Abstract: A rectal thermosensing unit includes, according to one aspect thereof, an elongate member having an inflation lumen extending therethrough. An inflatable balloon is supported by the elongate member. An interior of the inflatable balloon is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. An insertion lumen extends through the elongate member. An introducer is insertable into the insertion lumen. At least one temperature sensing device is supported by the inflatable balloon. The rectal thermosensing probe is located in a rectum by inserting the introducer into the inflation lumen, inserting the inflatable balloon supported by the elongate member having the introducer inserted in the insertion lumen therein into the rectum, removing the introducer from the insertion lumen, and inflating the inflatable balloon by providing fluid through the inflation lumen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing restenosis of a stenotic region of a blood vessel after performing a dilatation angioplasty treatment is disclosed. The method includes radiating microwave energy from a microwave antenna to kill a medial tissue layer of the blood vessel in the stenotic region. The radiation is applied during or after inflation of dilatation balloon to permanently dilate the stenotic region. When radiation is applied during dilatation of the stenotic region, the dilatation balloon forms a seal against the inner wall surface of the blood vessel to exclude blood in the vessel from contacting the stenotic region. The method preferably further includes cooling the blood circulating in the blood vessel about a shaft of the catheter with cooling fluid circulating within cooling lumens of the catheter and cooling an inner wall surface of the blood vessel in the stenotic region during the application of radiation to the medial cell layer.

Abstract: Tissue surrounding a bodily conduit, such as a urethra, is thermally treated while preventing restrictions of the bodily conduit due to heat-induced shrinkage of collagen rich tissue surrounding the bodily conduit. A select volume of collagen-containing tissue surrounding the urethra is heated to destroy the tissue and to cause the tissue to be capable of being plastically remodeled into a selected shape. The selected shape is defined while the tissue is heated, and the tissue is allowed to cool while continuing to define the selected shape to cause plastic remodeling of the tissue into the selected shape. The method also includes performing a thermal therapy treatment without causing the surrounding tissue to exceed a collagen transition temperature of the tissue during the heating step of the treatment session.

Abstract: A device and method for treatment of cancerous tissue from a body conduit involves insertion into the body conduit of a probe including an energy-emitting element for delivering ionizing energy. The body conduit is dilated to decrease a distance between at least a portion of the body conduit and the cancerous tissue. Ionizing energy is delivered from the energy-emitting element to selectively injure the cancerous tissue, with dilation of the body conduit minimizing the radiation dose delivered to the body conduit for a given radiation dose delivered to the cancerous tissue.

Abstract: A device for prostate treatment is inserted into a prostatic portion of an urethra and connected to an energy source. Energy is delivered to the prostate from the device. The amount of energy emitted to prostatic tissue adjacent to a bladder is greater than that emitted to prostatic tissue distant from the bladder.

Abstract: A method of prostate treatment includes the step of inserting into a prostatic portion of urethra an energy emitting device that is connected to an energy source. Energy is delivered to the prostate from the energy emitting device. The amount of energy emitted to prostatic tissue adjacent to a bladder is greater than that emitted to prostatic tissue distant from the bladder.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible tubular member containing a shape-memory tube formed to include a lumen extending along the central axis of the tubular member. A liner sleeve extends through the lumen of the shape-memory tube and lies inside the tubular member. A control system selectively heats the shape-memory tube to its activated state causing the shape-memory tube to move toward a predetermined shape if it is different than its present configuration. Whether the shape-memory tube moves or not, it will increase significantly in stiffness, both axial and bending to help retain, hold, or wedge the apparatus in place in a selected body cavity while catheters or other objects are passed through a lumen in the liner sleeve.