Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus has a flexible introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The energy delivery device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site in a lateral direction away from the periphery of the introducer.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is configured to be coupled to an energy source. The energy delivery device includes a first electrode and a second electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second electrodes are at least partially positionable in the introducer and deployable from the introducer at a selected tissue site to an expanded state. In the expanded state the deployed first and second electrodes distend laterally away from the introducer with a radius of curvature to form a shaped array of deployed electrodes at the tissue site when positioned at the selected tissue site. The first electrode distal portion and the second electrode distal portion are each at least partially made of a shaped memory alloy material that displays stress induced martensite behavior above body temperature. A cable couples the energy source to the energy delivery device.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus has a flexible introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The energy delivery device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site in a lateral direction away from the periphery of the introducer.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a handpiece, an electrode extending from a handpiece distal end, a probe, a thermal sensor and an energy source. The electrode includes a distal end and a lumen, a cooling medium inlet conduit and a cooling medium exit conduit. Both conduits extend through the electrode lumen to an electrode distal end. A sidewall port, isolated from a cooling medium flowing in the inlet and outlet conduits, is formed in the electrode. The probe is at least partially positionable in the electrode lumen and configured to be advanced and retracted in and out of the sidewall aperture. The thermal sensor is supported by the probe. The electrode is coupled to an energy source.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an introducer including an introducer lumen, a proximal portion and a distal portion. Two or more electrodes are at least partially positionable in the introducer lumen. Each electrode is configured to be advanced from the introducer distal portion in a deployed state into a selected tissue site to define a volumetric ablation volume. A fluid delivery member is positioned on at least a portion of an exterior of one of the electrodes. The fluid delivery member is configured to be coupled to a fluid medium source. A cable is coupled to the electrodes.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus has a flexible introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The energy delivery device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site in a lateral direction away from the periphery of the introducer.

Abstract: An ablation treatment apparatus includes an energy source. A multiple antenna device is included and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a secondary antenna with a distal end. The secondary antenna is positionable in the primary antenna after the primary antenna is positioned at a tissue site and deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. A selected primary or secondary antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the energy source. A non-selected antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the selected antenna. A cable connects the energy source to the selected antenna.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has a multiple antenna device with a primary antenna and a secondary antenna positionable in a lumen of the primary antenna. The secondary antenna is at least partially deployable from the primary antenna in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the primary antenna with at least one radius of curvature. A distal end of the primary antenna is sufficiently sharp to pierce tissue. The primary and secondary antennas are configured to provide a selectable geometric ablation of a selected tissue mass. An insulation sleeve is positioned on an exterior of the primary antenna. One or more cables are coupled to the multiple antenna device.

Abstract: An ablation treatment apparatus has a multiple antenna device. The multiple antenna device includes a primary antenna with a lumen, a longitudinal axis and an ablative surface area of length L.sub.1. The multiple antenna device also includes a secondary antenna that is positionable in the primary antenna. A secondary antenna distal end is deployed at a selected tissue site from the primary antenna lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. A sensor is at least partially positioned at an exterior of the secondary antenna distal end at a distance L.sub.2 from the primary antenna along the secondary antenna distal end. L.sub.2 is at least equal to 1/3 L.sub.1. An energy source is coupled to the primary antenna.

Abstract: An ablation treatment apparatus has a multiple antenna device. The multiple antenna device includes a primary antenna with a lumen and a longitudinal axis, and a secondary antenna positionable in the lumen. At a selected tissue site the secondary antenna is deployed in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the primary antenna. At least a portion of a distal end of the secondary antenna is structurally less rigid than the primary antenna. The primary antenna is constructed to be rigid enough to be introduced through tissue. A cable couples one or both of the antennas to an energy source.

Abstract: An ablation treatment apparatus includes an energy source. A multiple antenna device is included and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a secondary antenna with a distal end. The secondary antenna is deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction to the longitudinal axis. A selected primary or secondary antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the energy source. A non-selected antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the selected antenna. A cable connects the energy source to the selected antenna.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a handpiece, an electrode extending from a handpiece distal end, a probe, a thermal sensor and an energy source. The electrode includes a distal end and a lumen, a cooling medium inlet conduit and a cooling medium exit conduit. Both conduits extend through the electrode lumen to an electrode distal end. A sidewall port, isolated from a cooling medium flowing in the inlet and outlet conduits, is formed in the electrode. The probe is at least partially positioned in the electrode lumen and configured to be advanced and retracted in and out of the sidewall aperture. The thermal sensor is supported by the probe. The electrode is coupled to an energy source.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an introducer including an introducer lumen, a proximal portion and a distal portion. A handpiece with a proximal portion and a distal portion is coupled to the introducer proximal portion. Two or more electrodes are at least partially positioned in the introducer lumen. Each electrode is configured to be advanced from the introducer distal portion in a deployed state into a selected tissue site to define a volumetric ablation volume. A fluid delivery member is positioned on at least a portion of an exterior of one of the electrodes. The fluid delivery member is configured to be coupled to a fluid medium source. A cable is coupled to the electrodes.

