An ablation instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a cannula channel and a scope channel, and an electrode disposed in the cannula channel. The electrode is slidable between a first position in which a distal end of the electrode is contained within the cannula channel, and a second position in which the distal end of the electrode extends out of a distal opening of the cannula channel. The ablation instrument further comprises a distal head coupled to the elongate shaft and configured for contacting solid tissue.

Apparatus and methods are provided to concentrate energy delivery in non-superficial target tissue within a trigone region of a human bladder wall to modulate bladder function.

The present invention discloses medical systems and methods adapted for the delivery of various medical components such as microwave antennas within or on a body for performing one or more medical procedures. Several embodiments herein disclose medical systems comprising a combination of one or more medical components and one or more elongate steerable or non-steerable arms that are adapted to mechanically manipulate the one or more medical components. Several embodiments of microwave antennas are disclosed that comprise an additional diagnostic or therapeutic modality located on or in the vicinity of the microwave antennas.

Devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy used in applications such as destroying a soft tissue by microwave ablation and/or creating point, line, area or volumetric lesions. Various embodiments of flexible, low-profile devices are also disclosed where such device can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue such as cardiac tissue. The devices disclosed herein comprise antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive shaping elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field.

The systems and methods in accordance with the principles of the invention can treat urinary stress incontinence by treating target tissue in proximity to the urethra and/or bladder neck. A method for treating urinary stress incontinence in a subject can included non-invasively heating a subsurface region of a target tissue to induce remodeling of the subsurface region at the anterior and/or posterior regions of the vagina. The system can include: a controller and a probe having a distal end configured for non-invasive contact with a surface of a target tissue to transfer energy to the target tissue based on treatment parameters. The probe distal end can have two treatment surfaces spaced apart a distance equal to at least a width of a urethra.

A device and method for treating female urinary incontinence and also for treating fecal incontinence are presented. A fractional RF grid array is used to heat target tissue to a temperature of about 40-45 C. for a specified period of time, thus stimulating fibroblasts to produce type 1 collagen preferably without producing significant amounts of type 3 collagen. The device includes a temperature sensor and a control circuit to maintain the desired temperature of the target tissue and avoid overheating. Target tissue includes tissue in and around the urethra, and in and around the anus including the perineum. The wand to which the RF grid array is mounted has visible gradations on it so that the user can treat one area at a time, then reliably move the grid array to the next adjacent area even though the grid array is hidden from view inside a portion of the body. The device can also be used for vaginoplasty.

The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue mapping and ablation. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to expandable medical devices for identifying and treating local anatomical abnormalities within a body lumen. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods of focal treatment for overactive bladders.

An antenna system for tissue ablation includes an energy transmission member, a conductive hollow coil member coupled to the energy transmission member, and a fluid cooling system coupled to the conductive hollow coil member for providing a flow of cooling fluid through a member lumen of the conductive hollow coil member for cooling the conductive hollow coil member. In some examples, at least one of the antenna body, a choke member, and a hybrid choke member includes the conductive hollow coil member. In some examples, the hybrid choke member includes a choke portion wound around a portion of the energy transmission member, an antenna body portion wound around a portion of the energy transmission member, and an insulator portion extending between the choke portion and the antenna body portion. In some examples, the antenna system includes a sheath extending over the energy transmission member and the conductive hollow coil member.