In an illustrative embodiment, systems and methods for treatment of nerves present in a wall of a human renal pelvis are described. One system uses a sheath to access a position in or near the renal pelvis via the urinary tract. An effector inserted through the sheath has an uncooled distal region formed with a superelastic wire that supports at least four non-insulated, preferably spherical electrodes distributed along the distal region. The distal region expands within the renal pelvis, and vacuum applied through the sheath at least partially evacuates the renal pelvis to draw opposing walls of the renal pelvis inwards and compress the distal region somewhat from its expanded form, placing the electrodes in intimate contact with different points along the renal pelvic wall. Energy is applied to the electrodes to create discrete lesions at the points of contact of the electrodes.

A vapor delivery needle and method is provided that is adapted for treating prostate cancer. The energy delivery probe can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a peripheral zone tissue in a human prostate. In one method, a needle is introduced into peripheral zone tissue of a human prostate, and vapor media is delivered through the needle to ablate peripheral zone tissue without ablating non-peripheral zone tissue. Systems for treating prostate cancer with vapor therapy are also provided.

A vapor delivery system and method is provided that includes a number of features. In one embodiment, a method comprises inserting a vapor delivery needle into tissue of a patient, activating a flow of vapor from a vapor generator through vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle to cause condensed liquid to exit vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle, generating vapor in the vapor generator, delivering a dose of vapor through the vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle into the tissue, and after the dose of vapor is delivered, re-activating the flow of vapor from the vapor generator through the vapor delivery ports of the vapor delivery needle to prevent a vacuum from forming in the vapor delivery needle. Vapor therapy systems are also

A probe for performing a cryoablation treatment that includes a handle with a heater configured to heat a fluid and a needle connected to the handle and extending therefrom to a distal end. The needle includes a pathway configured to move the fluid from the handle toward the distal end to heat the needle.

A vapor delivery device includes an induction coil system. The induction coil system can include a coiled fluid tube, a coiled wire, a capsule between the coiled fluid tube and the wire, and a cooling fluid supply configured to force a cooling fluid through the capsule across the coiled wire. The induction coil system can include a closed loop ferrite core, a wire coiled around a first portion of the ferrite core, and a fluid tube coiled around a second portion of the ferrite core. A wire coil can be contained in a cartridge system removably coupleable to a disposable vapor delivery device. The system can include a fluid flow controller and induction power regulation to maintain a specific operating pressure range for vapor within a uterus or other bodily cavity, tract, or duct.

Tissue ablation devices, and more specifically needle injectors that are configured to deliver flowable thermal treatment media into an interface with tissue and that can provide a single dose of ablative energy.

Apparatus, systems, and methods provide access to the renal pelvis of a kidney to treat renal nerves embedded in tissue surrounding the renal pelvis. Access to the renal pelvis may be via the urinary tract or via minimally invasive incisions through the abdomen and kidney tissue. Treatment is effected by exchanging energy, typically delivering heat or extracting heat through a wall of the renal pelvis, or by delivering active substances.

The invention provides improved medical devices, therapeutic treatment systems, and treatment methods for treatment of the lung. The invention includes methods, systems, and devices for applying a first lung volume reduction action to the functionally impaired lung tissue so as to reduce its volume to less than a pre-treatment volume; and applying a pro-inflammatory stimulus to the functionally impaired lung tissue having reduced volume, that stimulus being sufficient to induce fibrosis in the functionally impaired lung tissue. The pro-inflammatory stimulus may be separate and additional to that of the lung volume reduction action.

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

A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to treat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a first treatment device having a plurality of electrodes. The electrodes are maintained in axial alignment and fixed radial spacing in retracted and extended positions. The device includes a basket having a plurality of arms. The arms are maintained in a fixed radial spacing in the collapsed position of the basket.