Method and Device for Treating Damaged Tissue

A method to treat damaged tissue in a joint of a mammal, comprising:

• providing a treatment device including an energy source and an energy-delivery implement;
• inserting the energy-delivery implement into the joint;
• positioning an energy-emitting portion of the implement in the proximity of a first target spot in a target zone of the damaged tissue;
• activating the energy source of treatment device to deliver a treatment sequence of energy at the first target spot, the sequence comprising at least two pulses of energy separated by an interval, to create a zone of thermal stress within target tissue, without causing substantial coagulation of the tissue;
• relocating the energy-delivery implement to position the energy-emitting portion in the proximity of another target spot of the target zone, located from the first target spot at a distance not shorter than a radius of the zone of thermal stress;
• and
• repeating the activating and relocating until energy is delivered to all target spots of the target zone.