Described herein are acoustic-based tissue treatment systems, apparatuses, and methods for use therewith. Certain such apparatuses comprise a catheter sized and shaped for delivery through a radial artery including a catheter shaft having distal and proximal ends, a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter shaft between the distal and proximal ends thereof, and an ultrasound transducer distally positioned relative to the distal end of the catheter shaft. A balloon may surround the ultrasound transducer and at least one of the plurality of lumens may be configured to provide a cooling fluid to the balloon at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to protect non-target tissue in the blood vessel wall from thermal injury. In certain embodiments, the apparatus also includes a single electrical cable extending through one of the lumens and including first conductor(s) coupled to the first electrode of the ultrasound transducer, and second conductor(s) coupled to the second electrode of the ultrasound transducer. The single electrical cable may be configured to deliver sufficient electrical energy during sonication to the transducer such that the transducer thermally induces modulation of neural fibers surrounding the blood vessel sufficient to improve a measurable physiological parameter corresponding to a diagnosed condition of the patient.

A medical device may include a sheath extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The medical device may further include a light source coupled to the sheath. The light source may have a first state in which light is not emitted distally of sheath and a second state where the light source emits a visual pattern distally of the distal end of the sheath. The visual pattern may represent a cross-sectional dimension of a structural feature of the sheath.

A medical device includes an elongate member and a port. The elongate member defines a lumen extending from a first end portion of the elongate member to a second end portion of the elongate member. The elongate member defines a helical pathway configured to convey a fluid. The port defines a lumen. The lumen of the port being in fluid communication with the pathway.

Disclosed herein are ultrasound transducers that are selectively insulated to thereby enable the transducers to be exposed to an electrically conductive fluid without causing a short circuit between electrodes of the transducers. Such a transducer includes a piezoelectric transducer body having a first surface and a second surface that are spaced apart from one another and do not intersect with one another. The ultrasound transducer also includes a first electrode disposed on the first surface, a second electrode disposed on the second surface, and an electrical insulator covering only one of first and second electrodes and configured to inhibit electrical conduction between the first electrode and the second electrode when the ultrasound transducer is placed within an electrically conductive fluid. Also disclosed are apparatuses and systems that include such a transducer. Related methods are also disclosed herein.

Apparatus and methods for creating tissue necrosis include an energy delivery apparatus that can be positioned adjacent a target treatment site such as a vessel without direct contact with the treatment site tissue. Collimated energy is then directed to the vessel to create necrotic regions in the tissue. Exemplary use in renal vessels creates necrotic regions in adjacent nerves which can alleviate hypertension in a patient.

A medical system and method for density assessment utilizing ultrasound. The system includes a guidewire configured and dimensioned for insertion in the vessel of the patient, a sensor positioned at the distal portion of the elongated member and a connector connecting the elongated member to an indicator, the sensor determining the density and the indicator providing an indication of the determined density.

A catheter and methods for luminal therapy are provided wherein a catheter includes an elongated catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal region, a first inflation lumen and a second inflation lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal region; a fluid impermeable balloon affixed to the distal region; an intermediate balloon affixed to the distal region to envelop the fluid impermeable balloon, the intermediate balloon having a first multiplicity of through-wall apertures; and an outer balloon affixed to the distal region to envelop the intermediate balloon, the exterior surface of the outer balloon comprising a coating of an agent; wherein the first inflation lumen is coupled to a first space enclosed by the fluid impermeable balloon, the second inflation lumen is coupled to a second space defined by the fluid impermeable balloon and the intermediate balloon, wherein the fluid impermeable balloon is configured to contact and expand the intermediate balloon against the outer balloon, and to expand the outer balloon such that the coating is in contact with a luminal wall. The outer balloon also may include a multiplicity of through-wall apertures.

A surgical treatment instrument includes an insertion portion including a longitudinal axis, an operation portion provided on one end side of the insertion portion, and a treatment portion provided on the other end side of the insertion portion and configured to treat a living tissue. The treatment portion includes a piezoelectric element configured to generate ultrasound and an ultrasound transmitting material configured to transmit the ultrasound generated by the piezoelectric element to the living tissue.

Provided are products of manufacture and methods for the removal and/or destruction of a biofilm in situ, e.g., a gastro-luminal biofilm, and for the treatment or amelioration of biofilm-associated diseases, infections and conditions, including and GI luminal infections. Provided are devices and apparatus, and methods for using them, for the removal, disruption and/or destruction of a biofilm in situ, e.g., a gastro-luminal biofilm. In alternative embodiments, provided are devices and apparatus, and methods, for enhancing biofilm dissolving or disrupting agents, or for administering biofilm dissolving or disrupting agents, where in alternative embodiments the biofilm comprises a gastro-luminal ‘unstirred layer’, adherent layer or gastro-luminal mucus layer; or the biofilm comprises a matrix or a DNA-containing layer, or alternatively the biofilm comprises a polysaccharide gastro-luminal peripheral layer.

The present application provides an electrode catheter system, comprising an interventional catheter for intervening to one side of an artery blood vessel and provided with an electrode element that can release an electrical signal toward an inner wall of a renal artery blood vessel; a pressure sensor for intervening to an artery blood vessel; and a data processing module, connected with the pressure sensor. The electrode element releases an electrical signal toward the inner wall of the renal artery vessel, and then the pressure sensor monitors a blood pressure change in the renal artery vessel at the other side. A data processing module processes the data monitored by the pressure sensor and determines the blood pressure change, and an activity degree of the nerve can be determined by measuring a signal such as the blood pressure of the human body, so as to screen out the patients with an overactive sympathetic nerve, and a surgical effect of a denervation surgery can also be evaluated before or after the surgery, and can be used to determine whether to perform an ultrasonic ablation again.