A method for providing thermal conductivity data relating to an anatomical structure, comprises: receiving first spectral computed tomography data relating to the anatomical structure; calculating a fat map of the anatomical structure and a water map of the anatomical structure based on the first spectral computed tomography data; calculating the thermal conductivity data relating to the anatomical structure based on the fat map and the water map; and providing the thermal conductivity data.

A metallic tube arrangement includes an electrode region configured to expand radially and contract radially in response to increasing and decreasing a temperature at the electrode region, respectively. The electrode region is configured for intravascular deployment and delivery of high frequency energy to target tissue of a target vessel of the body. The electrode region is configured to expand radially to a diameter sufficient to contact an inner wall of the target vessel in response to a decrease in electrode region temperature and to contract radially to a diameter smaller than a diameter of the target vessel in response to an increase in electrode region temperature.

Provided herein are methods, systems, and devices for increasing heat shock protein expression and treating conditions for which increased heat shock protein expression is expected to be beneficial using thermal ablation.

An ablation catheter adapted for use with a guide wire has a 3-D shaped portion that carries ring electrodes for ablating a vessel or tubular region, including the renal artery. The 3-D shaped portion, for example, a helical portion, enables the ring electrodes to contact an inner surface of the vessel at a plurality of locations at different depths along the vessel to form a conduction block without forming a closed conduction loop which would otherwise increase the risk of stenosis of the vessel. In one embodiment, the catheter has a lumen with entry and exit ports to allow the guide wire to pass through the lumen but bypass the 3-D shaped portion. In another embodiment, the catheter has outer bands providing side tunnels through which the guide wire can pass through.

A system for use in a renal denervation procedure includes a catheter having proximal and distal end portions, a sensor configured to sense a condition of one or more nerves, the sensor operatively associated with the distal end portion of the catheter, and at least one electrode disposed on the distal end portion of the catheter for delivering energy to renal tissue. A catheter includes a catheter body defining a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and a sensor for sensing a renal sympathetic nerve, the sensor disposed on the distal end portion of the catheter body, wherein the sensor is configured to sense an electromagnetic signal from the renal sympathetic nerve.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, digestive disease, urological disease, cancers, tumors, pains, asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by delivering of an effective amount of formulations at desired temperature to target tissue. The formulations include gases, vapors, liquids, solutions, emulsions and suspensions of one or more ingredients. The temperature may enhance safety and efficacy of the formulations for the treatments. The amounts of the formulation and/or energy are effective to injury or damage the tissues to have a benefit of symptom relive.

A catheter device for renal denervation ablation includes a flexible catheter shaft having an electrically insulating expandable member in its distal portion with at least one electrode located proximal to the member, at least one electrode located distal to the member, and with openings in the distal shaft with at least one opening proximal to the proximal electrode and one opening distal to the distal electrode of said electrode pair, said openings connected through an inner lumen in the catheter that provides a path for blood to flow through the expandable member. In one embodiment, the device comprises a flexible catheter shaft with a multiplicity of recessed paired electrodes disposed in recessed spaces in its distal portion, such that an electrically conducting portion of each electrode is exposed to the exterior of the catheter within a recessed space, and with an electrical insulator separating the electrodes of each pair.

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.

Systems, devices, and methods for delivering laser energy to a target in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises providing a first laser pulse train and a different second laser pulse train emitting from a distal end of an endoscope and incident on a target. The first laser pulse train has a first laser energy level, and the second laser pulse train has a second laser energy level higher than the first laser energy level. In an example, the first laser pulse train is used to form cracks on a surface of a calculi structure, and the second laser pulse train causes fragmentation of the calculi structure after the cracks are formed.