Disclosed herein is a therapeutically active agent usable in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), for use in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, as well as methods of treating PAH, said treatment and methods comprising administering such an active agent and effecting pulmonary artery denervation in the subject. In some aspects, a sub-therapeutically effective amount of the active agent is administered. In some aspects, the method is devoid of administering such an active agent for at least one month subsequent to the denervation. Further disclosed is a method of treating PAH comprising determining a responsiveness of the subject to at least one therapeutically active agent usable in treating PAH; and effecting pulmonary artery denervation in a subject responsive to the active agent(s).

The present invention generally relates to improved medical devices, systems, and methods. In many embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for locating and treating a target nerve with cold therapy are provided. For example, a focused cold therapy treatment device may be provided that is adapted to couple with or be fully integrated with a nerve stimulation device such that nerve stimulation and focused cold therapy may be performed concurrently with the cryo-stimulation device. Improvements in nerve localization and targeting may increase treatment accuracy and physician confidence in needle placement during treatment. In turn, such improvements may decrease overall treatment times, the number of repeat treatments, and the re-treatment rate. Further, additional improvements in nerve localization and targeting may reduce the number of applied treatment cycles and may also reduce the number of cartridge changes (when replaceable refrigerant cartridges are used).

Medical methods and systems are provided for effecting lung volume reduction by selectively ablating segments of lung tissue.

Tissue treatment systems include an actuator handle assembly coupled with a clamp assembly having a first jaw mechanism and a second jaw mechanism. A first jaw mechanism includes a first flexible boot, a first flexible ablation member coupled with the first flexible boot, and a first rotatable jawbone disposed within the first flexible boot. A second jaw mechanism comprises a second flexible boot, a second flexible ablation member coupled with the second flexible boot, and a second rotatable jawbone disposed within the second flexible boot.

A method for treating skin, including: delivering one or more pulses of non-converging ultrasonic energy through a surface area size in a range of 3 mm.sup.2-7 mm.sup.2, wherein each pulse having an intensity in a range of 5 W/cm.sup.2-60 W/cm.sup.2 and a time duration in which the ultrasonic energy is actively transmitted in a range of 1-10 seconds per pulse, wherein the non-converging ultrasonic energy is delivered from a fixed position to one or more skin regions having a maximal surface area size in a range of 5 cm.sup.2-100 cm.sup.2.

Devices, systems, and methods for the selective positioning of an intravascular neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The therapeutic assembly can include one or more energy delivery elements configured to deliver therapeutic energy to nerves proximate a vessel wall.

Provided is a catheter including a shaft having a distal end and a loop disposed near the distal end and configured to curl around a tissue and receive, via the shaft, energy to denervate at least a portion of the tissue. The loop includes: a first film capable of bending to curl around the tissue; a plurality of electrodes disposed on the first film and arranged in parallel to each other with a predetermined distance; a sensor disposed at a position corresponding to a position between the plurality of electrodes.

A method in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention includes increasing a concentration of a modified or unmodified saccharide within a subject's skin, applying an applicator to the subject's skin, and cooling the subject's skin via a heat-transfer surface of the applicator. The saccharide within the subject's skin can enhance a resistance of at least some cells within the subject's skin to damage associated with the cooling. A corresponding system includes the applicator, the saccharide, and an energy-delivery device. The energy-delivery device can be configured to apply ultrasound, optical, thermal, or another type of energy to the subject's skin to drive the saccharide into the subject's skin. The system can also include a penetration enhancer configured to enhance penetration of the saccharide into the subject's skin. The penetration enhancer can be applied with the saccharide or separately.

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The clamp arm is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade to transition the end effector between an open configuration and a closed configuration to clamp tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm. The surgical instrument further comprises a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic energy output and a waveguide configured to transmit the ultrasonic energy output to the ultrasonic blade. The surgical instrument further comprises a control circuit configured to monitor a parameter of the surgical instrument, wherein crossing an upper predetermined threshold of the parameter causes the control circuit to effect a first electromechanical system, and wherein crossing a lower predetermined threshold of the parameter causes the control circuit to effect a second electromechanical system different than the first electromechanically system.

Compositions and formulations for use with devices and systems that enable tissue cooling, such as cryotherapy applications, for alteration and reduction of adipose tissue are described. Aspects of the technology are further directed to methods, compositions and devices that provide protection of non-targeted cells (e.g., non-lipid-rich cells) from freeze damage during dermatological and related aesthetic procedures that require sustained exposure to cold temperatures. Further aspects of the technology include systems for enhancing sustained and/or replenishing release of cryoprotectant to a treatment site prior to and during cooling applications.