A medical device, including: a cooling system; a heating system; and an applicator including a cold base operationally coupled to the cooling system and a heating element operationally coupled to the heating system, and an applicator head collocated with the cold base and the heating element and adapted for applying a combination of heat and cold to a target area such as target tissue.

A method for killing or damaging cancerous cells in a living body comprising introducing glucose or other organic material as a biasing component into heating cancerous cells for purposes of destroying the cancerous cells with a second method of heating, such as by bombardment of energy from an external electromagnetic source, so as to raise the temperature of the tumor or cancerous cells to a degree that they are damaged or expire.

A patient interface for an ophthalmic laser system includes an interface portion and an attachment portion. The interface portion includes a transmissive portion and an interface wall. The transmissive portion allows a laser beam through to the cornea of an eye to perform an ophthalmic procedure. The interface wall is disposed outwardly from the transmissive portion. The attachment portion couples the interface portion to a region of the cornea to allow the laser beam through to the cornea to perform the ophthalmic procedure. The attachment portion also decreases the temperature of the region during the ophthalmic procedure.

Ablation systems and methods detect and address distortion caused by a variety of factors. A method includes measuring a temperature curve at target tissue; applying ablation energy to the target tissue; determining a peak temperature on the temperature curve; if the peak temperature is greater than the predetermined peak temperature, determining a time at which the temperature curve crosses to a lower temperature; and if the determined time is greater than a predetermined time, generating a message indicating that the target tissue was successfully ablated. Another method includes determining a distance between a remote temperature probe and an ablation probe, applying ablation energy to target tissue, measuring temperature at the remote temperature probe, estimating ablation size based on the determined distance and the temperature measured by the remote temperature probe, and determining whether the target tissue is successfully ablated based on the estimated ablation size.

Electrophysiology mapping and visualization systems are described herein where such devices may be used to visualize tissue regions as well as map the electrophysiological activity of the tissue. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. A position of the catheter and/or hood may be tracked and the hood may also be used to detect the electrophysiological activity of the visualized tissue for mapping.

An apparatus for damaging or killing cancer cells in a living human body comprising a temperature monitoring apparatus that allows a user to monitor the temperature of a tumor and the surrounding tissue, such that when the tumor is at a temperature greater than the surrounding tissue, either because that is the nature of the tumor or because the tumor temperature has been raised through the introduction of an organic substance, an energy source may be used to elevate the temperature of the tumor above a critical temperature that damages or kills the tumor, but does not kill the surrounding non-cancerous cells because they start off at a lower temperature and are never allowed to go above the critical temperature that damages or kills those non-cancerous cells.

An exhaust collection bag for cryogenic treatment is described herein and may generally comprise a first layer and a second layer attached along a periphery and forming an enclosed volume. The periphery defines four radiused corners and an extension member. A tubing connector may be positioned along the first layer and extend through the first layer and may also be located along a centerline of the first layer and in proximity to a bottom edge of the first layer. A drain closure may also be positioned along the first layer and located away from the centerline and in proximity to the bottom edge.

Methods, devices, and systems employ cryolysis of oropharyngeal adipose tissues to selectively remove fat cells from the tissues causing obstructive sleep apnea. In various embodiments, a chilled liquid—e.g., a liquid or air—is applied to the target tissue at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to cause cryolysis.

A cryoprobe for minimally invasive cardiac ablation with a functional tip (2) according to the invention comprises a handle (5) and a first tip (1), having a cooling system for destroying tissues by freezing them, and at least one functional tip (2). Wherein the functional tip (2) is movable relative to the first tip (1), and it has at its end (4) at least a temperature measuring system (6) for the tissues being destroyed by the first tip (1). The first tip (1) is in turn mounted in a handle (5) provided with at least one button (3) for controlling the functional tip (2). Both the first tip (1) and at least one functional tip (2) have a part susceptible to a plastic change in shape. The cryoprobe according to the invention is characterised in that at least one functional tip (2) has a central part susceptible to a plastic change in shape, and a rigid part at its end, and the first tip (1) has a part susceptible to a plastic change in shape at its end, and the remaining part of the first tip (1) is rigid.

The invention also comprises a method for controlling the cryoprobe.

Cryosurgical devices, such as cryosurgical probes (cryoprobes) are disclosed. Some example embodiments may include an elongated shaft at least partially housing or delineating a fluid supply conduit and a fluid exhaust conduit, the elongated shaft including a distal ablation section terminating at a closed distal end, a housing at least partially circumscribing at least a portion of a proximal end of the elongated shaft and receiving or delineating at least a portion of the fluid supply conduit and a portion of the fluid exhaust conduit; and/or a flow restricting element in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust conduit, the flow restricting element regulating the flow of fluid through at least a portion of the fluid exhaust conduit.