Gyrus Medical Limited

Rhytec Limited

Plasmogen Inc.

Energist Limited

Keith Penny

Nigel Mark Goble

Francis Amoah

Colin C O Goble

Colin Charles Owen Goble

Christopher P Hancock

A tissue treatment system has a radio frequency generator and a handheld treatment instrument that generates a gas plasma jet for delivering thermal energy to a tissue surface to be treated. Incorporated in the housing for the generator is a calibration device for adjusting the energy output of the generator, if necessary, at the beginning of a treatment session. The calibration device has a target element with a target surface, a transducer for sensing changes in temperature of the target element with respect to the temperature of a reference element, and an energy output adjuster for adjusting the radio frequency energy output of the generator in response to a calibration signal generated by the transducer. The generator housing has a receptacle for locating the nozzle of the handheld instrument in juxtaposition with the target element so that when a plasma burst is generated as part of a calibration sequence it is incident on the target surface. The generator output is automatically adjusted to compensate for any deviation of a calibration value, produced from the calibration signal, from a reference value. Also disclosed is a method of regenerating the reticular architecture of tissue, the method including calibrating the energy delivery of a tissue treatment system.

Tissue treatment system

A method for skin treatment comprises the steps of delivering at least one pulse of radio frequency power to at least one electrode in order to create an electric field; passing gas through the electric field in order to form plasma from the gas; and applying the plasma to the surface of skin. The amount of radio frequency power may be relatively low such that the application of plasma causes denaturation of collagen within the collagen-containing tissue beneath the skin surface, which may promote the generation of new collagen within the collagen-containing tissue.

Tissue resurfacing

A tissue resurfacing system has a handheld surgical instrument with a gas conduit ( ) which terminates in an exit nozzle ( N). Inside the conduit is an inner electrode ( ). A tubular coaxial outer electrode ( ) constitutes part of the wall of the conduit. Coupled to the instrument is a radio frequency power generator which delivers high level radio frequency energy in single-shot or repeated bursts to the electrodes ( ) while gas is flowing through the conduit ( ) so as to create a gas plasma between the electrodes which then emerges from the nozzle ( N) for tissue treatment. A resonant focussing element ( ) may be located in the conduit ( ) between the electrodes ( ) to aid plasma striking. The combination of high peak power (e.g. greater than 750 W) and short treatment pulses (e.g. less than 30 ms) allows rapid surface treatment without significant thermal effects at unwanted depths.

Tissue treatment method

An electrosurgical instrument has coaxial inner and outer tubular members ( ) made of a conductive material to form a coaxial transmitting line. The inner member ( ) is preferably dimensioned to receive a laparoscopic tool with the working elements of the tool projecting beyond a distal end ( D) of the inner member ( ). Alternatively, the inner member ( ) may, itself, incorporate a working element at its distal end. The outer member ( ) is connected to the inner member ( ) at a distance from the distal end ( D) of the later, and a radio frequency (r.f.) feed ( ) is connected to the inner member ( ) distally of the connection ( ) between the inner and outer members. Between the connections there is an r.f. isolating structure formed by or associated with the inner member ( ) to present a series impedance between the connections ( ) at an operating frequency of the instrument.

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Monmouth, United Kingdom

Keith Penny