Devices and methods for controlling ablation therapy are provided herein. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided that includes an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, and an inner lumen extending therethrough. The inner lumen can be configured to receive fluid therein and to deliver fluid to the distal end of the elongate body. The device can also include an ablation element positioned at a distal end of the elongate body that is configured to heat surrounding tissue, and a heater element disposed within the inner lumen adjacent to a distal end of thereof, the heater element being configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen.

Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for combined magnetic and optical treatments, for example by combined applications of optical waves and magnetic fields. An optical waves generating device may be used to provide optical waves for optical treatment. Magnetic field generating devices may be used to provides time-varying magnetic fields for magnetic treatment.

Systems, devices and methods are provided that facilitate the formation of incisions in tissue while reducing, minimizing or avoiding the generation of scar tissue. Devices are provided that facilitate the generation of an incision during multiple passes of a laser beam, such as a picosecond infrared laser (PIRL) beam. Some implementations employ the use of guidelines or guide structures to facilitate alignment of a laser beam delivery tool during the formation of an incision, optionally based on feedback provided by one or more sensors. Optical waveguide structures are disclosed for the efficient and controlled generation of laser incisions. Devices and methods are disclosed for applying tension, via manual or autonomous means, during and/or after the formation of an incision. The tension may be applied, optionally based on feedback from one or more sensors, to avoid the deformation of tissue within the incision beyond the elastic deformation limit.

An electrosurgical device (10) operable to deliver microwave energy to cause targeted tissue ablation is provided. The electrosurgical device (10) comprises an antenna (26), a reflector (30), and a dielectric material (34) disposed therebetween. The selection of the dielectric material (30) and the relative positioning of the antenna (26) and the reflector (30) provide impedance matching between the antenna (26) and a transmission line (12) so as to minimize heating along the length of the device (10) during use.

The ablation systems, ablation probes, and corresponding methods according to the present disclosure reduce or eliminate energy radiating from an ablation probe into the environment. Some ablation probes include a retractable sheath that shields at least the radiating portion of the ablation probe. The retractable sheath and/or the ablation probe may include conduits through which a fluid may flow to shield the radiating portion and to drive the retractable sheath to an extended state. Other ablation probes include apertures defined in the probe walls through which the fluid can flow to expand a balloon surrounding the radiating portion. Yet other ablation probes include a thermal indicator to indicate the temperature of the ablation probe to a user. The ablation systems include fluid circuits and associated mechanical controls for varying the contents and/or flow rate of the fluid provided to the radiating portion of the ablation probe.

Devices and methods for efficiently and reproducibly heating fluid for use in fluid enhanced ablation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided having an elongate body, at least one wire extending through an inner lumen of the elongate body, and at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen. The at least one wire extends through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the at least one wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen, thereby preventing electrical shorts and providing for the consistent and uniform heating of fluid flowing through the inner lumen of the elongate body.

Devices and systems used to ablate tissue of a tumor using laser energy are disclosed. The devices and systems include a laser probe and a magnetic resonance (MR) safe temperature probe. The MR safe temperature probe includes an optical sensor. A bone anchor fixture separates the laser probe and the MR safe temperature probe to prevent interference in the MR safe temperature probe data. Proton Resonance Frequency (PRF) thermometry is used to model a temperature of a pixel of an MR image located adjacent the optical sensor. The modeled pixel temperature and the measured temperature are compared and monitored. Exceeding a threshold difference value causes an intervening action to occur.

An exemplary ablation system is provided. The system is designed for safe and efficacious energy delivery into tissue by, for example, emitting energy in a controlled, repeatable manner that allows for feedback and energy emission titration based on sensed parameters (e.g., tissue temperature) measured during ablation. The system may include a switching antenna for both heating of target tissue and radiometry to monitor the temperature of the heated tissue. For example, the switching antenna may include a monopole formed by proximal and distal radiating elements, such that the proximal radiating element includes a short to defeat a choke action of the proximal radiating element. The system further includes a processor for calculating the temperature of the target tissue and estimating volume of the ablation lesion based on the target tissue temperature.

The invention may be applied to selectively heat a diseased area in the lung while minimizing heating to the healthy area and surrounding tissue. This can be done by exposing the lung to an electromagnetic field causing dielectric or eddy current heating. The invention is particularly useful for treating emphysema as the diseased areas in emphysema patients have reduced blood flow. The diseased area will heat up rapidly while the healthy tissue will be cooled by the blood flow. This is particularly effective for treating emphysema because of the low mass of the lungs and the high blood flow. To avoid heating of surrounding organs the direction of the electromagnetic energy may be switched in a way it always passes through lungs but only intermittently passes through adjacent organs.

The ablation systems, ablation probes, and corresponding methods according to the present disclosure reduce or eliminate energy radiating from an ablation probe into the environment. Some ablation probes include a retractable sheath that shields at least the radiating portion of the ablation probe. The retractable sheath and/or the ablation probe may include conduits through which a fluid may flow to shield the radiating portion and to drive the retractable sheath to an extended state. Other ablation probes include apertures defined in the probe walls through which the fluid can flow to expand a balloon surrounding the radiating portion. Yet other ablation probes include a thermal indicator to indicate the temperature of the ablation probe to a user. The ablation systems include fluid circuits and associated mechanical controls for varying the contents and/or flow rate of the fluid provided to the radiating portion of the ablation probe.