Abstract: Devices and systems are described for treating intraluminal locations such as in a patient's lung. The device has an elongated shaft with an inner lumen, preferably defined by an inner tubular member, formed of heat resistant polymeric materials such as polyimide. The device also has an outer surface formed of heat resistant material. High temperature vapor is directed through the inner lumen into the intraluminal location to treat tissue at and distal to the location. An enlarged or enlargeable member, such as a balloon, is provided on a distal portion of the shaft to prevent proximal flow of the high temperature vapor upon discharge from the device.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods are describe for treating intraluminal locations such as in a patient's lung. The device is a catheter which has an elongated shaft with an inner lumen, preferably defined by an inner tubular member, formed of heat resistant polymeric materials such as polyimide and high temperature vapor is directed through the inner lumen into the intraluminal location to treat tissue at and/or distal to the location. The outer surface of the catheter is also formed of heat resistant material. An enlarged or enlargeable member, such as a balloon, is provided on a distal portion of the catheter shaft to prevent proximal flow of the high temperature vapor upon discharge from the catheter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.

Abstract: Devices and systems are described for treating intraluminal locations such as in a patient's lung. The device has an elongated shaft with an inner lumen, preferably defined by an inner tubular member, formed of heat resistant polymeric materials such as polyimide. The device also has an outer surface formed of heat resistant material. High temperature vapor is directed through the inner lumen into the intraluminal location to treat tissue at and distal to the location. An enlarged or enlargeable member, such as a balloon, is provided on a distal portion of the shaft to prevent proximal flow of the high temperature vapor upon discharge from the device.

Abstract: Devices and systems are described for treating intraluminal locations such as in a patient's lung. The device has an elongated shaft with an inner lumen, preferably defined by an inner tubular member, formed of heat resistant polymeric materials such as polyimide. The device also has an outer surface formed of heat resistant material. High temperature vapor is directed through the inner lumen into the intraluminal location to treat tissue at and distal to the location. An enlarged or enlargeable member, such as a balloon, is provided on a distal portion of the shaft to prevent proximal flow of the high temperature vapor upon discharge from the device.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.

Abstract: Devices and systems are describe for treating intraluminal locations such as in a patient's lung. The device has an elongated shaft with an inner lumen, preferably defined by an inner tubular member, formed of heat resistant polymeric materials such as polyimide. The device also has an outer surface formed of heat resistant material. High temperature vapor is directed through the inner lumen into the intraluminal location to treat tissue at and distal to the location. An enlarged or enlargeable member, such as a balloon, is provided on a distal portion of the shaft to prevent proximal flow of the high temperature vapor upon discharge from the device.

Abstract: Methods are describe for treating intraluminal locations such as in a patient's lung. The device is a catheter which has an elongated shaft with an inner lumen, preferably defined by an inner tubular member, formed of heat resistant polymeric materials such as polyimide and high temperature vapor is directed through the inner lumen into the intraluminal location to treat tissue at and/or distal to the location. The outer surface of the catheter is also formed of heat resistant material. An enlarged or enlargeable member, such as a balloon, is provided on a distal portion of the catheter shaft to prevent proximal flow of the high temperature vapor upon discharge from the catheter.

Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

Abstract: Methods and systems for securing tissues, e.g., cardiovascular tissues, are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes inserting a portion of a catheter into an opening between a first portion of cardiovascular tissue and a second portion of cardiovascular tissue. The method can further include drawing the first and second portions of the cardiovascular tissue into contact with each other by drawing a vacuum in a region adjacent to the first and second portions of cardiovascular tissue via the catheter while the catheter is positioned between the first and second portions. The tissue portions can be fused by heating the tissue from within the opening, e.g., via radio frequency energy. This technique, and associated catheter system, can be used to close a patent foramen ovale or other openings in cardiovascular tissue.

Abstract: An intra-bronchial device placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure that reduces ventilation to the lung portion by preventing air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may engage the air passageway wall by piercing or friction, include a stop dimensioned for limiting the piercing of the air passageway wall, and may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device. The anchors may be carried by a peripheral portion of the support structure, or by a central portion of the support structure. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.