Medical instruments, systems, and methods for applying energy to tissue, and more particularly ablating, sealing, coagulating, shrinking or creating lesions in tissue by means of contacting a targeted tissue in a patient with a vapor phase media wherein a subsequent vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies thermal energy to the tissue to cause an intended therapeutic effect. Variations include devices and methods for generating a flow of high-quality vapor and monitoring the vapor flow for various parameters with one or more sensors. In yet additional variations, the invention includes devices and methods for modulating parameters of the system in response to the observed parameters.

The endoscope adapter for obstruction removal attaches to an endoscope via a flexible coupler/collar. The endoscope uses a pump to create suction, the low pressure causing a flow through the adapter. A constriction, or venturi, between the endoscope tip and adapter creates an increase in suction pressure, resulting in an increased effectiveness in gripping and removing obstructions, such as partially-chewed food. The endoscope adapter for obstruction removal includes two primary features: First, the tip is a larger diameter than the coupler, thus increasing the area for gripping the food or bolus. Second, a construction, forming a venturi, between the location where suction is applied by the endoscope, increasing the resulting suction.

A system can include an elongated member that includes a proximal portion and a distal portion that includes an agitator. The elongated member can extend through a working channel of an endoscope placed within a patient such that the agitator extends past a distal end of the endoscope into a target region within the patient. The agitator can include a plurality of disruption elements that can be in a low-profile state when within the working channel of the endoscope and can transition to an expanded state when advanced past the distal end of the endoscope. The plurality of disruption elements can define an empty cage configuration when in the expanded state. The system can include a driver coupled to the proximal portion of the elongated member. The driver can rotate the elongated member about a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.

A system can include an elongated member that includes a proximal portion and a distal portion that includes an agitator. The elongated member can extend through a working channel of an endoscope placed within a patient such that the agitator extends past a distal end of the endoscope into a target region within the patient. The agitator can include a plurality of disruption elements that can be in a low-profile state when within the working channel of the endoscope and can transition to an expanded state when advanced past the distal end of the endoscope. The plurality of disruption elements can define an empty cage configuration when in the expanded state. The system can include a driver coupled to the proximal portion of the elongated member. The driver can rotate the elongated member about a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.

Endoscope systems with bending sections that can bend in four directions independent of the rotatable viewing configuration of the endoscope systems are provided. Methods of using the endoscope systems in a patient's body are further provided.

Motion correction of a three-dimensional (3D) image dataset reconstructed from a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) projection images acquired by an X-ray device is provided. In order to acquire the projection images, each of two acquisition assemblies covers an angular range of projection angles, and pairs of projection images of a region under examination are acquired at least substantially simultaneously at each acquisition time instant. For each pair of projection images, at least one marker object lying in the region under examination is automatically localized in order to determine 2D location information. 3D position information about the marker object is determined using acquisition geometries of the respective pair of projection images. Motion information describing a motion profile of the marker object over the acquisition period is ascertained from the position information at different acquisition time instants, and the motion information is used for motion correction of the image dataset.

Motion correction of a three-dimensional (3D) image dataset reconstructed from a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) projection images acquired by an X-ray device is provided. In order to acquire the projection images, each of two acquisition assemblies covers an angular range of projection angles, and pairs of projection images of a region under examination are acquired at least substantially simultaneously at each acquisition time instant. For each pair of projection images, at least one marker object lying in the region under examination is automatically localized in order to determine 2D location information. 3D position information about the marker object is determined using acquisition geometries of the respective pair of projection images. Motion information describing a motion profile of the marker object over the acquisition period is ascertained from the position information at different acquisition time instants, and the motion information is used for motion correction of the image dataset.

Apparatus for accessing a body lumen or a body cavity, the apparatus comprising: a hollow shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the hollow shaft is configured to receive an endoscope, and further wherein the distal end of the hollow shaft comprises a movable portion which is configured to be moved between (i) a straight configuration in which the movable portion is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft, and (ii) a curved configuration in which the movable portion is curved relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft, whereby to bend the endoscope disposed within the lumen of the hollow shaft; a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the sleeve is configured to receive the hollow shaft and the endoscope disposed therein; an aft balloon mounted to the sleeve; a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a fore balloon mounted to the distal ends of the pair of push tubes, such that the fore balloon can be moved relative to the aft balloon.

Apparatus for accessing a body lumen or a body cavity, the apparatus comprising: a hollow shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the hollow shaft is configured to receive an endoscope, and further wherein the distal end of the hollow shaft comprises a movable portion which is configured to be moved between (i) a straight configuration in which the movable portion is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft, and (ii) a curved configuration in which the movable portion is curved relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft, whereby to bend the endoscope disposed within the lumen of the hollow shaft; a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the sleeve is configured to receive the hollow shaft and the endoscope disposed therein; an aft balloon mounted to the sleeve; a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a fore balloon mounted to the distal ends of the pair of push tubes, such that the fore balloon can be moved relative to the aft balloon.

An apparatus (100) includes: a expandable structure (140) formable into three dimensional shapes including a range of diameters (D) and corresponding lengths (L); a movable component (106) moveable between a range of positions (124, 126) effecting the range of diameters; and a mechanical linkage (110) disposed between the movable component and the expandable structure. The expandable structure is configured to fit inside a working channel (204) of an endoscope (202) when the expandable structure is collapsed. The mechanical linkage is configured to move the collapsed expandable structure through the working channel to a selected location (400) past a distal end (404) of the endoscope and to increase and decrease a diameter of the expandable structure in response to changes in the position of the movable component when the expandable structure is at the selected location.