A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.

Apparatus and systems include an electrosurgical instrument with a unique jaw configuration and gripping surfaces that allow tangential gripping and ablation of tissue in a minimally invasive procedure. The electrosurgical instrument can include a shaft and hinge coupling the shaft to first and second jaws. The first jaw can be an anchor for the second jaw. The jaws can have respective first portions and second portions offset at an angle from the first portions. Each jaw can also include electrodes on their inner surfaces facing the other jaw. Each jaw can also include textured gripping surfaces. The gripping surfaces can be included on at least a portion of the base of each jaw, as well as on at least a portion of the inner surfaces of the jaws.

Medical instruments and systems for applying energy to tissue 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.

A minimally invasive medical technique for treating lung tumors includes use of multiple ablation modalities in a single procedure. Condensable vapor ablation and electrosurgical ablation are applied to treat the surface of the tumor and to debulk inner regions of the tumor, respectively.

A screening method for identifying a target nerve to ablate in the treatment of inflammatory lung disease including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The method includes advancing a tool along the airway and into the vicinity of the candidate nerve. The candidate nerve is temporarily blocked or paralyzed. The patient is monitored for an adverse reaction during the step of temporarily blocking. If an adverse reaction is not observed, the candidate nerve is identified as the target nerve. In embodiments, the method further includes the step of ablating the target 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.

The present disclosure relates to a surgical tool for cutting and hemostasis of biological tissues. The surgical tool includes a hollow blade comprising a cutting implement residing within a hollow cavity configured to provide high-pressure steam through an apical surface. The cutting implement can operate independently or in cooperation with the provided high-pressure steam. The surgical tool of the present disclosure applies a directionally-controlled, high-pressure steam flow to a tissue region of interest. A control unit provides temperature-controlled steam at a flow-rate determined in accordance with tissue type and intended procedure.

Cardiac ablation catheters include an outer balloon positioned at a distal end of the catheter and configured to have an inner balloon disposed therein. The outer balloon is inflated with a first fluid that has a temperature less than 100 degrees Celsius, while the inner balloon is inflated with heated vapor. An area of contact between the two balloons, comprising a surface area less than the total surface area of either balloon, creates a hot zone for ablating cardiac tissue through the transfer of thermal energy from the contact area to the cardiac tissue.

Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool. Thus, over a first cutting portion, radio frequency current may help cut the tissue and over a second or over transition region, the RF current may initiate vaporization of the fluid or other liquid to propel the tissue from the cutting device.

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.