Systems, devices, and methods for transvascular ablation of target tissue. The devices and methods may, in some examples, be used for splanchnic nerve ablation to increase splanchnic venous blood capacitance to treat at least one of heart failure and hypertension. For example, the devices disclosed herein may be advanced endovascularly to a target vessel in the region of a thoracic splanchnic nerve (TSN), such as a greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) or a TSN nerve root. Also disclosed are methods of treating heart failure, such as HFpEF, by endovascularly ablating a thoracic splanchnic nerve to increase venous capacitance and reduce pulmonary blood pressure.

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.

A non-invasive thermometry system adapted for use during hyperthermia therapy, which has at least one infrared camera and a computer device. The infrared camera monitors temperature at the skin surface. The system may also provide depth visualization of the thermal gradient, and noninvasively monitors temperature at a tumor depth. A thermal camera, preferably an infrared camera, may be placed at a predetermined angle to an ultrasound head for a visual map of the heat signature within a patient.

Apparatus and methods for deactivating bronchial nerves extending along the secondary bronchial branches of a mammalian subject to treat asthma and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (11) is inserted into the bronchus as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (10) bearing the transducer into the secondary bronchial section to be treated. The ultrasonic transducer emits circumferential ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout circular impact volume (13) as, for example, at least about 1 cm.sup.3 encompassing the bronchus to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual bronchial nerves. The apparatus and methods utilized for lung tumor ablation.

Systems and methods for forming a lesion on an endocardial tissue of a patient's heart involve placing an ablation assembly inside of the heart and adjacent to the endocardial tissue, and placing a guiding assembly outside of the heart. An ablation assembly includes an ablation element and a first attraction element, and a guiding assembly includes a second attraction element. First and second attraction elements can be attracted via magnetism. Techniques involve forming an ablation on the cardiac tissue of a patient's heart with an ablation element of the ablation assembly. Optionally, techniques may include moving the second attraction element of the guiding assembly relative to the patient's heart, so as to effect a corresponding movement of the ablation element of the ablation assembly.

Short ultrasound pulses or bursts, delivered at intermediate intensity to the target brain tissue transmits acoustic radiation forces into the targeted brain tissue without generating acoustic cavitation and without cellular fractionization. Thus, the present invention exploits the mechanical effects of high-intensity pressure fields only, without cavitation, by optimizing the interaction between acoustic pulses and radiation forces to apply a negative pressure to the brain tissue and degrading the perineuronal nets in the brain tissue and opening the blood-brain barrier.

A tissue treatment system and method of using the tissue treatment system determines a size of a body lumen, or a neuromodulation parameter corresponding to the size of the body lumen. The tissue treatment system fills a balloon with a fluid when the balloon is within a body lumen. A fluid parameter of the fluid is detected over a period of time. A parameter curve of the fluid parameter is determined. The parameter curve includes the fluid parameter versus an independent variable over the period of time. The parameter curve includes inflections that correspond to changes in the fluid parameter. Based on the inflections, the system can determine the body lumen size or the neuromodulation parameter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

A system and method for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy to a tissue in a body is provided. A three-dimensional anatomical map of the tissue is generated and displayed with the map defining a corresponding volume. An index is generated corresponding to a location within the volume with the index indicative of a state of ablation therapy at the location. The index may be derived from one or more factors such as the duration an ablation electrode is present at the location, the amount of energy provided, the degree of electrical coupling between an ablation electrode and the tissue at the location and temperature. A visual characteristic (e.g., color intensity) of a portion of the anatomical map corresponding to the location is then altered responsive to the index.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to methods and/or apparatus for measuring the effectiveness of a renal denervation treatment. In some embodiments, a method for determining effectiveness of the denervation treatment comprises tracking at least one of arterial wall movement, arterial blood flow rate, arterial blood flow velocity, blood pressure and arterial diameter at one or more selected locations in the renal artery over time, and assessing the effectiveness of said renal denervation treatment according to results obtained by tracking.

Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways.