Finally, cryotherapy involves the use of pressurized carbon dioxide administered through the endoscope to freeze and destroy tissue in a focal area.

Methods used to destroy tissue included thermocoagulation, suction, radioisotopes and leucotomes.

It was known that heating cartilage could make it malleable, but it was difficult to do without destroying tissue as well.

The instruments were then used to destroy tissues that were 'short-circuiting' the natural pacemaker system controlling their heart rate.

Leukocytes in the wound area release elastase, which increases inflammation, destroys tissue, proteoglycans, and collagen, and damages growth factors, fibronectin, and factors that inhibit proteases.