Systems and methods for delivering energy to passageways in a patient, such as airways in the lung of a patient for treating asthma. One embodiment of a method for delivering energy to a passageway comprises positioning an access device in a lung airway of a patient and advancing an elongated body of a treatment device along the access device until an energy delivery unit at a distal portion of the elongated body projects from the access device. The method can further include expanding the energy delivery unit such that energy delivery elements contact a sidewall of the airway and activating an energy supply coupled to the treatment device such that energy is delivered to the sidewall of the airway. A single person physically operates both the access device and the treatment device while expanding the energy delivery unit and activating the energy supply.

Catheterization is carried out by inserting a probe having a location sensor into a body cavity, and in response to multiple location measurements identifying respective mapped regions of the body cavity. Using the location measurements, a simulated 3-dimensional surface of the body cavity is constructed. One or more unmapped regions are delineated by rotating the simulated 3-dimensional surface about an axis. The simulated 3-dimensional surface of the body cavity is configured to indicate locations of the unmapped regions based on the location measurements.

Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.

Apparatus, consisting of a power supply having a first electrical connection to a relatively high voltage source and connectable to ablation circuitry in a catheter via a second electrical connection. There are rechargeable first and second subsidiary power sources in the power supply. The apparatus also has a control unit, and a first switch alternately connecting the ablation circuitry to the first and second subsidiary power sources responsively to control signals from the control unit. The apparatus also has a second switch alternately connecting one of the first and second subsidiary power sources to the high voltage source for recharging thereof responsively to the control signals while the one of the first and second subsidiary power sources is disconnected from the ablation circuitry and another of the first and second subsidiary power sources is connected to the ablation circuitry by the first switch.

An irrigated ablation catheter includes a shaft and an electrode assembly affixed to a distal end of the shaft. The distal electrode assembly includes a manifold and an ablation electrode affixed together and extending along a center axis. The electrode has a distal irrigation passageway extending therethrough to an opening at a distal tip of the electrode. The opening of the irrigation passageway is offset in distance from the center axis, and allows a thermal sensor such as a thermocouple to be located in a sensor cavity in the electrode on or near the center axis. One variation involves providing a pair of distal irrigation passageways through the electrode where both of the openings of the passageways are offset from the center axis. The thermal sensor in this variation is located in the sensor cavity substantially on the center axis.

Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.

Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is attached to the circulatory conduits of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within one of various described re-usable control units. The control units include a heater/cooler device, a user input device, and a processor connected to receive input from various sensors around the body and the system. The heater/cooler device may be thermoelectric to enable both heating and 15 cooling based on polarity. A temperature control scheme for ramping the body temperature up or down without overshoot is provided. The disposable heat exchange cassettes may include an integral pump head that engages with a pump drive mechanism within the re-usable control unit. More than one control unit may be provided to receive the same heat exchange cassette so that, for example, a large capacity control unit can be used initially, and a smaller, battery-powered unit can be substituted once the patient reaches the desired target temperature.

An irrigated ablation catheter includes a shaft and an electrode assembly affixed to a distal end of the shaft. The distal electrode assembly includes a manifold and an ablation electrode affixed together and extending along a center axis. The electrode has a distal irrigation passageway extending therethrough to an opening at a distal tip of the electrode. The opening of the irrigation passageway is offset in distance from the center axis, and allows a thermal sensor such as a thermocouple to be located in a sensor cavity in the electrode on or near the center axis. One variation involves providing a pair of distal irrigation passageways through the electrode where both of the openings of the passageways are offset from the center axis. The thermal sensor in this variation is located in the sensor cavity substantially on the center axis.

Body tissue ablation is carried out by inserting a probe into a body of a living subject, urging the probe into contact with a tissue in the body, generating energy at a power output level, and transmitting the generated energy into the tissue via the probe. While transmitting the generated energy the ablation is further carried out by determining a measured temperature of the tissue and a measured power level of the transmitted energy, and controlling the power output level responsively to a function of the measured temperature and the measured power level. Related apparatus for carrying out the ablation is also described.

The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for surgically manipulating tissue. In general, the methods and devices can include an elongate retractor shaft having a distal retractor tip that is configured to manipulate tissue, for example the tip can be configured to separate muscle and nerve fibers surrounding a vertebra. The elongate retractor shaft can include an illumination source such that at least a portion of the surgical field is illuminated by the device when the device is used in the body. A sensor can also or alternatively be included on the elongate retractor shaft, for example on the blunt retraction tip, such that the sensor can monitor physiological parameters of the tissue in or adjacent to the surgical field.