Abstract: A wound closure, hemostasis device, such as a femoral hemostat, includes an inflatable balloon with an inflation and deflation outlet. A placement patch includes an aperture for receiving the inflation and deflation outlet. The inflatable balloon is coupled to the placement patch and positioned adjacent to a wound site or a bleeding vessel. A belt straps through the placement patch and around the patient's body or a patient's appendage and holds the placement patch at the wound site or bleeding vessel. An inflation tube is coupled to the inflation and deflation outlet. An inflation apparatus is coupled to the inflation and deflation outlet.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes an energy source producing an ablation energy output. A multiple antenna device is included and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a first secondary antenna with a distal end. The first secondary antenna is deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction to the longitudinal axis. The primary antenna is coupled to the energy source to receive the ablation energy output, and the first secondary antenna is coupled to the primary antenna to receive ablation energy from the primary antenna. A sensor is positioned at one or both of the primary or secondary antennas. A feedback control system is coupled to the energy source and the sensor. The feedback control system is responsive to a detected characteristic from the sensor to provide a delivery of ablation energy output from the energy source to the antennas.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a multiple antenna device coupled to an electromagnetic energy source that produces an electromagnetic energy ablation output. The multiple antenna device includes a primary antenna with a lumen and a longitudinal axis, and a secondary antenna deployable from the lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. At least a distal end of each secondary antenna is structurally less rigid than the primary antenna, and the primary antenna is sufficiently rigid to be introduced through tissue. At least one cable coupling the multiple antenna device to the energy source. A cooling element is coupled to the primary antenna. A variety of energy sources can be used including RF, microwave and laser.

Abstract: A multiple antenna ablation apparatus includes an electromagnetic energy source, a trocar including a distal end, and a hollow lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the trocar, and a multiple antenna ablation device with three or more antennas. The antennas are initially positioned in the trocar lumen as the trocar is introduced through tissue. At a selected tissue site the antennas are deployable from the trocar lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. Each of the deployed antennas has an electromagnetic energy delivery surface of sufficient size to, (i) create a volumetric ablation between the deployed antennas, and (ii) the volumetric ablation is achieved without impeding out any of the deployed antennas when 10 to 50 watts of electromagnetic energy is delivered from the electromagnetic energy source to the multiple antenna ablation device. At least one cable couples the multiple antenna ablation device to the electromagnetic energy source.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has a multiple antenna device of adjustable length including an adjustable length primary antenna and an adjustable length secondary antenna. The primary antenna has a longitudinal axis, and the secondary antenna is deployed in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis. The secondary antenna is constructed to be structurally less rigid than the primary antenna. The adjustable lengths of the primary and secondary antennas permits a desired geometric ablation of a selected tissue mass. An adjustable insulation sleeve is positioned on an exterior of one of the primary or secondary antennas. An energy source is connected to the multiple antenna device. A variety of energy sources can be used including RF, microwave and laser.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes a cannula with a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen. An anvil is coupled to the cannula and extends beyond the cannula distal end. The anvil has a distal end that extends in a lateral direction relative to an anvil longitudinal axis. The distal end is adapted to receive and position an uvula or other soft tissue. One or more energy delivery devices are slideably positioned in the cannula. The energy delivery devices are advanced and retracted in and out the cannula distal end. An advancement and retraction apparatus advances and retracts the energy delivery devices in and out of the cannula distal end and into the soft tissue retained at the anvil distal end. The soft tissue ablation apparatus can further include a handle with a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula is at least partially positioned in the handle lumen and extends beyond the handle distal end. The ablation apparatus is useful for ablation of soft palate tissue to eliminate snoring.

Abstract: An ablation treatment apparatus has a multiple antenna device. The multiple antenna device includes a primary antenna with a lumen, a longitudinal axis and an ablative surface area of length L.sub.1. The multiple antenna device also includes a secondary antenna that is positioned in the primary antenna as the primary antenna is introduced through tissue. A secondary antenna distal end is deployed at a selected tissue site from the primary antenna lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. A sensor is at least partially positioned at an exterior of the secondary antenna distal end at a distance L.sub.2 from the primary antenna along the secondary antenna distal end. L.sub.2 is at least equal to 1/3 L.sub.1. An energy source is coupled to the primary antenna.