Systems and methods are configured to detect and/or ablate cancerous tissue, such as during surgery. The system uses Laser Ramen Spectroscopy (LRS) or Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to enhance a detection signal pursuant to a spectroscopy analysis of tissue. Rapid in situ detection of cancer can be combined with immediate laser thermal ablation of the cancerous tissue. The detection and ablation can occur before, during, or after surgical resection.

An ablation probe tip (100) having a shaft (102) with an insertion end (104). The shaft (102) includes a coaxial antenna (110). A center of ablation (124) is located within the shaft (102) near the insertion end (104). A heat transfer layer (130) surrounds the coaxial antenna (110). A thermal reservoir (134) at least partially surrounds the heat transfer layer (130). A method for using the ablation probe tip (100) includes predetermining an optimal temperature for the heat transfer layer (130), and the thermal reservoir (134) cooling the heat transfer layer (130) to no higher than the optimal temperature. The ablation probe tip (100) may be part of an ablation probe system (50) that includes an ablation source (60) that provides ablation means (62) to the ablation probe tip (100).

A catheter system for ablation of tissue around a blood vessel, e.g., the pulmonary artery, to reduce neural activity of nerves surrounding the blood vessel. The catheter system includes an elongate shaft having a proximal portion coupled to a handle, and a distal portion. The distal portion includes a transducer and an expandable anchor, which may be actuated to transition between a collapsed delivery state and an expanded deployed state where the anchor centralizes the transducer within the blood vessel. The transducer may be actuated to emit energy to reduce neural activity of the nerves surrounding the blood vessel. Systems and method are further provided for confirming that neural activity of the nerves surround the blood vessel has been sufficiently reduced.

The present disclosure is related to field of Fiber Feedback (FFB) technology and provides a method and system for estimating the distance between a fiber end and a target. The method includes illuminating, by a Light Emitting, Transmitting and Detecting (LETD) system, the target with laser light of different wavelengths having low and high-water absorption coefficients, using different laser light sources, as well as receiving a returned signal corresponding to the incident laser light of different wavelengths, and detecting the returned signal to measure intensity values of the returned signal of a specific wavelength. Using the measured intensity values, a processing unit may estimate distance between the fiber end and the target. The present disclosure enables accurate estimation of distance between a fiber end and the target. The present disclosure also provides a robust distance estimation technique which is compatible with different types of targets.

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 catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes a light source, a balloon, a light guide and an optical analyzer assembly. The light source generates first light energy. The balloon is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon has a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid. The light guide receives the first light energy and guides the first light energy in a first direction from a guide proximal end toward a guide distal end positioned within the balloon interior. The optical analyzer assembly optically analyzes a second light energy from the light guide that moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The optical analyzer assembly includes a safety shutdown system to inhibit the first light energy from being received by the guide proximal end of the light guide.

Systems, devices, and methods for determining advancement of a surgical laser fiber in an endoscope and providing interlocking feedback for the surgical laser are disclosed. An exemplary method includes directing light from a distal end of an endoscope to a target, optically detecting an amount of the light reflected from the target, transmitting the optically detected amount of light through a laser fiber extending through a working channel of the endoscope, determining, based on the optically detected amount of light, a position of a distal end of the laser fiber relative to the distal end of the endoscope, and generating a control signal to the surgical laser system to adjust laser emission through the laser fiber.

The present disclosure provides, according to some embodiments, methods and systems for selectively reducing, blocking or inhibiting at least part of the neural activity in an organ of a subject. In preferred embodiments, the method and system are used for selectively blocking at least part of the neural activity in a duodenum of a subject in need thereof. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking occurs through use of laser radiation. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking occurs through use of ultrasound energy. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking comprises causing damage to at least part of sensory nerves located within a target area while maintaining functional activity of tissue surrounding the sensory nerves by means of shielding it from the effects of laser radiation. According to some embodiments, the sensory nerves include neurons configured to transmit signals triggered by food passing through the duodenum, such as, but not limited to, neurohormonal signals.

A catheter system for treating site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve includes a light source, a first and second light guide, and an optical alignment system. The light source generates light energy. The first and second light guides receive the light energy from the light source and have respective guide proximal ends. A multiplexer directs the light energy toward the guide proximal ends of the first and second light guides. The optical alignment system determines an alignment of the light energy relative to at least one of the guide proximal ends and adjusts the positioning of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends.

The present disclosure provides a method and system for estimating the temperature of a working environment. Treatments that use laser and optical fiber technology may cause an undesirable increase in the temperature of a working environment. To that end, a laser source to generate light beams sensitive to a change in temperature can be generated and the temperature determined based on a distance between a distal end of the optical fiber and a target and the generated temperature sensitive light beam.