Regions of tissue having reduced electrical propagation are created in a bladder to affect its electrical or mechanical properties. To create these tissue regions, a tubular device is advanced through the urethra leading to the interior of the bladder, a distal expandable structure of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the bladder, and electrodes or other active energy delivery elements of the device are activated to deliver ablation energy. The electrodes or other active energy delivery elements are disposed over the expandable structure which is shaped to conform to the interior of the bladder. The inner wall of the organ is ablated in a predetermined pattern. The same or other electrodes disposed over the expandable structure can used to electrically map the bladder. This map of electrical activity can be used to create the predetermined pattern.

Medical instruments and systems for applying energy to tissue, and more particularly relates to a system for ablating, sealing, coagulating, shrinking or creating lesions in tissue by means of contacting a targeted tissue in a patient with a vapor phase media wherein a subsequent vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies thermal energy to the tissue to cause an intended therapeutic effect. Devices and methods for generating a flow of high-quality vapor and monitoring the vapor flow for various parameters with one or more sensors. Devices and methods for modulating parameters of the system in response to the observed parameters

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an electroporation ablation device having a first catheter and a second catheter. The first catheter comprises one or more first electrodes and has a first surface area. The second catheter comprises one or more second electrodes and has a second surface area. When the electroporation ablation device is in operation for ablating a target tissue, the first catheter is configured to be disposed in an extracardiac location and anatomically proximate to the target tissue, the second catheter is configured to be disposed at an intracardiac location proximate to the target tissue, and the electroporation ablation device is configured to generate an electric field between the one or more first electrodes and the one or more second electrodes with electric field strength sufficient to ablate the target tissue via irreversible electroporation.

Systems for enabling delivery of very high peak power laser pulses through optical fibers for use in ablation procedures preferably in contact mode. Such lasers advantageously emit at 355 nm wavelength. Other systems enable selective removal of undesired tissue within a blood vessel, while minimizing the risk of damaging the blood vessel itself, based on the use of the ablative properties of short laser pulses of 320 to 400 nm laser wavelength, with selected parameters of the mechanical walls of the tubes constituting the catheter, of the laser fluence and of the force that is applied by the catheter on the tissues. Additionally, a novel method of calibrating such catheters is disclosed, which also enables real time monitoring of the ablation process. Additionally, novel methods of protecting the fibers exit facets are disclosed.

An apparatus includes a camera and a processor. The camera is configured to capture images of a display of a temperature measurement system that displays a tissue temperature. The processor is configured to analyze the captured images to extract a numerical value of the tissue temperature displayed by the temperature measurement system, and initiate an action responsively to the extracted numerical value.

The present invention relates generally to therapeutic compositions comprising chitosan-derived compositions used in connection with methods for treating neoplasms, such as for instance, malignant lung, thyroid and kidney neoplasms, and other types of malignant neoplasms, and other medical disorders.

The present invention is directed toward a device that performs ablation of tissue. The device has a catheter with a shaft through which an ablative agent can travel, a first positioning element attached to the catheter shaft at a first position and a second positioning element attached to the catheter shaft at a second position. The shaft also has ports through which the ablative agent can be released.

Apparatus and methods for electrosurgery are disclosed. In one arrangement, an electrosurgical element and a control system are provided. The electrosurgical element is electrically driven in a first electrical driving mode. The first electrical driving mode is such as to cause heating of human or animal tissue by the electrosurgical element. The heating contributes to modification or cutting of tissue by the electrosurgical element. The electrosurgical element is electrically driven in a second electrical driving mode. An electrical response of the electrosurgical element is measured during the electrical driving of the electrosurgical element in the second electrical driving mode.

An injectate delivery device for expanding tissue is provided. The injectate delivery device comprises: at least one fluid delivery tube comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therebetween; at least one fluid delivery element in fluid communication with the at least one fluid delivery tube lumen; a radially expanding element comprising the at least one fluid delivery element; a supply of vacuum constructed and arranged to cause tissue to tend toward the at least one fluid delivery element; and at least one control constructed and arranged to perform a function. The at least one control can be constructed and arranged to expand the radially expandable element and activate the supply of vacuum. Systems and method of injectate delivery are also provided.

Ablation catheters and systems include multiple inline chambers for containing and heating an ablative agent. The heating chamber includes one or more channels to increase the contact surface area of the ablative agent with the walls of the heating chamber to provide more efficient heating. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.