An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

A device for therapeutic neuromodulation in a nasal region can include, for example, a shaft and a therapeutic element at a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft can locate the distal portion intraluminally at a target site inferior to a patient's sphenopalatine foramen. The therapeutic element can include an energy delivery element configured to therapeutically modulate postganglionic parasympathetic nerves at microforamina of a palatine bone of the human patient for the treatment of rhinitis or other indications. In other embodiments, the therapeutic element can be configured to therapeutically modulate nerves that innervate the frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, and maxillary sinuses for the treatment of chronic sinusitis.

The present technology includes systems and methods for invasively adjusting implantable devices for selectively controlling fluid flow between a first body region and a second body region of a patient. For example, in many of the embodiments described herein, a catheter can be used to mechanically and/or electrically engage an implanted medical device. Once the catheter engages the medical device, the catheter can (i) increase a dimension associated with the medical device, such as through mechanical expansion forces, and/or (ii) decrease a dimension associated with the medical device, such as by heating a shape memory component of the medical device above a phase transition temperature.

An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

A system and method for supporting multi-probe guidance are disclosed. The system comprises: a medical guidance apparatus comprising: a rotatable portion which is rotatable around a first axis; an arc guide attached to or integrally formed with the rotatable portion, and a probe holder movably mounted on the arc guide. The probe holder is rotatable around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis by being translated along an arcuate path defined by the shape of the arc guide. In one embodiment, the probe holder includes a plurality of probe channels to guide a corresponding plurality of probes parallel to each other towards a subject. In other embodiment, the probe holder includes a single probe channel which is offset from a center point of the guidance apparatus by a fixed distance such that each probe can be inserted sequentially through a different insertion point without colliding at the center point.

Devices and systems for the selective positioning of an intravascular neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The therapeutic assembly can include a pre-formed shape and can be transformable between a substantially straight delivery configuration; and a treatment configuration having the pre-formed helical shape to position the therapeutic assembly in stable contact with a wall of the body vessel. The therapeutic assembly can also include a mechanical decoupler operably connected to the therapeutic assembly that is configured to absorb at least a portion of a force exerted on the therapeutic assembly by the shaft so that the therapeutic assembly maintains a generally stationary position relative to the target site.

A system for treatment target tissue comprises an ablation device and an energy delivery unit. The ablation device comprises an elongate tube with an expandable treatment element. The system delivers a thermal dose of energy to treat the target tissue. Methods of treating target tissue are also provided.

A system includes an intravascular medical device and a therapeutic medical device. The intravascular medical device includes a heat therapy assembly and an elongated member coupled to the heat therapy assembly. The heat therapy assembly is configured to contract a wall of a vessel and deliver energy to the wall of the contracted vessel to heat the wall of the vessel. The therapeutic medical device is communicatively coupled to the heat therapy assembly and configured to control the heat therapy assembly to deliver the energy to ablate smooth muscle cells of the wall of the vessel and substantially denature one or more structural proteins of the wall of the vessel.

A system, device, and method for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia by, specifically, cryolipolysis of non-myocardial tissue and cryoablation of myocardial tissue. A system for treating cardiac arrhythmia may include a first thermal treatment device configured for placement within a heart in contact with myocardial tissue, a second thermal treatment device configured for placement in contact with pericardial tissue, an ablation energy source in communication with the first thermal treatment device, and a cooling energy source in communication with the second thermal treatment device, the cooling energy source causing the second thermal treatment device to reach a temperature insufficient for myocardial ablation when the second thermal treatment device is activated. A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia may include introducing a cooling element into a pericardial space proximate pericardial adipose tissue, and activating the cooling element to reduce the temperature of adjacent pericardial adipose tissue to approximately 0° C.

A system and method for controlling the inflation, ablation, and deflation of a balloon catheter. The system includes a balloon catheter, a console, a pressurized gas or liquid inflation source, and an umbilical system to deliver pressurized coolant to the balloon catheter. The system may include controller that monitors the amount of pressure and volume within the balloon catheter. During inflation, the pressure and/or volume of fluid within the balloon is maintained at a target amount in order to provide sufficient mechanized pressure against the desired target region. The system limits the inflation pressure such that a safe quantity of gas would be released should a leak occur. If the amount falls below a certain threshold level, gas or fluid egress is presumed and the inflation process is halted.