A heat exchanger is disclosed for causing cryolysis of adipose tissue of a human tongue. The heat exchanger includes a body having cooling channels for circulating fluids therein. The body forms a contact surface that contacts a portion of the dorsal surface of the tongue and a portion of the base of the tongue. The heat exchanger includes a pair of side walls extending from the body and forming a pair of side contact surfaces that are dimensioned so that they contact the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue in a manner so as to constrict the tongue when the contact surface is in contact with the tongue. A method of treatment for apnea using the heat exchanger and/or administering a chemical adipolysis formulation/vasoconstriction agent is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a low-temperature treatment device capable of preventing nerve damage. The low-temperature treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise: a cooling pocket which is inserted and positioned in a rectum and which has a predetermined shape during expansion; and a circulation tube which has a passage through which fluid flows in and out and which is inserted into the cooling pocket so as to circulate the fluid in an inner space of the cooling pocket.

Systems and methods for selective auto-retroperfusion along with regional mild hypothermia. In at least one embodiment of a system for providing a retroperfusion therapy to a venous vessel of the present disclosure, the system comprises a catheter for controlling blood perfusion pressure, the catheter comprising a body having a proximal open end, a distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal open end and the distal end, and a plurality of orifices disposed thereon, each of the orifices in fluid communication with the lumen, and at least one expandable balloon, each of the at least one expandable balloons coupled with the body, having an interior that is in fluid communication with the lumen, and adapted to move between an expanded configuration and a deflated configuration, and a flow unit for regulating the flow and pressure of a bodily fluid, and a regional hypothermia system operably coupled to the catheter, the regional hypothermia system operable to reduce and/or regulate a temperature of the bodily fluid flowing therethrough.

Materials and methods for producing localized hypothermia in a patient (e.g., for treatment of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer).

The present invention provides balloon catheters and methods for using the same. Unlike existing balloon catheters in the art, the present balloon catheters expand in the proximal direction to enhance fit. The balloon catheters include sliding balloon catheters, preformed balloon catheters, super-elastic balloon catheters, and may be augmented with peripheral catheters.

Methods and system for atrial fibrillation mapping utilizing cardiac mapping based on medical image(s). The methods and system also adapted for any balloon based catheters including cryoballoon catheter, laser balloon catheter, or “hot balloon” catheter, as well as circular catheters. The methods and system includes overlaying of two or more images on top of each other (where the images are of various types or modalities) and aligning the images, where the transparency between the images can be adjusted for navigating and optimal placement of the balloon based catheters or circular catheters. The cardiac system also adopted for guiding optimal placement of the left ventricular (LV) lead placement for cardiac re-synchronization (CRT) therapy, and for mapping and displaying activation times from various branches of the coronary sinus for optimizing CRT therapy.

A catheter is disclosed comprising a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. A flexible framework can be connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the flexible framework includes a plurality of heating electrodes and a temperature sensor. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a first temperature, the first temperature being lower than which radio frequency ablation is performed. The plurality of heating electrodes can be configured to be heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being a temperature at which radio frequency ablation is performed.

Systems and methods for selective auto-retroperfusion along with regional mild hypothermia. In at least one embodiment of a system for providing a retroperfusion therapy to a venous vessel of the present disclosure, the system comprises a catheter for controlling blood perfusion pressure, the catheter comprising a body having a proximal open end, a distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal open end and the distal end, and a plurality of orifices disposed thereon, each of the orifices in fluid communication with the lumen, and at least one expandable balloon, each of the at least one expandable balloons coupled with the body, having an interior that is in fluid communication with the lumen, and adapted to move between an expanded configuration and a deflated configuration, and a flow unit for regulating the flow and pressure of a bodily fluid, and a regional hypothermia system operably coupled to the catheter, the regional hypothermia system operable to reduce and/or regulate a temperature of the bodily fluid flowing therethrough.

The invention relates to a device (1) for treating a coronary lesion (2), the device comprising a coronary angioplasty catheter (3) presenting a first lumen (3c) for passing a guide wire (5) for guiding the catheter (3), and at least one balloon (3b) situated at said distal portion and connected to a second lumen for controlling the balloon (3d).

The device further comprises a heat exchanger (6), a pump (7), and at least one first coupling (8a) for coupling the device with a liquid reservoir (R) external to the device (1), the pump (7) being in fluid flow connection with the first coupling (8a), with the heat exchanger (6), and with the first lumen (3c) so as to force a flow of the liquid from the first coupling (8a) to the distal end of the first lumen (3c), after passing through the heat exchanger (R).

The invention is directed to a mouth piece for cooling of oral tissue of a patient during chemotherapy treatment. The mouth piece includes a cooling medium contained within the top element and the bottom element and able to retain a cooling environment within the mouth sufficient to reduce capillary blood flow to the patient's mouth.