Patent ID: 7722600

Claim:
A handpiece for applying energy to a volume of tissue, the system comprising: an electromagnetic energy source energizable to output electromagnetic energy to be directed to the volume of tissue, the electromagnetic energy source disposed in a housing having an opening; a transparent window disposed in the opening, wherein electromagnetic energy is transmitted through the transparent window to the volume of tissue, and wherein the transparent window has a first thermal conductivity; a cooling device coupled to the transparent window; the transparent window including an input surface positioned to receive electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy source, and a contact surface which is placed in contact with a tissue surface above the volume of tissue, the window contact surface to apply cooling from the cooling device to the surface of tissue and to transmit electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy source to the volume of tissue being treated, and a transparent plate having a front surface positioned to receive electromagnetic energy from the source and a back surface bonded across the input surface of the transparent window, wherein the transparent plate has a thermal conductivity less than the thermal conductivity of the transparent window and wherein the transparent plate has a thermal conductivity, an area, and a thickness that results in a temperature difference (ΔT) of at least 5 degrees C. between the front surface and the back surface of the transparent plate when a thermal load of 1 Watt/cm 2 is applied to the front surface of the transparent plate.