Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.

Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.

The present invention provides a method to treat sinusitis comprising (a) inserting a portion of an irrigation catheter having an expandable material in a non-expanded state endoscopically into a sinus of a patient through ostium of a sinus; (b) expand the expandable material under endoscopic visualization until it has expanded and filled some portion of the sinus without directly contacting and compressing mucosal surfaces of the sinus; (c) introducing irrigation fluid into the sinus through an irrigation lumen of the catheter to create a circumferential irrigation flow in space between the expanded material and the mucosal surface in order to dislodge and express sinus contents.

A fecal collection device includes a barrel with a waste drain conduit attached thereto. A drain opening is defined between passages of the barrel and the waste drain conduit. An irrigation conduit is connected to a source of lavage liquid. A trocar plug has a tapered distal end and moves between insertion, irrigation and flushing positions within the barrel passage. When in the insertion position, the tapered distal end of the trocar plug extends from the distal end of the barrel. When in the irrigation position, the irrigation conduit may provide lavage liquid to the barrel passage while the trocar plug covers a majority of the drain opening. When in a flushing position, the trocar plug covers less of the drain opening than when the trocar plug is in the irrigation position.

An irrigation system comprising a reservoir for an irrigating liquid and a probe for arrangement in a user, wherein said probe comprises an inflatable balloon for fixing the catheter in a body cavity.

A method of treating a bladder condition is provided. The method is effected by circulating a volume of heated fluid through a urinary bladder of a subject in need and gradually increasing the volume of fluid up to a predetermined fluid volume and or pressure.

A trans-anal irrigation (TAI) system adapted for self-use includes an irrigation head supplied with water from a reservoir by a pump or by gravity feed. The irrigation head has either internal or external structures for releasably retaining the head in a user's rectum during the water flow portion of a TAI process. A guide member arm may be provided for manipulating the irrigation head for both insertion and removal. The irrigation head is reliably attached to the guide member arm. The guide member arm may include an integral manual pump.

Systems and methods for cleaning body cavities are presented. Described embodiments include systems for cleaning feces from the lower GI tract. Also provided are systems for steering such a cleaning system, also useful for steering an endoscope or other tool inserted into a body.

A system for anal and/or stomal irrigation comprises a reservoir (102) for an irrigating liquid, a catheter (100) comprising a catheter tip for insertion into the rectum and/or stoma of a user and for expelling of the irrigating liquid from the catheter tip, the catheter further comprising an expandable retention element (104), such as a balloon. A pump (101) is provided to pump the irrigating liquid from the reservoir to the catheter tip, and a user-operable control interface (123;125) comprising a dedicated emergency stop zone (125) is provided for receiving user input to withdraw the irrigating liquid from the retention element (100) for purging thereof in any operational state of the system.

Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.