Abstract: Device and method for selectively ablating a submucosal layer of a duodenal wall and/or of sensory neurons therein, including a laser transmitting element coupled with the catheter body and configured to transmit a laser beam having a spot diameter of less than 200 microns and to provide an ablative dose of 0.5-2.5 J/mm; wherein the laser beam is configured to selectively ablate an area of the submucosal layer that is at least twice the size of the spot diameter, while essentially preventing damage of the surrounding mucosal, muscularis and/or serosal layers of the duodenal wall; and an expandable member configured to stretch the duodenal wall and to generate a fixed distance between the catheter's laser transmitting element and the duodenal wall.

Abstract: Catheter for real-time evaluation of duodenal ablation, the catheter including an expandable member configured to stretch the duodenal wall and to generate a fixed distance between a center of the catheter and the duodenal wall; a laser transmitting element coupled with the catheter body and configured to transmit a first laser beam and a second laser beam; wherein the first laser beam is configured to cause ablative damage in a region of the duodenal wall as a result of its impingement thereon, and wherein the second laser beam is configured to detect modifications in the region of the duodenal wall resulting from the impingement of the first laser beam thereon.

Abstract: Device and method for selectively ablating a submucosal layer of a duodenal wall and/or of sensory neurons therein, including a laser transmitting element coupled with the catheter body and configured to transmit a laser beam having a spot diameter of less than 200 microns and to provide an ablative dose of 0.5-2.5 J/mm; wherein the laser beam is configured to selectively ablate an area of the submucosal layer that is at least twice the size of the spot diameter, while essentially preventing damage of the surrounding mucosal, muscularis and/or serosal layers of the duodenal wall; and an expandable member configured to stretch the duodenal wall and to generate a fixed distance between the catheter's laser transmitting element and the duodenal wall.

Abstract: Catheter for real-time evaluation of duodenal ablation, the catheter including an expandable member configured to stretch the duodenal wall and to generate a fixed distance between a center of the catheter and the duodenal wall; a laser transmitting element coupled with the catheter body and configured to transmit a first laser beam and a second laser beam; wherein the first laser beam is configured to cause ablative damage in a region of the duodenal wall as a result of its impingement thereon, and wherein the second laser beam is configured to detect modifications in the region of the duodenal wall resulting from the impingement of the first laser beam thereon.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an energy beam from a group of elements of an external phased array energy projector for a medical ablation treatment. The method comprises transmitting first energy pulses from a subset of elements of the group, measuring signal parameters of first energy signals from reception of first energy pulses by energy sensors, and calculating for the group energy transmission parameters. The method further comprises transmitting second energy pulses by other elements, measuring signal parameters of second energy signals based on a reception the pulses by energy sensors, and calculating for the group a second set of energy transmission parameters. The method further comprises calculating transmission instructions for transmitting a phased array energy beam from the group by combining first and second energy transmission parameters. The method transmits an energy beam based on the transmission instructions.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treating a patient comprising: screening a patient suffering from signs and/or symptoms of at least one medical condition secondary to increased sympathetic tone; selecting the patient for treatment by ablation of at least one neural structure containing sympathetic nerves to reduce the sympathetic tone, the neural structure comprises one or more of: celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric ganglion, inferior mesenteric ganglion, aorticorenal ganglion; selecting a target of at least one measurable parameter affected by the sympathetic tone; ablating at least a portion of the neural structure to deactivate the portion of the neural structure; monitoring changes in the at least one measurable parameter; comparing the at least one measurable parameter to the selected target; and performing another ablation of the same neural structure, and/or another neural structure, based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for detecting abnormal tissue in a region of healthy tissue, comprising: a) making a first measurement of ultrasound backscattered from the region; b) heating the region, at least after the first measurement; c) making one or more additional measurements of ultrasound backscattered from the region after some or all of the heating; and d) analyzing the measurements to detect the abnormal tissue by finding one or both of differences in changes in temperature and differences in thermal expansion, caused by the heating, between the abnormal tissue and the healthy tissue.

Abstract: A method for characterizing body tissue, comprising: a) transmitting ultrasound into tissue of a body, heating the body tissue by less than 3 degrees Celsius; b) measuring temperature of the tissue, at one or more locations at one or more times during the ultrasound transmission, following the ultrasound transmission, or both; and c) using the temperature measurement to determine at least one property of the body tissue, based on differences in absorption of ultrasound, differences in cooling rate of the tissue following the ultrasound transmission, or both.

Abstract: A method for detecting abnormal tissue in a region of healthy tissue, comprising: a) making a first measurement of ultrasound backscattered from the region; b) heating the region, at least after the first measurement; c) making one or more additional measurements of ultrasound backscattered from the region after some or all of the heating; and d) analyzing the measurements to detect the abnormal tissue by finding differences in changes, caused by the heating, of one or more characteristics of ultrasound backscattering, between the abnormal tissue and the healthy tissue.

Abstract: A method of modulating tissue of an internal organ in vivo is disclosed. The method comprises: fixating the tissue on a shaped device so as to shape the tissue generally according to a shape of the device; and focusing radiation on the fixated tissue using a radiation-emitting system so as to modulate the tissue, wherein the radiation-emitting system is non-local with respect to the shaped device.

Abstract: A method of modulating tissue of an internal organ in vivo is disclosed. The method comprises: fixating the tissue on a shaped device so as to shape the tissue generally according to a shape of the device; and focusing radiation on the fixated tissue using a radiation-emitting system so as to modulate the tissue, wherein the radiation-emitting system is non-local with respect to the shaped device.

Abstract: A method for detecting abnormal tissue in a region of healthy tissue, comprising: a) making a first measurement of ultrasound backscattered from the region; b) heating the region, at least after the first measurement; c) making one or more additional measurements of ultrasound backscattered from the region after some or all of the heating; and d) analyzing the measurements to detect the abnormal tissue by finding one or both of differences in changes in temperature and differences in thermal expansion, caused by the heating, between the abnormal tissue and the healthy tissue.

Abstract: A method for characterizing body tissue, comprising: a) transmitting ultrasound into tissue of a body, heating the body tissue by less than 3 degrees Celsius; b) measuring temperature of the tissue, at one or more locations at one or more times during the ultrasound transmission, following the ultrasound transmission, or both; and c) using the temperature measurement to determine at least one property of the body tissue, based on differences in absorption of ultrasound, differences in cooling rate of the tissue following the ultrasound transmission, or both.

Abstract: A method for detecting abnormal tissue in a region of healthy tissue, comprising: a) making a first measurement of ultrasound backscattered from the region; b) heating the region, at least after the first measurement; c) making one or more additional measurements of ultrasound backscattered from the region after some or all of the heating; and d) analyzing the measurements to detect the abnormal tissue by finding differences in changes, caused by the heating, of one or more characteristics of ultrasound backscattering, between the abnormal tissue and the healthy tissue.