Abstract: A catheter device and method for heating tissue, the device having a catheter shaft constructed for insertion into a patient's body, and at least one chamber mounted on the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft has at least one lumen for fluid flow through the shaft. The chambers are defined by walls that are at least in part expandable. Fluid flows, through the lumens, between the chambers and a fluid source outside the body. The chambers can be filled with the fluid after they have been placed within the body. A heating device heats liquid within at least one of the chambers, so that heat is transmitted from the liquid to surrounding tissue by thermal conduction through the wall of the chamber. Means are provided for selectively directing heat transmission toward a selected portion of surrounding tissue. The chambers are fillable with fluid separately from each other, so that the chambers can occupy any of a plurality of possible total volumes.

Abstract: Device and method for treating tissue inside a patient's body, the device including an endoscopically introducible catheter shaft. The endoscope is constructed for insertion into the patient's body, and has a channel passing through it. The channel terminates at an opening in the distal end of the endoscope. The channel enables the catheter shaft to pass through the endoscope and beyond the distal end of the endoscope. A chamber is mounted on the catheter shaft. The chamber is defined by a flexible wall. The chamber is associated with a first lumen defined by the catheter for fluid flow between the chamber and a fluid source outside of the patient's body. The chamber is fillable with fluid after placement in the patient's body. When the chamber is filled with fluid it has a diameter greater than the diameter of the transverse cross-section of the endoscope channel.