A process for heat treating biological tissue includes providing a plurality of energy emitters formed into an array. Treatment energy in the form of microwave energy is generated from the plurality of emitters and applied to target tissue. The treatment energy has energy and application parameters selected so as to raise the target tissue temperature sufficiently to create a therapeutic effect while maintaining an average temperature of the target tissue over several minutes at or below a predetermined temperature so as not to destroy or permanently damage the target tissue.

A process for heat treating biological tissue includes providing a plurality of energy emitters formed into an array. Treatment energy in the form of light beams is generated from the plurality of emitters and applied to target tissue. The treatment energy has energy and application parameters selected so as to raise the target tissue temperature sufficiently to create a therapeutic effect while maintaining an average temperature of the target tissue over several minutes at or below a predetermined temperature so as not to destroy or permanently damage the target tissue.

A method of treating a soft palate in a patient to treat sleep apnea, snoring or both may involve advancing a treatment element of a treatment device through the patient's mouth, contacting a tissue-contact surface of the treatment element with the soft palate, delivering energy to the soft palate via one or more energy delivery members on the tissue-contact surface, and removing the treatment element from the mouth.

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.

A microwave system comprises: a microwave generator; and a microwave cable apparatus comprising a coaxial cable, wherein an exposed distal portion of an inner conductor of the coaxial cable is longer than an outer conductor of the coaxial cable, and wherein at least part of the exposed distal portion of the inner conductor is bent with respect to a longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable, thereby to provide a directional radiating element; wherein the microwave generator is configured to provide microwave energy to the cable apparatus at a frequency that provides directional radiation of microwave energy having a desired directionality from the radiating element.

A process for heat treating biological tissue includes providing a plurality of energy emitters formed into an array. Treatment energy is generated from the plurality of emitters and applied to target tissue. The treatment energy has energy and application parameters selected so as to raise the target tissue temperature sufficiently to create a therapeutic effect while maintaining an average temperature of the target tissue over several minutes at or below a predetermined temperature so as not to destroy or permanently damage the target tissue.

A process for heat treating biological tissue includes repeatedly applying a pulsed energy to a target tissue over a period of time so as to controllably raise a temperature of the target tissue to create a therapeutic effect to the target tissue without destroying or permanently damaging the target tissue. After the first treatment is concluded the application of the pulsed energy to the target tissue is halted for an interval of time. Within a single treatment session a second treatment is performed on the target tissue after the interval of time by repeatedly reapplying the pulsed energy to the target tissue so as to controllably raise the temperature of the target tissue to therapeutically treat the target tissue without destroying or permanently damaging the target tissue.

Catheter apparatus comprises a coaxial cable having proximal and distal ends. The cable includes a hollow center conductor, an outer conductor and an electrically insulating layer between the conductors. An antenna is at the distal end of the cable, and a diplexer is connected to the cable, the diplexer including a transmit path for connecting the antenna to a transmitter which transmits first frequency signals and a receive path for connecting the antenna to a receiver which detects second frequency signals the diplexer isolating the signals on the two paths from one another. A transmission line connects the cable to the diplexer, the transmission line having a segment with a tubular inner conductor one end of which is connected to the center conductor and a second end of which is adapted for connection to a coolant source, the center and inner conductors forming a continuous coolant pathway.

Systems and methods include directing limited frequencies of microwave signals toward target molecules, driving a motion of the target molecules to impact molecular recognition. In one implementation, a microwave spectra associated with the rotational modes of a target molecule is obtained. From peaks in the spectra, a mode of molecular movement is identified and a microwave signal profile is generated for driving a motion of binding portions of the molecule associated with the identified mode. Microwave signals are generated based on the signal profile for output by antennas. For example, the microwave signals can be can be used to impede the binding of quorum sensing molecules by receptors of P. aeruginosa. In one implementation, the antennas can be placed in a catheter for placement in a patient. In another implementation, the antennas can be placed in a sleeve or other device for use adjacent to the skin of a patient.

A method and a device for treating dental caries using microwave energy applied directly to teeth at frequencies that are lethal to the bacteria in caries, without being destructive to tooth tissues. The method and a device will have a significant economic and health impact, leading to a reduction in traditional surgical interventions, as well by improving access to care for those with health disparities.