Abstract: A device for prostate treatment is inserted into a prostatic portion of an urethra and connected to an energy source. Energy is delivered to the prostate from the device. The amount of energy emitted to prostatic tissue adjacent to a bladder is greater than that emitted to prostatic tissue distant from the bladder.

Abstract: A catheter shaft carries a coaxial cable, the terminal end of which contains a dipole antenna with opposing first and second helical elements. The first and second helical elements originate from a common connection to an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The first and second helical elements are formed by winding flat wire around an outer insulator of the coaxial cable near a terminal end of the coaxial cable. A variable, controllable impedance is connected between an inner conductor of the coaxial cable and a point on the second helical element where the resistive component of the antenna's impedance matches the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable. The impedance match minimizes reflective losses of the antenna, thereby maximizing power transferred to the antenna. The antenna has an effective electrical length which is equal to one-half the wavelength of the radiation emitted, independent of the physical length of the antenna.

Abstract: A system for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia within intraprostatic tissue surrounding a urethra is disclosed. The system includes an intraurethral catheter having an intraurethral catheter shaft. An antenna is located within the catheter shaft for delivering heat to the intraprostatic tissue surrounding the urethra. Coolant fluid is circulated through a chamber located between the catheter shaft and the urethral wall.

Abstract: An intraurethral, Foley-type catheter shaft contains a microwave antenna capable of generating a cylindrically symmetrical thermal pattern, within which temperatures are capable of exceeding 45.degree. C. The antenna, which is positioned within the shaft, is surrounded by means within the shaft for absorbing thermal energy conducted by the tissue and asymmetrically absorbing electromagnetic energy emitted by the antenna--a greater amount of electromagnetic energy being absorbed on one side of the shaft. This asymmetrical absorption alters the thermal pattern generated by the microwave antenna, making it cylindrically asymmetrical, which effectively focuses microwave thermal therapy toward undesirous benign tumorous tissue growth of a prostate anterior and lateral to the urethra, and away from healthy tissue posterior to the urethra.

Abstract: An intraurethral, Foley-type catheter shaft contains a microwave antenna capable of generating a cylindrically symmetrical thermal pattern, within which temperatures are capable of exceeding 45.degree. C. The antenna, which is positioned within the shaft, is surrounded by means within the shaft for absorbing thermal energy conducted by the tissue and asymmetrically absorbing electromagnetic energy emitted by the antenna--a greater amount of electromagnetic energy being absorbed on one side of the shafts. This asymmetrical absorption alters the thermal pattern generated by the microwave antenna, making it cylindrically asymmetrical, which effectively focuses microwave thermal therapy toward undesirous benign tumorous tissue growth of a prostate anterior and lateral to the urethra, and away from healthy tissue posterior to the urethra.

Abstract: A method of prostate treatment includes the step of inserting into a prostatic portion of urethra an energy emitting device that is connected to an energy source. Energy is delivered to the prostate from the energy emitting device. The amount of energy emitted to prostatic tissue adjacent to a bladder is greater than that emitted to prostatic tissue distant from the bladder.

Abstract: A method for treating an individual with diseased prostatic tissue, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, includes inserting a catheter into a urethra to position a microwave antenna located within the catheter adjacent a prostatic region of the urethra. A microwave antenna is then driven within a power range for applying microwave energy substantially continuously to prostatic tissue to heat the prostatic tissue surrounding the microwave antenna at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to cause necrosis of the prostatic tissue.

Abstract: An intraurethral catheter includes an microwave antenna and a cooling lumen structure substantially surrounding the antenna. A cooling balloon partially surrounds the cooling lumens on one side of the catheter adjacent the microwave antenna. The cooling balloon improves wall contact between the catheter and a wall of the urethra to improve cooling of the urethra. The cooling balloon communicates with the cooling lumen structure to permit circulation of cooling fluid through the cooling balloon.

Abstract: A rectal thermosensing unit for sensing temperature of a patient's rectal tissue includes a temperature sensing device and an inflatable balloon defining a void interior. The balloon is coupled to and supports the temperature sensing device. Inflation of the balloon positions and maintains the temperature sensing device in contact with the rectal tissue without compressing the rectal tissue.

Abstract: A microwave antenna is insertable into a cardiovascular catheter and is formed from a coaxial cable including an inner conductor and an inner insulator with the inner insulator having a reduced diameter portion adjacent a distal end of the catheter. An antenna coil portion of the microwave antenna is disposed about the reduced diameter portion and has a first section, a second section, and a point intermediate to the first and second sections. The intermediate point is electrically connected to an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. An impedance matching means is connected to the inner conductor and to the second section of the antenna coil portion.

