One embodiment provides a tightly targeted minimally invasive therapy (TTMIT) parathyroid tissue ablating instrument. A substance that cytotoxically ablates parathyroidal tissue during application in the parathyroidal tissue of therapeutically sufficient units of an electromagnetic energy having a frequency only ranging from ultraviolet to visible to near infrared. A substance delivery device is configured to introduce the substance into the parathyroidal tissue. An electromagnetic energy treatment device is configured to apply the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy within a thermal range that is non-cytotoxic to the parathyroidal tissue to the substance after the substance has been introduced by the substance delivery device. A sensor is configured to monitor activation of the substance as the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy are applied. The electromagnetic energy treatment device is further configured to modulate applying the therapeutically sufficient units of the electromagnetic energy once the substance has been activated.

A method of treating colorectal cancer included placing a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) probe proximate a designated treatment volume at one of the colon and the rectum of a patient. The method further includes delivering HIFU via the HIFU probe at a frequency of at least 1 mHz for at least 3 seconds to raise a temperature of a first portion of the designated treatment volume to above 65° C., thereby ablating the first portion and causing a tissue defect within the designated treatment volume. The method further includes applying a nonablative dose of energy via the HIFU probe to a second portion of the designated treatment volume to provoke stem cell homing in the second portion, thereby encouraging tissue regrowth.

A method for HIFU treatment of localized prostate cancer in a patient includes identifying the cancer locations in a patient's prostate; visually segmenting the patient's prostate into areas for analysis and treatment, where the section including the area of most aggressive cancer is determined to be the primary area. The primary area is subjected to a first full HIFU treatment for a period intended to ablate the cancerous tumor. HIFU treatment is then stopped on the primary area and the primary area is allowed to rest while simultaneously subjecting the next contiguous area of the patient's prostate to a first HIFU treatment to ablate any additional areas of suspected cancer in the next contiguous area. HIFU treatment is then stopped in the contiguous area. The primary area is then subjected to a second full HIFU treatment for a period sufficient to ensure the complete ablation of the cancerous tumor. The method further includes repeating alternating full HIFU treatment processes on subsequent contiguous areas of the patient's prostate to ensure the complete ablation of any cancerous tumors in the patient's prostate. The entire process is completed under one treatment of anesthesia.

In an embodiment, a method for effecting thermal therapy using an in vivo probe includes positioning the probe in a volume in a patient, identifying an irregularly shaped three-dimensional region of interest and automatically applying thermal therapy to the region using the probe. Applying thermal therapy may include identifying a first emission level at a first rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission of the probe, causing rotation of the probe to a next rotational angle, identifying a next emission level at the next rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission to deliver therapeutic energy, and repeating rotation and emission until therapeutic energy has been delivered to the volume.

Targeted ablation of parathyroidal tissue is provided through hyperthermia adjuvant therapy. An in situ localization of parathyroidal tissue is obtained. A temperature-sensitive adjuvant is instilled into the parathyroidal tissue. Hyperthermia is therapeutically induced within the parathyroidal tissue. Heat-inducing energy is targeted into the parathyroidal tissue, which selectively includes the temperature-sensitive adjuvant. Application of the heat-inducing energy to the parathyroidal tissue is continued over a therapeutic range. In a further embodiment, the targeted ablation of the parathyroidal tissue is provided through hypothermia adjuvant therapy with the targeted use of cold-inducing energy.

Ablation probe tips (108, 148, 320, 360) and physical and virtual stents (110) for use in tooth bud ablation procedures that result in tooth agenesis as well as tooth bud ablation methods are described herein.

A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.

Systems and methods for non-invasive fat reduction can include targeting a region of interest below a surface of skin, which contains fat and delivering ultrasound energy to the region of interest. The ultrasound energy generates a thermal lesion with said ultrasound energy on a fat cell. The lesion can create an opening in the surface of the fat cell, which allows the draining of a fluid out of the fat cell and through the opening. In addition, by applying ultrasound energy to fat cells to increase the temperature to between 43 degrees and 49 degrees, cell apoptosis can be realized, thereby resulting in reduction of fat.

Methods, systems, and treatment probes for delivering heating energy such as acoustic waves to a target tissue volume inside of a patient for medically treating the target tissue volume are disclosed. A method includes inserting a treatment probe into the patient through an exposed skin of the patient, the treatment probe including heating energy dispensing element. The method further includes applying heating energy to the target tissue volume via the dispensing element, the heating energy being applied so as to medically treat the target tissue volume. The method also includes monitoring an amount of energy absorbed by the target tissue as a result of applying the energy, and adjusting the heating energy being applied to the target tissue based on the amount of energy absorbed by the target tissue.

Described herein are various implementations of systems and methods for accessing and modulating tissue (for example, systems and methods for accessing and ablating nerves or other tissue within or surrounding a vertebral body to treat chronic lower back pain). Assessment of vertebral endplate degeneration or defects (e.g., pre-Modic changes) to facilitate identification of treatment sites and protocols are also provided in several embodiments. Several embodiments comprise the use of biomarkers to confirm or otherwise assess ablation, pain relief, efficacy of treatment, etc. Some embodiments include robotic elements for, as an example, facilitating robotically controlled access, navigation, imaging, and/or treatment.