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 system and method for vaginal remodeling and treating gynecological disorders. A vaginal remodeling system comprising a flexible, inflatable, vaginal balloon capable of transferring heat and mechanical stress in a controlled manner to restore vaginal function. The proposed method to reactivate the cells in the vaginal tissue using thermal energy and mechanical energy using balloon dilatation and/or pulsing to promote the rejuvenation of the vaginal tissue will be accomplished by the system described in this disclosure.

The invention discloses an apparatus for adjusting the temperature of a body comprising a sheath for providing a channel from outside said body to a cavity inside said body, where said sheath comprises a guiding section being angular to said channel. The apparatus further comprises a heat exchange unit comprising an inlet and an outlet, an outer contour and an inner fluid channel, adapted for inserting through said channel of said sheath.

Methods for treating gastrointestinal conditions, conditions associated with sympathetic and/or parasympathetic activity in the gastrointestinal organs, and conditions associated with central sympathetic and/or parasympathetic activity in a patient with therapeutic gastrointestinalneuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a gastrointestinal artery of a gastrointestinal organ of a patient. Sympathetic drive in the patient can thereby be reduced in a manner that treats the patient for the gastrointestinal condition.

Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve applying thermal therapy to tissue (e.g., localized cooling or heating of tissue), and in particular applying thermal therapy to the spinal canal, tissue disposed within the spinal canal, and/or nerve roots extending from the spinal canal. In some embodiments, tissue can be cooled or heated by implanting or positioning a thermal device in proximity to the targeted tissue. A number of exemplary thermal devices are disclosed, including bone anchors, inserts for use with bone anchors, K-wires, bone anchor extensions or towers, cross-connectors, spinous process plates, spinal rods, pedicle markers, bone taps, drill bits, bone plugs, bone plates, clamps, interbody or disc implants, thermal pads, and tubing loops. The thermal device can be left in place following surgery to facilitate application of post-surgical thermal therapy. In some embodiments, the thermal device can be removed post-surgery in a minimally- or non-invasive manner.

Disclosed are devices and methods for body temperature management using a heat transfer catheter carrying a heat transfer fluid to heat or cool a desired, focused portion of a patient's body. In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the heat transfer catheter may include hollow nodes that have greater rigidity than the remainder of the catheter to aid in placement of the heat transfer catheter within and navigation of the desired portion of the patient's body. Methods of using such heat transfer catheter to effect temperature management of the patient's body are also disclosed.

A catheter is provided comprising a flexible heat transfer element provided on an outer surface of the catheter. The catheter further comprises a conduit arranged to supply an inflation fluid for inflating the flexible heat transfer element so as to form an inflated balloon, and a plurality of cooling elements arranged to cool the inflation fluid for inflating the balloon. Each cooling element comprises a first tube provided inside a second tube, wherein the first tube is substantially parallel to the second tube. The second tube is configured to receive a flow of a coolant for cooling the cooling element from the first tube.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for regulating a temperature of an esophagus when heat or cold is delivered to a left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which conforms and corresponds with a cross-section of an inside of the esophagus such that the esophagus is maintained in its natural shape and location. In some embodiments the heat exchange device has a heating/cooling balloon which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration. Some alternative embodiments includes altering the configuration of the balloon to conform to or correspond with the cross section of an esophagus by means other than inflation.

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.

The invention disclosed here generally relates to devices that can modify a property of a nerve. Specifically, the subject invention is contemplated to modify the posterior nasal nerve signal conduction in such a way so as to reduce the signals transmitted to the nasal cavity. Reduction or interruption of the nerve signals results in the reduction of the distal organ activity. In particular, embodiments of the present invention allow for increased lateral contact or apposition of the target tissue region having at least one posterior nasal nerve with the end effector surface by lateral and/or longitudinal translation of the end effector relative to the surgical probe shaft. This improved lateral surface contact has several benefits, including improved patient outcomes and patient safety as the end effector is adequately in contact with target tissue for subsequent ablation therapy.