Electrosurgical systems and methods for hair transplantation and epilation

(54) ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMS AND

METHODS FOR HAIR TRANSPLANTATION
AND EPILATION

(75) Inventor: Andre P. Bessette, San Francisco, CA (US)

Correspondence Address:
ARTHROCARE CORPORATION
680 VAQUEROS AVENUE
SUNNYVALE, CA 94085-3523 (US)

(73) Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA

(21) Appl. No.: 10/097,763

(22) Filed: Mar. 13, 2002

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Provisional application No. 60/276,863, filed on Mar. 17, 2001.

Publication Classification

(51) Int. CI.7 A61B 18/18

(52) U.S. C I 606/41

(57) ABSTRACT

Electrosurgical systems, apparatus, and methods for the controlled ablation, cutting, forming voids, or otherwise treating skin tissue. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes a treatment assembly including a plurality of treatment units, each treatment unit having an active electrode terminal adapted for the controlled, localized ablation of skin tissue. A method of performing an autologous hair transplant procedure includes electrosurgically forming a plurality of graft sockets in a recipient region of skin tissue. Each of the plurality of graft sockets comprises a void in the skin tissue, formed by positioning a treatment unit in at least close proximity to the skin surface in the recipient region, and thereafter applying a high frequency voltage between the active electrode terminal and a return electrode. Apparatus and methods for epilating the skin are also disclosed.