Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using an ablation catheter that has a directional ablation unit. The ablation unit has a set of individual transducer (e.g., ultrasound) elements that are movably positioned. A position adjustment element (a deformer) is movable with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to alter the positions of the individual transducer elements and thereby alter the directions in which the transducer elements emit ultrasonic energy. In one embodiment, the ablation catheter is a lumen catheter through which a positioning/measurement catheter can be inserted. The luminal ablation catheter is inserted through the skin and into the body via conventional methods. The ablation and positioning catheters can be used to make electrical measurements with respect to the surrounding tissue, and the ablation catheter can be used to emit energy in a desired direction and/or pattern to ablate target tissue.

The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for applying focused ultrasound energy to a region of interest in a subject to induce neuromodulation of the celiac plexus to treat inflammatory bowel disease. The region of interest ay include at least a portion of a peripheral ganglion of the celiac plexus.

Apparatus and methods for deactivating bronchial nerves extending along a bronchial branch 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 bronchial section to be treated. The ultrasonic transducer emits focused 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.

Disclosed herein is a system for ablating and characterizing tissue. The system comprises an ablation element configured to emit ablative energy toward a tissue of interest, an imaging apparatus configured to emit energy and collect imaging data including reflected signals from the tissue of interest, and a characterization application. The characterization application comprises a signal analyzer for analyzing the imaging data and determining one or more signal properties from the reflected signals, and a correlation processor configured to associate the one or more signal properties to pre-determined tissue signal properties of different tissue components through a pattern recognition technique. The pre-determined tissue signal properties are embodied in a database, and the correlation processor is configured to identify a tissue component and an ablation level of the tissue of interest based on the pattern recognition technique.

An ultrasound catheter system and a method for operating an ultrasonic catheter at a treatment site within a patient's vasculature or tissue are disclosed. The ultrasound catheter system comprises a catheter having at least one ultrasonic element and a control system configured to generate power parameters that drive the at least one ultrasonic element to generate ultrasonic energy. The control system is configured to vary at least one of the power parameters and at least one physiological parameter by repeatedly cycling the power parameter and the physiological parameter through two set of values.

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that has a cutting blade coupled to a motor and an ultrasonic blade coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. In some embodiments, the cutting blade includes a longitudinally extending lumen and the ultrasonic blade is disposed within the longitudinally extending lumen of the cutting blade. In other embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a longitudinally extending lumen and the cutting blade is disposed within the longitudinally extending lumen of the ultrasonic blade. In yet other embodiments, the ultrasonic blade is substantially parallel to the cutting blade.

A method treating a root canal in a tooth by introducing into the pulp chamber of a tooth and pulsing a laser light into the fluid reservoir so as to disintegrate pulp within the root canal without generation of any significant heat in said liquid fluid so as to avoid elevating the temperature of any of the dentin, tooth, or other adjacent tissue more than about 5° C.

A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or to other mechanical expanders.

Described is an apparatus for locally monitoring nerve activity that may be incorporated into a nerve ablation catheter. Such a catheter is equipped with magnetic sensing for both identifying nerves and assessing the success of the ablation. The catheter is also equipped with an ablation instrument for both stimulating and destroying nerve tissue.

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.