Methods for collapsing a tubular organ, such as the esophagus, involve inserting a device into the tubular organ, at least partially sealing off a section of the tubular organ, and drawing in the wall of the tubular organ by application of suction. The devices may be used to move the wall of the tubular organ away from an area undergoing treatment or therapy, such as to minimize damage to the tubular organ by application of radiofrequency energy or to limit temperature increase of the tubular organ.

Systems, devices, and methods to treat a urinary bladder are disclosed. An expandable member is introduced and expanded in the urinary bladder to appose one or more elongate conductors on the outer surface of the expandable member against the inner wall of the urinary bladder. The one or more elongate conductors are used to create a predetermined pattern of electrically isolated tissue regions having reduced electrical propagation such that electrical propagation through the urinary bladder as a whole is reduced. A mucus layer may be removed from the inner bladder wall prior to the ablation. Ablation may be regulated by impedance measurement with the one or more elongate conductors. The urinary bladder may be filled with a fluid to facilitate the impedance measurement.

A method and system for directed pulsed electric field (PEF) ablation are disclosed. In one aspect, an irreversible electroporation (IRE) system includes processing circuitry configured to select a first set of electrodes positioned to produce a first electric field in a first direction in a region of tissue of a patient, and select a second set of electrodes positioned to produce a second electric field in a second direction in the region of tissue. The processing circuitry is configured to transmit a first IRE pulse to the first set of electrodes to cause emission of the first electric field and transmit a second IRE pulse to the second set of electrodes to cause emission of the second electric field. The first IRE pulse and the second IRE pulse are transmitted by the processing circuitry to control an electric field gradient along a path within the region of tissue.

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.

Ablation catheters and systems include coaxial catheter shafts with an inner lumen for delivering an ablative agent and an outer lumen for circulation of a cooling element about the catheter. 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.

Methods of ablating endometrial tissue are disclosed. The methods include providing an ablation device that has a catheter with a hollow shaft through which an ablative agent can travel, a first positioning element, and a second positioning element positioned on the catheter distal to the first positioning element. The second positioning element is a disc shaped wire mesh and has a diameter in a range of 0.1 mm to 10 cm.

A bipolar ablation device for treatment of a stenosis within an implanted metallic stent may include an elongate shaft slidably disposable within an endoscope, the elongate shaft including at least one electrode configured to form a first pole of the bipolar ablation device, and an electrode lead slidably disposable within the endoscope. The electrode lead may be configured to electrically engage the implanted metallic stent to form a second pole of the bipolar ablation device. The elongate shaft may be positionable within a lumen of the implanted metallic stent.

Ablation catheters and systems include flexible catheter tips with a distal needle or ports for delivery of an ablative agent to a target tissue. Pressure monitoring during ablation ensure operation is performed within safe limits and with desired efficacy. Positioning elements help maintain the devices in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.

A margin extension device and method are disclosed herein. The margin extension device can be used for ablating one or several cancer cells and can include a contact member and a plurality of electrodes. The contact member can be electrically conductive, and can electrically connect the electrodes. The margin extension device can further include one or several leads that connect the electrodes of the margin extension device to a treatment controller. The treatment controller can include a pulse generator that can generate one or several electrical pulses that generate one or several electrical fields in tissue proximate to the margin extension device.

A thermal regulation catheter system and method of use are disclosed, for moderating the temperature and other parameters of tissue surrounding a target tissue for an ablation procedure, or for performing a thermal treatment procedure. In an embodiment, the device includes a catheter having a shaft with a fluid supply line and a fluid return line disposed therein, and an inflatable heat exchange vessel at a distal end of the shaft. The fluid supply line supplies fluid to inflate the heat exchange vessel, and the fluid return line conducts fluid away from the heat exchange vessel.