Abstract: A method for preventing damage to adjacent tissue at a surgical site includes locating the tissue to be protected, placing a cryoprotective device at the tissue to be protected, injecting a cryoprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective device at the tissue, at least one of positioning a temperature sensor at the CPS and positioning a temperature sensor at the tissue, monitoring a temperature of at least one of the CPS and the tissue with the temperature sensor, and carrying out cryotherapy at the surgical site without harm to the tissue.

Abstract: A cryoprotective device includes a hollow cryoprotective probe having a distal tip, a removable obturator, and at least one integral temperature sensor monitoring temperature at least adjacent the distal tip. An injector is able to inject a cryoprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective probe and out the distal tip when the obturator is removed. The CPS is of a material that prevents freezing of a substance at which it is injected when adjacent cryotherapy occurs. A processor monitors temperature of the at least one the temperature sensor and can indicate if a preset limit is exceeded.

Abstract: To perform pelvic surgery, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a distal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area opposite the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a pelvic surgery is performed at the portion of the procedure area.

Abstract: A cryoprotective device includes a hollow cryoprotective probe having a distal tip, a removable obturator, and at least one integral temperature sensor monitoring temperature at least adjacent the distal tip. An injector is able to inject a cyroprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective probe and out the distal tip when the obturator is removed. The CPS is of a material that prevents freezing of a substance at which it is injected when adjacent cryotherapy occurs. A processor monitors temperature of the at least one the temperature sensor and can indicate if a preset limit is exceeded.

Abstract: To perform pelvic surgery, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a distal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area opposite the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a pelvic surgery is performed at the portion of the procedure area.

Abstract: A directionally limited illuminating balloon catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft having a distal end and a hollow balloon portion disposed at the distal end and inflated through the shaft, the balloon portion having a light source illuminating only a portion of the environment outside the balloon portion. The balloon portion can be have a directionally limited light source directing substantially all illumination towards the shaft. Also provided is a directionally illuminating balloon catheter kit including a set of illuminating catheters each having the light source with different sized illuminating areas to illuminate a different sized partial portion of the environment outside the balloon portion.

Abstract: A pressure-limiting or breakaway catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft having a distal end and a hollow balloon portion disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The balloon portion has a distal end and an interior. The shaft and/or the balloon portion has a balloon safety valve formed to open to the environment outside the shaft and/or the balloon portion when greater than a given bursting pressure exists within the shaft and/or the interior of the balloon portion. The safety valve can be formed to burst at a first breaking force less than a second breaking force required to burst the balloon portion and/or the shaft. Also provided is a breakaway catheter kit including a set of the breakaway catheters, each having the balloon safety valve with different safety valve breaking constants.