Maintaining thermal energy tissue shrinkage and restoring mechanical properties of the tissue via protein crosslinker delivery

A dual applicator for treating a target tissue comprising:

• a housing;
• a thermal energy probe received in the housing,
• wherein the thermal energy probe is longitudinally translatable within the housing;
• an energy supply connection interface coupled to the thermal energy probe and configured to supply thermal energy to the thermal energy probe;
• and
• an injection needle comprised in the housing and coupled to a trigger;
• wherein actuating the trigger causes longitudinal translation of the injection needle to thereby adjust a depth of the injection needle inserted into the target tissue.

A method of treating a target tissue, comprising:

• creating a minimally invasive incision,
• inserting, through the minimally invasive incision, a distal end of a dual applicator, wherein the dual applicator comprises:
• a thermal energy probe;
• an injection needle;
• a trigger;
• and
• a vial containing a protein crosslinker;
• adjusting a position of the thermal energy probe relative to the target tissue,
• wherein the adjustment comprises contacting a first region of the target tissue with the thermal energy probe;
• applying thermal energy to the first region via the thermal energy probe,
• adjusting a position of the injection needle relative to the target tissue,
• wherein the adjustment of the injection needle comprises:
• inserting the injection needle into the first region;
• and
• actuating the trigger to translate the injection needle within the dual applicator;
• and
• delivering the protein crosslinker to the first region from the vial.