Methods and systems for delivering electrical energy and controlled, mild hyperthermia to a prostate tissue of a patient for destruction of cancerous and/or hyperplastic tissue. A method includes positioning a plurality of electrodes in a target tissue region comprising the prostate tissue, and establishing an alternating electrical current flow through a volume of the prostate tissue to induce mild heating and destruction of cancerous cells in the volume.

Disclosed embodiments relate to devices, systems, and methods of shaping, shrinking, opening, dilating, stiffening, or otherwise modifying a Eustachian tube and its surrounding tissue in order to improve the Eustachian tube's function. For example, patients with blocked, closed, or hypertrophic Eustachian tubes may be able to achieve improved function including easier equalization of pressure between the inner ear and environment.

An apparatus includes a shaft, a balloon, a tip member, and a heating feature. The tip member is distal to the balloon and has a larger outer diameter than the shaft. The heating feature is operable to ablate tissue of the Eustachian tube contacting the balloon in the expanded state. The heating feature may include an illuminating element and a photosensitive coating on the balloon. Alternatively, the heating feature may include a thermal heating element that heats the balloon inflation fluid and thereby heats the wall of the balloon. Another apparatus includes a shaft, a tip member, and an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrodes positioned along the shaft near the distal end, proximal to the tip member. The electrodes are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis and are operable to apply RF energy to tissue to thereby ablate the tissue.

A bipolar electrosurgical device including an outer shaft, an inner shaft, first and second electrode surfaces, and an irrigation channel. The outer shaft defines a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end forming a cutting window. The inner shaft is rotatably disposed within the outer shaft, and defines a distal portion forming a cutting tip. The cutting tip and the cutting window combine to define a cutting implement. The first and second electrode surfaces are electrically isolated, and are formed at the cutting implement. The irrigation channel extends parallel to the outer shaft, and terminates in at least one outlet port. The outlet port is proximally spaced from the cutting window and is located radially outside of the outer shaft. Fluid (e.g., saline) is emitted at the exterior surface of the device near the cutting window and is readily present for interacting with the electrode surfaces.

A handpiece for intraorifice radiofrequency treatments of the type including a substantially tubular body provided with at least one emitter along its outer surface. The at least one emitter is connected by cables to at least one power supply unit.

A medical device includes an electrode shaft and a tip. The electrode shaft is configured to deliver energy to a target site and includes an electrode shaft lumen configured to deliver fluid to the target site. The tip is coupled to a distal tip of the electrode shaft. The tip includes an inner portion of conductive material and an exterior layer of insulative material. The tip includes a tip lumen fluidly connected to the electrode shaft lumen and configured to deliver fluid to the target site.

A bipolar electrosurgical device is disclosed that operates in a mechanical cutting mode and a hemostasis mode. The device includes a housing and a blade assembly extending from the housing. The blade assembly forms a cutting tip and cutting window at a distal end region to provide mechanical cutting of tissue and first and second electrode assemblies to provide electrical energy to tissue. The first electrode assembly includes an outer shaft defining a first electrode surface and the second electrode assembly includes an electrode body extending along and electrically isolated from an outer shaft and defining a U-shape in cross section.

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO.sub.2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

A method of treating a soft palate in a patient to treat sleep apnea, snoring or both may involve advancing a treatment element of a treatment device through the patient's mouth, contacting a tissue-contact surface of the treatment element with the soft palate, delivering energy to the soft palate via one or more energy delivery members on the tissue-contact surface, and removing the treatment element from the mouth.

An electrosurgical wand is disclosed for treating a plurality of tissues at a variety of tissue locations. The electrosurgical wand includes a handle on a proximal end and an elongate shaft with a combination active electrode at the distal end. The combination active electrode includes with a blade and screen portion; the blade portion extending along and laterally from the wand longitudinal axis, forming a dissecting tip. The screen portion extends from the blade portion at an obtuse angle and has at least one aspiration aperture through it. The wand also includes a second and third electrode, proximally spaced from the combination active electrode. The second electrode spans a portion of an outside surface of the wand adjacent the blade portion, while the third electrode spans a portion of the outside surface of the wand opposite the second electrode.