Methods and devices are disclosed that enable safe, rapid and relatively short and straight access to the cerebral arteries for the introduction of interventional devices to treat acute ischemic stroke. In addition, the disclosed methods and devices provide means to securely close the access site to the cerebral arteries to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a transcervical hematoma.

Systems and methods for treating cancer and for preventing metastasis using low intensity focused ultrasound in combination with an anti-cancer therapy are disclosed.

The invention includes catheters that have therapeutic agent- and therapeutic energy-delivery capability. In particular embodiments, the catheters include only a single therapeutic energy transducer that is configured to deliver energy to over half of the circumference of the catheter. The therapeutic catheters of the invention allow for faster and more effective thrombus removal because of the simultaneous delivery of therapeutic agents and energy.

A process for heat treating biological tissue includes providing a plurality of energy emitters formed into an array. Treatment energy in the form of microwave energy is generated from the plurality of emitters and applied to target tissue. The treatment energy has energy and application parameters selected so as to raise the target tissue temperature sufficiently to create a therapeutic effect while maintaining an average temperature of the target tissue over several minutes at or below a predetermined temperature so as not to destroy or permanently damage the target tissue.

A process for heat treating biological tissue includes providing a plurality of energy emitters formed into an array. Treatment energy in the form of light beams is generated from the plurality of emitters and applied to target tissue. The treatment energy has energy and application parameters selected so as to raise the target tissue temperature sufficiently to create a therapeutic effect while maintaining an average temperature of the target tissue over several minutes at or below a predetermined temperature so as not to destroy or permanently damage the target tissue.

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.

A system for delivery of ultrasonic waves to a tissue volume, including:

an ultrasound applicator shaped and sized to be at least partially inserted into a vagina, including:

a body with a non-planar surface, wherein said body is shaped and sized to be at least partly introduced into a vagina;

a plurality of ultrasound transducers distributed on the non-planar surface of the ultrasound applicator body, wherein at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducers are configured to contact a surface of a wall of the vagina during the generation of ultrasonic waves; at least one cooler configured to apply cooling to prevent overheating of the vagina wall surface being contacted by the transducers;

a control unit, comprising:

a control circuitry electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducers, wherein the control circuitry signals at least some of the ultrasound transducers to generate ultrasonic waves to heat the tissue volume.

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for treating one or more conditions (such as dry eye) or improving ocular health by providing stimulation to nasal or sinus tissue. Generally, the devices may be handheld or implantable. In some variations, the handheld devices may have a stimulator body and a stimulator probe having one or more nasal insertion prongs. When the devices and systems are used to treat dry eye, nasal or sinus tissue may be stimulated to increase tear production, reduce the symptoms of dry eye, and/or improve ocular surface health.

There are disclosed embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, particularly a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a tip chamber, within which is an ultrasound transducer mounted on a pivot mechanism, a motor for turning the transducer, and an implement for pivoting the transducer. Examples of such an implement are a linear motor, a shaft or filament, and the pivot mechanism may be biased to return to a base position when the implement is not pivoting the transducer. In other embodiments, a mirror reflecting ultrasound signals from the transducer may be rotated and/or pivoted, using similar mechanisms.

Described here are methods and systems for the manipulation of ovarian tissues. The methods and systems may be used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The systems and methods may be useful in the treatment of infertility associated with PCOS.