energy that is greater than a concentration of electromagnetic energy delivered onto the target, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by the conditioned fluid in the interaction region, wherein the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the conditioned fluid energizes the fluid causing the fluid to expand and wherein disruptive forces are imparted onto the target.