Heating method for tissue contraction

1. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising: electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone; and upon determining the acceptable contact condition, deploying a temperature probe into the target zone and irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period, and upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises RF energy.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irradiating causes a stiffening of the target zone.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein stiffening causes shrinkage of the target zone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a plurality of electrodes that are configured to contact a region of the first tissue layer and the electronically determining comprises measuring an impedance value of at least one of the first tissue layer and the target zone.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein measuring an impedance value comprises causing each of the electrodes to irradiate the first tissue layer at a first power level.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein measuring an impedance value yields the unacceptable contact condition determination if the impedance value is determined to exceed a predetermined impedance level.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein measuring to determine if the impedance value exceeds a predetermined impedance level is made only after the irradiating has occurred for a first predetermined time duration.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein electronically determining further comprises comparing the impedance values measured by each of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the unacceptable contact condition occurs if each of the measured impedance values is not within a predetermined range of each of the other measured impedance values.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein comparing the impedance values occurs after the irradiating has been performed for a predetermined time duration.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the first tissue layer and target zone, wherein cooling causes the temperature of the target zone to remain below a first predetermined temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: measuring a temperature of the target zone; and upon reaching a predetermined target zone temperature, discontinuing the cooling of the first tissue layer.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating further comprises: determining a temperature equilibrium condition of the target zone, the temperature equilibrium condition comprising descent below a predetermined rate change level of a temperature rate of change of the target zone; and discontinuing the irradiating at the conclusion of a first predetermined time duration from the temperature equilibrium condition determination.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irradiating further comprises automatically discontinuing irradiation when the target zone has reached a predetermined maximum temperature.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is between approximately 60° C. and 80° C.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein irradiating is ceased when the finite time period has elapsed.

17. A computer system for storing information comprising: an energy source; a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory programmed to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising: a code module for determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between the energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body; a code module for initiating irradiation for a finite time period the target zone with energy, the initiating based upon determining the acceptable contact condition; a code module for determining a temperature equilibrium condition of the target zone, the temperature equilibrium condition comprising descent below a predetermined rate change level of a temperature rate of change of the target zone; a code module for effecting discontinuation of the irradiating at the conclusion of a first predetermined time duration from the temperature equilibrium condition determination; and a code module for causing cessation of the irradiating, wherein causing is based upon the unacceptable contact condition determination.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein: the energy source comprises a plurality of electrodes and a RF generator, wherein each of the electrodes are configured to contact a region of the first tissue layer; and wherein the plurality of code modules further comprise a code module for measuring an impedance value of at least one of the first tissue layer region and the target zone.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of code modules further comprise:

a code module for comparing the impedance values; and a code module for yielding the unacceptable contact condition determination if each impedance value is not within a predetermined range of each other.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of code modules further comprises a code module for yielding the unacceptable contact condition determination if any impedance value is determined to exceed a predetermined impedance level.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of code modules comprise a code module for ensuring that the target zone is maintained below a maximum temperature.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of code modules further comprise a code module for initiating cooling of the first tissue layer.

23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of code modules further comprise a code module for effecting discontinuation of the irradiating when the target zone has reached a first predetermined temperature.

24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of code modules further comprise:

a code module for determining, after the finite time period, a predetermined temperature of the target zone; and a code module for effecting discontinuation, after the determining the predetermined target zone temperature, of the cooling of the first tissue layer.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the code module for causing cessation of the irradiating is configured to stop irradiating when a maximum time limit has been reached.

26. A system for therapeutically strengthening a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the system comprising: an applicator comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted to establish an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between the plurality of electrodes with a first tissue layer disposed proximally to the target zone; and a controller operably coupled to the applicator to control the delivery of energy through the applicator, wherein the controller is configured to move between a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, wherein the controller in the first mode determines the contact condition between the plurality of electrodes and the first tissue layer, wherein the controller moves to the second mode and causes the plurality of electrodes to heat the target zone for a finite time period upon a processor determining the acceptable contact condition, wherein heating comprises determining a temperature equilibrium condition of the target zone, the temperature equilibrium condition comprising descent below a predetermined rate change level of a temperature rate of change of the target zone, and discontinuing the heating at the conclusion of a first predetermined time duration from the temperature equilibrium condition determination; and wherein the controller moves to the third mode to cause cessation of the irradiating upon determining of the unacceptable contact condition.

27. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising:

electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone;

upon determining the acceptable contact condition, deploying a temperature probe into the target zone, irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period, and cooling the first tissue layer and target zone, wherein cooling causes the temperature of the target zone to remain below a first predetermined temperature; and

upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.

28. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising:

electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone;

upon determining the acceptable contact condition, irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period, wherein irradiating comprises:

determining a temperature equilibrium condition of the target zone, the temperature equilibrium condition comprising descent below a predetermined rate change level of a temperature rate of change of the target zone; and

discontinuing the irradiating at the conclusion of a first predetermined time duration from the temperature equilibrium condition determination; and

upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.

29. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising:

electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone;

upon determining the acceptable contact condition:

deploying a temperature probe into the target zone;

irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period;

measuring a temperature of the target zone;

cooling the first tissue layer and target zone, wherein cooling causes the temperature of the target zone to remain below a first predetermined temperature; and

upon reaching a predetermined target zone temperature, discontinuing the cooling of the first tissue layer; and

upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.

30. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising:

electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone;

upon determining the acceptable contact condition, irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period, wherein irradiating comprises:

determining whether a temperature rate of change of the target zone is within a predetermined rate of change level; and

adjusting the irradiating when the temperature rate of change is not within the predetermined rate of change level; and

wherein irradiating is ceased when a maximum treatment time is reached, or upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.

31. A computer system for storing information comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory programmed to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising: a code module for determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body; a code module for deploying a temperature probe into the target zone upon determining the acceptable contact condition; a code module for initiating irradiation for a finite time period the target zone with energy, the initiating based upon determining the acceptable contact condition; a code module for initiating cooling of the first tissue layer; and a code module for causing cessation of the irradiating, wherein causing is based upon the unacceptable contact condition determination.

32. A computer system for storing information comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory programmed to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising: a code module for determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body; a code module for initiating irradiation for a finite time period the target zone with energy, the initiating based upon determining the acceptable contact condition; a code module for determining a temperature equilibrium condition of the target zone, the temperature equilibrium condition comprising descent below a predetermined rate change level of a temperature rate of change of the target zone; a code module for effecting discontinuation of the irradiating at the conclusion of a first predetermined time duration from the temperature equilibrium condition determination; and a code module for causing cessation of the irradiating, wherein causing is based upon the unacceptable contact condition determination.

33. A computer system for storing information comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory programmed to store a plurality of code modules for execution by the processor, the plurality of code modules comprising: a code module for determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body; a code module for initiating irradiation for a finite time period the target zone with energy, the initiating based upon determining the acceptable contact condition; a code module for determining whether a temperature rate of change of the target zone is within a predetermined rate of change level; a code module for adjusting the irradiating when the temperature rate of change is not within the predetermined rate of change level; and a code module for causing cessation of the irradiating, wherein causing is based upon the unacceptable contact condition determination, and wherein the code module for causing cessation of the irradiating is configured to stop irradiating when a maximum time limit has been reached.

34. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising:

electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone, wherein the electronically determining comprises determining adequate applicator force by measuring a maximum impedance of a distal electrode segment of the applicator and a maximum impedance of a proximal electrode segment of the applicator and comparing the maximum impedances of the distal and proximal electrode segments to an acceptable impedance value;

upon determining the acceptable contact condition, irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period;

cooling the applicator with a cooling system, wherein cooling causes the temperature of the target zone to remain below a predetermined temperature; and

upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.

35. A method of therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body, the method comprising:

electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an applicator and a first tissue layer disposed adjacent to the target zone, wherein the electronically determining comprises measuring an impedance difference between a distal electrode segment of the applicator and a proximal electrode segment of the applicator and comparing the impedance difference to a maximum allowable impedance difference;

upon determining the acceptable contact condition, irradiating the target zone with energy from the applicator for a finite time period;

continuously monitoring the contact condition between the applicator and the first tissue layer; and

upon determining the unacceptable contact condition, causing cessation of the irradiating.