A method of treating a patient with a therapeutic laser pulse includes applying a cooling mechanism to a first skin area, cooling a target skin area within the first the skin area from a first surface temperature to a second temperature through application of the cooling mechanism prior to application of the therapeutic laser pulse, initiating application of the therapeutic laser pulse at a first timepoint, while continuing to apply the cooling mechanism, determining a surface temperature of the target skin area a plurality of times during application of the therapeutic laser pulse at a refresh rate of 25 Hz to 400 Hz, and terminating the application of the therapeutic laser pulse at a second timepoint, based on the surface temperature determinations. Each of the plurality of surface temperature determinations occurs during a single therapeutic laser pulse duration from the first time point to the second timepoint.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to, for example, a high-thermal-sensitivity ablation catheter tip. More specifically, various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to improved thermocouple response to temperature changes associated with an ablation electrode and/or tissue in contact therewith. Such an ablation catheter tip facilitates reduced lag in an ablation control system's response to the sensed temperature changes.

A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe transurethrally. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.

Methods for detecting tubing in a pump assembly of a pump system are provided. For example, a method comprises connecting a power supply to each of a plurality of pump motors of the pump system. Each pump motor of the plurality of pump motors has a power supply cable configured to connect to the power supply and drives a pump head of a plurality of pump heads of the pump system. The method also comprises sensing a motor current from each of the power supply cables, determining whether tubing is loaded in each pump head, and, if tubing is not loaded in a pump head, then disconnecting from the power supply the power supply cable of the pump motor associated with the pump head in which tubing is not loaded. Systems for detecting the presence of tubing within a pump head of a plurality of pump heads also are provided.

A medical probe, consisting of an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy. The probe also has a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor, the cap including a side wall having multiple longitudinal bores therein. There are a plurality of thermocouples disposed in respective ones of the longitudinal bores, and an electrically conductive cement at least partially fills the longitudinal bores so as to secure the thermocouples in the bores while making electrically conductive contact between the thermocouples and the conductive cap.

Ablation visualization and monitoring systems and methods are provided. In some embodiments, such methods comprise applying ablation energy to a tissue to form a lesion in the tissue, illuminating the tissue with a light to excite NADH in the tissue, wherein the tissue is illuminated in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both, monitoring a level of NADH fluorescence in the illuminated tissue to determine when the level of NADH fluorescence decreases from a base level in the beginning of the ablating to a predetermined lower level, and stopping ablation of the tissue when the level of NADH fluorescence reaches the predetermined lower level.

A vapor delivery system and method is provided that is adapted for treating prostate tissue. The vapor delivery system includes a vapor delivery needle configured to deliver condensable vapor energy to tissue. In one method, the vapor delivery system is advanced transurethrally into the patient to access the prostate tissue. The vapor delivery system includes a generator unit and an inductive heating system to produce a high quality vapor for delivery to tissue. Methods of use are also provided.

Described embodiments include apparatus that includes a catheter and a tip electrode, at a distal end of the catheter, shaped to define a plurality of microelectrode apertures. The apparatus further includes at least one printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within a lumen of the catheter, and a plurality of microelectrodes coupled to the PCB and at least partly situated within the microelectrode apertures, the PCB being configured to carry signals from the microelectrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

The disclosed technology includes a medical probe including a tubular shaft having an expandable basket assembly coupled to a distal end of the tubular shaft. The basket assembly can have at least one spine extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to bow radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the basket assembly is transitioned from a collapsed form to an expanded form. The basket assembly can include electrode assemblies each attached to the spine. Each electrode assembly includes an electrode and a first and second electrically insulating portion that electrically isolate the electrode from the spine. The electrode, the first electrically insulating portion, and the second electrically insulating portion are interlocked onto the spine such that the plurality of electrode assemblies are prevented from sliding proximally or distally along a length of the spine.

The disclosed technology includes a medical probe comprising a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The medical probe further comprises an expandable basket assembly coupled to the distal end of the tubular shaft. The basket assembly includes a plurality of electrodes with each electrode of the plurality of electrodes having a lumen therethrough. The basket assembly further includes a plurality of spines extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to bow radially outward from the longitudinal axis when the expandable basket assembly is transitioned from a collapsed form to an expanded form. Each spine includes a proximal and a distal end and a strut passing through the lumen of an electrode. The strut includes a mechanical retainer disposed on the strut to prevent the electrode from sliding proximally or distally along a length of the spine.