A method and system for automated and semi-automated predictable, consistent, safe, effective, and lumen-specific and patient-specific cryospray treatment of airway tissue in which treatment duration is automatically set by the system following entry of patient information and treatment location information into the system by the user, and treatment spray is automatically stopped by the system when the automatically selected treatment duration has been achieved as determined by the system.

A thermal regulation catheter system and method of use are disclosed, for moderating the temperature and other parameters of tissue surrounding a target tissue for an ablation procedure, or for performing a thermal treatment procedure. In an embodiment, the device includes a catheter having a shaft with a fluid supply line and a fluid return line disposed therein, and an inflatable heat exchange vessel at a distal end of the shaft. The fluid supply line supplies fluid to inflate the heat exchange vessel, and the fluid return line conducts fluid away from the heat exchange vessel.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided surgical system is provided that includes one or more surgical tools having components configured to develop reactive effects when exposed to MR signals generated by the MRI system. The system includes a control system that can determine whether the MR system is generating MR signals, and if the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, mitigates the reactive effects of MR signals on components of the surgical tools. The system can include a cryoablation system with a cryoprobe having a probe shaft being made of a metallic material. If the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, the control system can electrically disconnect the cryoprobe and/or ignore electrical signals generated by the electric heater in response to exposure to MR signals, and/or initiate a cooling operation of the probe shaft, whereby the cooling operation.

A method of producing an array of sharp tips including a biocompatible coating, wherein the biocompatible coating is thicker at a sharp end of the sharp tips than at a broader section of the sharp tips, the method including providing an array of sharp tips, and coating the sharp end of the sharp tips differentially from coating the broader section of the sharp tips. A method of treating skin including producing a hollow in the skin by heating and mechanically compressing epidermis while retaining a covering of stratum corneum. A method of treating tissue including heating a tip to a temperature suitable for producing a crater in the tissue, advancing the tip toward the tissue, detecting when the tip comes into contact with the tissue by detecting a change in mechanical resistance to the advancing, and measuring the mechanical resistance to the advancing. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

A blade for a cutting instrument, in particular for medical use, includes a first ceramic layer, a second ceramic layer, and a heating device arranged between the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer.

A method of producing an array of sharp tips including a biocompatible coating, wherein the biocompatible coating is thicker at a sharp end of the sharp tips than at a broader section of the sharp tips, the method including providing an array of sharp tips, and coating the sharp end of the sharp tips differentially from coating the broader section of the sharp tips. A method of treating skin including producing a hollow in the skin by heating and mechanically compressing epidermis while retaining a covering of stratum corneum. A method of treating tissue including heating a tip to a temperature suitable for producing a crater in the tissue, advancing the tip toward the tissue, detecting when the tip comes into contact with the tissue by detecting a change in mechanical resistance to the advancing, and measuring the mechanical resistance to the advancing. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

A cryoneedle comprises an outer tube having a distal section with a generally central gas supply line placed within the outer tube. The gas supply line supplies a cryogas for forming an iceball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section. The gas supply line terminates in an expansion chamber placed within the distal section. The cryoneedle comprises a heat exchange helix contacting the inner surface of the outer tube. The heat exchange helix has an increasing surface area per unit distance of the distal section such that the iceball has a generally symmetric shape.

Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a body cavity or lumen are described where a heated fluid and/or gas may be introduced through a catheter and into treatment area within the body contained between one or more inflatable/expandable members. The catheter may also have optional pressure and temperature sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure and temperature within the treatment zone and also prevent the pressure from exceeding a pressure of the inflatable/expandable members to thereby contain the treatment area between these inflatable/expandable members. Optionally, a chilled, room temperature, or warmed fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session.

An ablation assembly includes a handle, a catheter assembly and a connector locking assembly. The catheter assembly includes: a catheter shaft, a balloon and a connector at the distal and proximal ends of the catheter shaft, and a delivery tube extending between there between. The connector includes a connector body secured to the proximal end and a plug secured to the delivery tube, the plug and delivery tube movable axially and rotationally. The handle includes an open portion receiving the plug and the connector body. The connector locking assembly includes: means for simultaneously automatically connecting the plug and the connector body to the handle to place the connector in a load state prior to use, and means for automatically releasing the connector body and thereafter the plug from the handle to place the connector in an eject state to permit the connector to be removed from the handle.

Provided are a system and a method for determining the temperature of a body by imaging a hydrogen proton-rich material positioned within the body using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. A method to increase changes in the MRI signal strength as a function of temperature, thus improving temperature sensitivity, is also provided. The system and method employ polymers having mechanical stability and magnetic image brightness at low temperatures of between 0° C. and −65° C. or high temperatures of between +37° C. and +80° C.