Cryogenic tissue ablation instruments for treating body tissue include an elongate flexible body with a proximal supply port for coupling with a pressurized coolant (e.g., liquid N.sub.2O), a supply lumen in fluid communication with the proximal supply port, and an expandable cryogenic balloon carried on a distal portion of the elongate body, the balloon having a wall defining an interior of the balloon. A dispersion member coupled to or otherwise formed out of a distal end portion of the elongate body has an interior lumen in fluid communication with or otherwise comprising a portion of the supply lumen, the dispersion member having one or more coolant dispersion apertures in fluid communication with the balloon interior and sized and located with respect to the balloon wall such that a pressurized flowable coolant in the supply lumen will enter the balloon interior through the one or more apertures in the form of a liquid spray that contacts and provides (through rapid evaporation) substantially uniform cooling of an interior wall surface of a treatment region of the balloon.

An occlusion catheter system includes an inflation catheter member and an occlusion balloon. The proximal and distal balloon ends are connected to the inflation catheter between the proximal and distal catheter ends. A distal pressure sensor is attached to the inflation catheter member between the proximal balloon end and the atraumatic tip. An inflatable spine is connected to the inflation catheter. The proximal spine end is connected to the inflation catheter near the proximal balloon end and the distal spine end is connected to the inflation catheter near the distal balloon end. The occlusion balloon and the inflatable spine are configured to define blood flow channels with the internal surface and the external balloon surface when the occlusion catheter system is at least partially positioned in the vessel and the occlusion balloon and the inflatable spine are in a partially inflated configuration.

An intracorporeal pressure shock wave includes an expandable pressure shock wave reflector at the distal end of an intracorporeal catheter to direct shock waves from a shock wave generator within a human or animal blood vessel or body lumen.

A device and method for establishing retrograde blood flow during recanalization of a vessel having a targeted blockage. While in a collapsed state an occluding component is introduced distally intravascularly traversing the targeted blockage to its distal side. Then, the occluding component transitions to an expanded state having an enlarged diameter forming a seal with an internal wall of the vessel prohibiting anterograde blood flow beyond the expanded occluding component. Retrograde blood flow is thereby established in a region of the vessel bound at one end by the occluding component and at an opposite end by the targeted blockage by dispensing a flushing fluid into the region of the vessel.

A system and method for treating a vessel is provided. A catheter system includes an inner elongated element and an outer elongated element positioned coaxially with respect to the inner elongated element. A proximal occlusion element is positioned at and is flush with the distal end of the outer elongated element. A distal occlusion element is positioned at a distal end of the inner elongated element. The distal end of the inner elongated element is distal to and movable with respect to the outer elongated element distal end. One or both of proximal occlusion element and distal occlusion element is a compliant balloon, configured to form a funnel shape upon proximal movement of the outer elongated element and/or the inner elongated element.

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate. If the flow rate drops to zero or close to zero, this indicates that the uterine cavity is intact and not perforated. If the flow rate does not drop to zero or close to zero, this indicates that a fluid flow is leaking through a perforation in the uterine cavity into the uterine cavity or escaping around an occlusion balloon that occludes the cervical canal.

A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen during a cutting operation includes an elongate catheter body configured for insertion into the body lumen and a tissue-removing element. A motor is operably connected to the tissue-removing element for rotating the tissue-removing element. A sensor is configured to detect a parameter of the catheter body during the cutting operation. A motor control circuit is in electrical communication with the sensor and the motor. During an operational control function, the motor control circuit is configured to receive a signal from the sensor based at least in part on the detected parameter, determine whether the received signal is indicative of inefficient movement of the tissue-removing element, and adjust a rotational speed of the tissue-removing element to increase efficiency of the tissue-removing element if the received signal is indicative of inefficient movement of the tissue-removing element.

A medical system includes a sheath and an acoustic reflective element that is capable of amplifying acoustic energy. Methods of using a medical system are also provided herein.

A balloon guide catheter including a catheter shaft having a reflowable material outer layer. Secured without an adhesive to the catheter shaft is a balloon having a bond interface area with a plurality of punctures defined therein secured about the outer layer of the catheter shaft via seepage of the reflowable material of the outer layer into the plurality of punctures forming a radially outward reflow bond between the catheter shaft and the balloon. Along the bond interface area about the perimeter of the opening in the balloon, a single reflow jacket is secured to the balloon via seepage of the reflowable material of the single reflow jacket into the plural punctures of the balloon forming a radially inward reflow bond. The single reflow jacket is made of a reflowable material and has an opening defined therein aligned with the balloon.

A method and system are disclosed for opening a workspace inside a lumen of a living creature are disclosed. Anchors may be affixed to opposite ends of the workspace. An extender may be distance anchors apart while they are affixed to the walls of the workspace. Distancing the anchors may unfold and/or stretch the lumen in the region of the workspace.