Abstract: An intraurethral, Foley-type catheter shaft contains a microwave antenna capable of generating a cylindrically symmetrical thermal pattern, within which temperatures are capable of exceeding 45.degree. C. The antenna, which is positioned within the shaft, is surrounded by means within the shaft for absorbing thermal energy conducted by the tissue and asymmetrically absorbing electromagnetic energy emitted by the antenna--a greater amount of electromagnetic energy being absorbed on one side of the shaft. This asymmetrical absorption alters the thermal pattern generated by the microwave antenna, making it cylindrically asymmetrical, which effectively focuses microwave thermal therapy toward undesirous benign tumorous tissue growth of a prostate anterior and lateral to the urethra, and away from healthy tissue posterior to the urethra.

Abstract: A liquid coolant supply system for supplying a liquid coolant to a thermal therapy catheter includes a sensor control unit, a liquid coolant containment unit and mounts. The sensor control unit includes a pump, a cooling device, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. The liquid coolant containment unit includes a sealed reservoir, a coolant-sensor interface module and a pump interface fluidly coupled to the thermal therapy catheter. The coolant-sensor interface module includes a body defining a fluid chamber, a temperature interface supported adjacent the fluid chamber within the body, and a pressure interface supported adjacent the fluid chamber within the body. The mounts removably support the sealed reservoir, pump interface, temperature interface and pressure interface of the containment unit adjacent the cooling device, the pump, the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor.

Abstract: An intraurethral catheter includes an elongate shaft and a tip comprising a unitary member including a curved tip portion and an inflatable balloon portion mountable on a proximal end of the catheter shaft. The present invention simplifies manufacture of the catheter by permitting an inflatable retention balloon and a curved insertion tip to be simultaneously secured on a proximal end of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A system for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia within intraprostatic tissue surrounding a urethra is disclosed. The system includes an intraurethral catheter having an intraurethral catheter shaft. An antenna is located within the catheter shaft for delivering heat to the intraprostatic tissue surrounding the urethra. Coolant fluid is circulated through a chamber located between the catheter shaft and the urethral wall.

Abstract: An intraurethral catheter shaft comprises a plurality of lumens extending between a first end and a second end of the shaft. An antenna lumen has a generally circular cross-sectional surface area and is positioned nearer a first outer surface than a second outer surface of the catheter shaft. A first and second pair of cooling lumens substantially surround the antenna lumen and have a generally arc shaped cross-sectional surface area. The cooling lumens are configured to be circumjacent to the antenna lumen about a substantial majority of the antenna lumen. A urinary drainage lumen is positioned between the second pair of cooling lumens adjacent the antenna lumen and has a generally circular cross-sectional surface area. The lumens of the catheter shaft are defined by a unitary wall having a substantially uniform thickness throughout the catheter.

Abstract: A method for treating an individual with benign prostate hyperplasia is disclosed. The method includes inserting a catheter into a urethra so as to position an energy emitting element located within the catheter adjacent a prostatic region of the urethra. A fluid is circulated within the catheter until the fluid stabilizes at a prechilled temperature. An energy emitting element is then energized sufficient to heat prostatic tissue surrounding the energy emitting element.

Abstract: A system for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia within intraprostatic tissue surrounding a urethra is disclosed. The system includes an intraurethral catheter having an intraurethral catheter shaft. An antenna is located within the catheter shaft for delivering heat to the intraprostatic tissue surrounding the urethra. Coolant fluid is circulated through a chamber located between the catheter shaft and the urethral wall.

Abstract: An intraurethral, Foley-type catheter shaft contains a microwave antenna capable of generating a cylindrically symmetrical thermal pattern, within which temperatures are capable of exceeding 45.degree. C. The antenna, which is positioned within the shaft, is surrounded by means within the shaft for absorbing thermal energy conducted by the tissue and asymmetrically absorbing electromagnetic energy emitted by the antenna--a greater amount of electromagnetic energy being absorbed on one side of the shaft. This asymmetrical absorption alters the thermal pattern generated by the microwave antenna, making it cylindrically asymmetrical, which effectively focuses microwave thermal therapy toward undesirous benign tumorous tissue growth of a prostate anterior and lateral to the urethra, and away from healthy tissue posterior to the urethra.

Abstract: A system for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia within intraprostatic tissue surrounding a urethra is disclosed. The system includes an intraurethral catheter having an intraurethral catheter shaft. An antenna is located within the catheter shaft for delivering heat to the intraprostatic tissue surrounding the urethra. Coolant fluid is circulated through a chamber located between the catheter shaft and the urethral wall.

Abstract: An intraurethral, Foley-type catheter shaft contains a microwave antenna capable of generating a cylindrically symmetrical thermal pattern, within which temperatures are capable of exceeding 45.degree. C. The antenna, which is positioned within the shaft, is surrounded by means within the shaft for absorbing thermal energy conducted by the tissue and asymmetrically absorbing electromagnetic energy emitted by the antenna--a greater amount of electromagnetic energy being absorbed on one side of the shaft. This asymmetrical absorption alters the thermal pattern generated by the microwave antenna, making it cylindrically asymmetrical, which effectively focuses microwave thermal therapy toward undesirous benign tumorous tissue growth of a prostate anterior and lateral to the urethra, and away from healthy tissue posterior to the urethra.