An apparatus for stiffening tissue comprises an ultrasound element
including an array of ultrasound crystals arranged on a surface, the
surface shaped so that energy generated by the crystals converges on a
predetermined focusing area. A method of treating tissue comprises
positioning adjacent a target portion of tissue to be treated a probe
including an ultrasound element, a geometry of the ultrasound element
focusing ultrasound energy generated thereby on a predetermined focus
area, adjusting the position of the probe so that the predetermined focus
area is located at the target portion of tissue and energizing the
ultrasound element to treat the target portion of tissue.