Provided herein are catheter devices, systems, and methods to ablate a tissue location. The devises, systems, and methods disclosed herein include ablation systems including a catheter system with inner and outer shafts that deliver an ablation medium (e.g., a cryogenic ablation medium) to a body lumen and evacuate the ablation medium from the body lumen. In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods disclose herein include expandable structures that facilitate in positioning of nozzles and/or evacuation of ablation medium from a body lumen.

Apparatus, consisting of a probe configured to be inserted into contact with a myocardium, and an electrode attached to the probe. A temperature sensor, incorporated in the probe, is configured to output a temperature signal. A pump irrigates the myocardium, via the probe, with an irrigation fluid at a controllable rate, and a radiofrequency (RF) signal generator applies RF power via the electrode to the myocardium, so as to ablate the myocardium. The apparatus also has processing circuitry that measures a temperature of the probe, based on the temperature signal, while the RF power is applied and, when the measured temperature exceeds a preset target temperature, iteratively reduces the RF power applied by the signal generator and concurrently iteratively varies a rate of irrigation of the irrigation fluid provided by the pump, until the measured temperature is reduced to the preset target temperature.

A catheter ablation system includes: a catheter probe having distal end including: a temperature sensor; a plurality of irrigation holes; and an ablating electrode; a radiofrequency (RF) heating controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply RF energy to the ablating electrode to control the ablating electrode to emit heat at a target power; an irrigation controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply an irrigation fluid at a continuously adjustable irrigation flow rate through the catheter probe to exit through the irrigation holes; and an operating console having a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the irrigation controller to set the irrigation flow rate based on the target power and a target average temperature.

A method for use with an intra-body probe, a distal end of which includes an ablation electrode and a temperature sensor, is described. While (i) the ablation electrode is driving an ablating current into tissue of a subject, and (ii) fluid is passed from the distal end of the intra-body probe at a fluid-flow rate, a processor receives a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The processor estimates a temperature of the tissue, based at least on the sensed temperature and at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: the fluid-flow rate, and a parameter of the ablating current. The processor generates an output in response to the estimated temperature. Other embodiments are also described.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

A method for cryogenically treating tissue. A connection is detected between a probe having a disposable secure processor (DSP) to a handpiece having a master control unit (MCU) and a handpiece secure processor (HSP), the probe having at least one cryogenic treatment applicator. The probe is fluidly coupled to a closed coolant supply system within the handpiece via the connection. An authentication process is initiated between the DSP and the HSP using the MCU. As a result of the authentication process, one of at least two predetermined results is determined, the at least two predetermined results being that the probe is authorized and non-authorized.

Pump assemblies and systems are provided. For example, a pump assembly comprises a pump head, a bezel surrounding an outer perimeter of the pump head, a motor, and tubing. The bezel comprises a bezel upper side, a bezel lower side opposite the bezel upper side, a bezel inlet side extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side, and a bezel outlet side opposite the bezel inlet side and extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side. The bezel defines an inlet channel on the bezel inlet side and an outlet channel on the bezel outlet side, each of the inlet channel and the outlet channel guiding the tubing into the pump head. An exemplary pump system comprises a plurality of pump assemblies that each supply a fluid to a cooling circuit and a base for supporting the plurality of pump assemblies.

A cryoablation system is provided that can assume a directional activated state and includes a cryoablation probe and a controller. The cryoablation probe has an active region that includes a cooling compartment and an opposing heating compartment that are thermally insulated from one another to minimize energy losses therebetween such that ice is selectively and directionally formed at the target site. The cooling compartment can include a temperature sensor and an exhaust tube to guide a fluid or gas that exhibits a Joule Thomson cooling effect through the probe. The heating compartment can include a temperature sensor and a heater cartridge having a heater zone. The controller of the cryoablation system can process temperature measurement data from the sensors of the heating and cooling compartments and regulate the heater zone based on the temperature measurement data processing to maintain a temperature that is sufficiently constant to mitigate or prevent formation of ice on the heating compartment.

Electrosurgical coagulation devices. At least some of the example embodiment are methods including: applying RF energy between a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes define an interstice; flowing an electrically conductive fluid through a first nozzle and a second nozzle of the first electrode, the first nozzle defines a first spray direction, the second nozzle defines a second spray direction, and a first angle between the first spray direction and the second spray direction is 180 angular degrees or less measured through the interstice; flowing an electrically conductive fluid through a third nozzle and a fourth nozzle of the second electrode, the third nozzle defines a third spray direction, the fourth nozzle defines a fourth spray direction, and a second angle between the third spray direction and the fourth spray direction is 180 angular degrees or less measured through the interstice.

Systems and methods for delivering a drug or other therapy over an extended period of time (e.g., several hours, days, weeks, months, years, and so forth) are disclosed herein, as are systems and methods for monitoring various parameters associated with the treatment of a patient. Systems and methods are also disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow.