Abstract: Combination catheters/stents includes matable female and male members which, when engaged, deliver the desired therapy, typically a thermal therapy, to the targeted tissue in the body. At the conclusion of the delivery of the therapy regimen, the female and male matable members disengage allowing one member (the stent portion) to remain in the body proximate the treatment site of the subject while the other member (primarily the catheter portion which with the stent portion allows delivery of desired treatment) can be removed from the body of the subject. The combination catheter/stent requires only a single insertion procedure reducing the trauma potentially introduced to tissue (either along the lumen or at the targeted treatment site) in the body.

Abstract: Medical devices that are configured for insertion into a body lumen, such as the male urethra, are provided with one or more inflatable balloons having elastic sleeves, wherein each elastic sleeve is adapted to inflate in response to inflation of a respective balloon, and to deflate in response to deflation of the respective balloon. When a balloon is in a deflated condition a respective elastic sleeve exerts a circumferentially compressive force against the balloon to cause a smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile of the balloon along an axial extent thereof. This smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile can facilitate passage of the medical device through a body lumen during both insertion and extraction of the medical device. A thin layer of fluid may be disposed between a treatment balloon and a respective elastic sleeve to facilitate heat transfer from a treatment balloon to a surrounding elastic sleeve or to administer a therapeutic agent to localized tissue.

Abstract: Flexible treatment catheters are configured to be inserted into a body lumen or cavity to deliver heated fluid through at least one fluid lumen therein to thermally treat or ablate a targeted site in a biological subject. The flexible treatment catheters can include improved thermally insulated regions comprising a mixture formed of liquid elastomeric (such as a polyurethane) mixture (which transitions to a solid state) and miniaturized hollow plastic bodies positioned between the outer wall of the treatment catheter and the fluid lumen. The thermally insulated region is configured such that, measured ex vivo, the treatment catheter can present a maximum temperature of below about 45° C. on the external surface of the outer wall of the treatment catheter when the treatment catheter circulates fluid having an inlet temperature of above or between about 60°-62° C.

Abstract: Methods of treating the prostate include administering a thermal ablation therapy and inhibiting the obstruction or closure of the prostatic urethral opening by forming a biodegradable stent in situ in the subject such that the stent attaches to the walls of the prostatic urethra. A related method of treating BPH includes thermally treating or ablating localized tissue in the prostate with a treatment catheter and inserting flowable stent material via the treatment catheter into the prostate (either before, during, or after the thermal treatment), forming the flowable stent material so that it defines a stent that remains in position after removal of the treatment catheter to inhibit the closure of the urinary passage. Associated stents and catheters are included.

Abstract: Medical devices that are configured for insertion into a body lumen, such as the male urethra, are provided with one or more inflatable balloons having elastic sleeves, wherein each elastic sleeve is adapted to inflate in response to inflation of a respective balloon, and to deflate in response to deflation of the respective balloon. When a balloon is in a deflated condition, a respective elastic sleeve exerts a circumferentially compressive force against the balloon to cause a smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile of the balloon along an axial extent thereof. This smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile can facilitate passage of the medical device through a body lumen during both insertion and extraction of the medical device. A thin layer of fluid may be disposed between a treatment balloon and a respective elastic sleeve to facilitate heat transfer from a treatment balloon to a surrounding elastic sleeve or to administer a therapeutic agent to localized tissue.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing thermal therapies or internal thermal massage therapy for treating prostatitis by expanding and contracting a treatment balloon with inflation media and currently applying heat to a portion of the prostatic urethra.

Abstract: Flexible treatment catheters are configured to be inserted into a body lumen or cavity to deliver heated fluid through at least one fluid lumen therein to thermally treat or ablate a targeted site in a biological subject. The flexible treatment catheters can include improved thermally insulated regions comprising a mixture formed of liquid elastomeric (such as a polyurethane) mixture (which transitions to a solid state) and miniaturized hollow plastic bodies positioned between the outer wall of the treatment catheter and the fluid lumen. The thermally insulated region is configured such that, measured ex vivo, the treatment catheter can present a maximum temperature of below about 45° C. on the external surface of the outer wall of the treatment catheter when the treatment catheter circulates fluid having an inlet temperature of above or between about 60°-62° C.

Abstract: A prostatic stent is configured as a unitary body, which is adapted to reside above the sphincter when in position in a subject and allow normal functioning of the sphincter. The stent includes and elongated and substantially narrow conduit, which extends through the sphincter and outside the body of the subject. The conduit is sized and constructed to allow normal operation of the sphincter. The stent also includes and upper and/or an intermediate inflatable portions and may include a second conduit for the introduction of medication to the stent.

Abstract: Methods of treating the prostate include administering a thermal ablation therapy and inhibiting the obstruction or closure of the prostatic urethral opening by forming a biodegradable stent in situ in the subject such that the stent attaches to the walls of the prostatic urethra. A related method of treating BPH includes thermally treating or ablating localized tissue in the prostate with a treatment catheter and inserting flowable stent material via the treatment catheter into the prostate (either before, during, or after the thermal treatment), forming the flowable stent material so that it defines a stent that remains in position after removal of the treatment catheter to inhibit the closure of the urinary passage. Associated stents and catheters are included.

Abstract: Medical devices that are configured for insertion into a body lumen, such as the male urethra, are provided with one or more inflatable balloons having elastic sleeves, wherein each elastic sleeve is adapted to inflate in response to inflation of a respective balloon, and to deflate in response to deflation of the respective balloon. When a balloon is in a deflated condition, a respective elastic sleeve exerts a circumferentially compressive force against the balloon to cause a smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile of the balloon along an axial extent thereof. This smooth, reduced cross-sectional profile can facilitate passage of the medical device through a body lumen during both insertion and extraction of the medical device. A thin layer of fluid may be disposed between a treatment balloon and a respective elastic sleeve to facilitate heat transfer from a treatment balloon to a surrounding elastic sleeve or to administer a therapeutic agent to localized tissue.

Abstract: Methods of treating the prostate include administering a thermal ablation therapy and inhibiting the obstruction or closure of the prostatic urethral opening by forming a biodegradable stent in situ in the subject such that the stent attaches to the walls of the prostatic urethra. A related method of treating BPH includes thermally treating or ablating localized tissue in the prostate with a treatment catheter and inserting flowable stent material via the treatment catheter into the prostate (either before, during, or after the thermal treatment), forming the flowable stent material so that it defines a stent that remains in position after removal of the treatment catheter to inhibit the closure of the urinary passage. Associated stents and catheters are included.

Abstract: Flexible treatment catheters are configured to be inserted into a body lumen or cavity to deliver heated fluid through at least one fluid lumen therein to thermally treat or ablate a targeted site in a biological subject. The flexible treatment catheters can include improved thermally insulated regions comprising a mixture formed of liquid elastomeric (such as a polyurethane) mixture (which transitions to a solid state) and miniaturized hollow plastic bodies positioned between the outer wall of the treatment catheter and the fluid lumen. The thermally insulated region is configured such that, measured ex vivo, the treatment catheter can present a maximum temperature of below about 45° C. on the external surface of the outer wall of the treatment catheter when the treatment catheter circulates fluid having an inlet temperature of above or between about 60°-62° C.

Abstract: A prostatic stent is configured as a unitary body which is adapted to reside above the sphincter when in position in the subject includes an elongated tube which extends through the sphincter and outside the body of the subject. The stent is configured to allow natural operation of the sphincter when in position in the subject. The unitary body stent includes a lower inflatable portion which expands to contact tissue and help hold the stent in a desired location during a chronic use period of about 2-14 days. The stent can also include an upper and/or intermediate inflatable portions. A method of inhibiting the obstruction or closure of the prostatic urethral opening includes positioning the stent in the subject such that the unitary body of the stent is in the prostate and resides above the sphincter.