Devices and methods for treating the prostate are disclosed where in one embodiment, the apparatus generally comprises a catheter which is sized for placement within a body lumen, at least one balloon positioned along a length of the catheter and defining a contact region for thermally contacting a portion of the body lumen which is in proximity to tissue to be treated, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one balloon through at least one lumen defined through the length of the catheter. The at least one balloon may be configured to receive a refrigerant from the reservoir introduced through the at least one lumen until the contact region is at least partially expanded, the catheter being adjustable to selectively align the contact region against the portion of the body lumen to preferentially cool the portion relative to a remainder of the body lumen surrounding the portion.

Catheters with deployable instruments (e.g., needles) can damage tissue if the instrument unintentionally deploys during use. Described herein are devices and methods for controlling the position of a deployable catheter instrument. In one embodiment, a catheter can include an instrument slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter and coupled to at least one protrusion, as well as a retraction stop coupled to the catheter. The catheter can further include a biasing element coupled to the instrument that can urge the instrument proximally such that the at least one protrusion abuts against the retraction stop, as well as an advancing mechanism to selectively engage the instrument and urge it distally. In some embodiments, the biasing element can be omitted and a deployment stop can be included distal to the retraction stop. These configurations can prevent unintentional instrument deployment and provide greater positioning precision during instrument deployment.

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 electrosurgical system can include an electrosurgical generator, a feedback circuit or controller, and an electrosurgical tool. The feedback circuit can provide an electrosurgery endpoint by determining the phase end point of a tissue to be treated. The electrosurgical system can include more than one electrosurgical tool for different electrosurgical operations and can include a variety of user interface features and audio/visual performance indicators. The electrosurgical system can also power conventional bipolar electrosurgical tools and direct current surgical appliances.

A surgical instrument includes an outer shaft defining a passageway. An inner shaft is disposed within the passageway and defines a lumen. An expandable structure has a first end coupled to a second end of the outer shaft and a second end coupled to a second end of the inner shaft. The expandable member defines a chamber. A delivery shaft includes a first end positioned within the passageway and a second end positioned within the chamber. The delivery shaft defines a channel configured to deliver a coolant out of an opening in the second end of the delivery shaft and into the chamber to move the expandable structure from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. A variable exhaust valve is in communication with the passageway and is configured to regulate pressure within the chamber. Systems and methods are disclosed.

A catheter is provided comprising a flexible heat transfer element provided on an outer surface of the catheter, a conduit arranged to supply an inflation fluid for inflating the flexible heat transfer element so as to form an inflated balloon, a guide wire lumen for receiving a guide wire, and an elongate cooling element arranged to cool said inflation fluid for inflating the balloon. Said cooling element and said guide wire lumen are arranged inside the flexible heat transfer element such that, when inflated the cooling element is substantially central within the balloon and said guide wire lumen is parallel to and radially offset from the cooling element.

A tool for cryosurgery for handling tissue is disclosed, which is particularly suited for ophthalmic applications. The tool for cryosurgery (1) comprises a tubular body (2), a container (3) positioned within the tubular body (2) for holding cryogenic fluid and a treatment tip (4) connected to a distal end (2a) of the tubular body (2). A capillary (5) for transporting cryogenic fluid from the container (3) to the treatment tip (4) is also provided. The treatment tip (4) comprises a closed off end tip (6) and a shaft (7) of thermally insulating material having an inner lumen (8) with a diameter (d.sub.l) which is larger than an outer diameter (d.sub.o) of the capillary (5), the shaft (7) being sealingly coupled to the closed off end tip (6).

The present disclosure relates to a surgical tool for cutting and hemostasis of biological tissues. The surgical tool includes a hollow blade comprising a cutting implement residing within a hollow cavity configured to provide high-pressure steam through an apical surface. The cutting implement can operate independently or in cooperation with the provided high-pressure steam. The surgical tool of the present disclosure applies a directionally-controlled, high-pressure steam flow to a tissue region of interest. A control unit provides temperature-controlled steam at a flow-rate determined in accordance with tissue type and intended procedure.

Medical apparatus includes a flexible insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a cavity in a body of a living subject and containing a lumen passing through the insertion tube to the distal end. An inflatable balloon is deployable from the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to be inflated by passage of a fluid through the lumen while the probe is deployed in the cavity in the body. At least one flexible circuit substrate is attached to a surface of the inflatable balloon. One or more electrodes, which include a conductive material disposed on an outer side of the at least one flexible circuit substrate, contact tissue in the cavity in the body when the balloon is inflated. A spiral conductive trace is disposed on the at least one flexible circuit substrate.

A method of creating multiple thermal lesions in tissue around urethra using needle electrodes inserted essentially parallel to urethra.