Method and apparatus for treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous conditions

Abstract

The present invention provides method and apparatus for treating tissue in a region at depth while protecting non-targeted tissue by cyclically applying cooling to the patients skin, and preferably to the region, and by applying radiation to the patient's skin above the region to selectively heat tissue during and/or after cooling is applied. At least one of cooling and radiation my be applied by successivly passing a continuous output applicator over the patient's skin. Treatment may also be enhanced by applying mechanical, acoustic or electrical stimulation to the region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method for treating subcutaneous tissue in a region at depth of a patient's body, comprising:
 applying energy using an energy source to the skin surface to reach a region at depth of a patient's body, said applied energy being of sufficient power and duration to raise the temperature of said region;   removing the application of energy by the energy source to said region;   repeating applying energy to said region and removing the application of energy by the energy source to said region for a sufficient number of cycles to effect any of a cosmetic or a therapeutic treatment in said tissue, wherein the duration of the temperature rise that the patient can tolerate is increased compared with the duration of the temperature rise that the patient can tolerate in the absence of repeatedly cycling applying energy to and removing the application of energy by the energy source to said region.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising:
 cooling the skin surface above the region for a selected duration. 
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the cooled skin surface temperature is within the range between 0° C. and 25° C. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein cooling is applied prior to applying energy to the skin surface. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the cooling is selected to improve patient tolerance. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the temperature of said region is raised to from about 41° C. to 47° C. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the cosmetic treatment includes new collagen generation in skin and subcutis. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the cosmetic treatment includes at least one of cellulite improvement, fat reduction, skin tightening, and skin lifting. 
     
     
         57 . A method for treating subcutaneous tissue in a region at depth of a patient's body, comprising:
 applying energy from an energy source to the skin surface to reach a region at depth of a patient's body, said energy being of sufficient power and duration to raise the temperature of said region;   reducing the energy applied from the energy source to said region;   repeating applying energy to said region and reducing the energy applied from the energy source to said region for a sufficient number of cycles to effect any of a cosmetic or a therapeutic treatment in said tissue, wherein the duration of the temperature rise that the patient can tolerate is increased compared with the duration of the temperature rise that the patient can tolerate in the absence of repeatedly cycling applying energy to and reducing the energy applied from the energy source to said region.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  further comprising:
 cooling the skin surface above the region for a selected duration. 
 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the cooled skin surface temperature is within the range between 0° C. and 25° C. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58  wherein cooling is applied prior to applying energy to the skin surface. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the cooling is selected to improve patient tolerance. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the temperature of said region is raised to from about 41° C. to 47° C. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the cosmetic treatment includes new collagen generation in skin and subcutis. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the cosmetic treatment includes at least one of cellulite improvement, fat reduction, skin tightening, and skin lifting.