Abstract: A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe transurethrally. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.

Abstract: An instrument for thermally-mediated therapies in targeted tissue volumes or for volumetric removal of tissue. In one embodiment, the instrument has an interior chamber that includes a diffuser structure for diffusing a biocompatible conductive fluid that is introduced under high pressure. The interior chamber further includes surfaces of opposing polarity electrodes for vaporizing the small cross-section diffused fluid flows created within a diffuser structure. In one embodiment, the diffuser structure includes a negative temperature coefficient of resistance material between the opposing polarity surfaces. The NTCR structure can self-adjust the lengths of current paths between the opposing polarities to insure complete vaporization of the volume of flow of conductive fluid.

Abstract: Methods and devices for delivering energy to lung tissue, for example to cause lung volume reduction by generating a flow of vapor and introducing the flow of vapor into the lung where the vapor delivers thermal energy sufficient to modify lung tissue.

Abstract: A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the needle can ablate a continuous lobe region in the prostate parallel to the urethral wall. Another feature of the vapor delivery needle is that it can introduce a cooling fluid into the urethra during treatment. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: An energy delivery probe is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply energy to tissue, such as a duct, to shrink, damage, or occlude the duct. In some embodiments, the energy can be applied with a vapor media. In some embodiments, the duct can be a ductus deferens or an ejaculatory duct of the male reproductive system. Another feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can utilize an inflatable member to form a seal to contain the vapor media. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe transurethrally. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for delivering energy to lung tissue, for example to cause lung volume reduction. In one embodiment, an elongated catheter has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid media under pressure. An energy source delivers energy to the media to cause a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the catheter. The delivery of energy and the flow of vapor are controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure and selected volume of vapor to propagate to the extremities of the airways. Contemporaneously, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the airway tissue. The thermal energy delivered is equivalent to the heat of vaporization of the fluid media, which shrinks and collapses the treated airways.

Abstract: A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the needle can ablate a continuous lobe region in the prostate parallel to the urethral wall. Another feature of the vapor delivery needle is that it can introduce a cooling fluid into the urethra during treatment. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a lubricant composition having improved four-ball antiwear properties. The lubricant composition includes a base oil and one or more alkylethercarboxylic acid corrosion inhibitor(s) having the formula: wherein R is a straight or branched chain C6-C18 alkyl group and n is a number of from 0 to 5. The lubricant composition also includes an ashless antiwear additive including phosphorous. The four-ball antiwear properties are reported as an average diameter of wear scars pursuant to ASTM D4172. The average diameter of the wear scars resulting from the lubricant composition are at least 5% smaller than the average diameter of the wear scars resulting from a standard that includes the base oil and the antiwear additive and that is free of the one or more alkylethercarboxylic acid corrosion inhibitor(s).

Abstract: A system and method for discriminating tissue types, controlling the level of therapy to tissue, and determining the health of a known tissue by measuring the characteristics of an electrical signal applied to a conductive element located within or by the tissue. Additionally, the system and method may be used for determining whether the conductive tip of a pedicle probe or pedicle screw is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue, whether the conductive tip of a cannula is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and annulus tissue, and whether the conductive tip of a cathode is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and prostate gland tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for discriminating tissue types, controlling the level of therapy to tissue, and determining the health of a known tissue by measuring the characteristics of an electrical signal applied to a conductive element located within or by the tissue. Additionally, the system and method may be used for determining whether the conductive tip of a pedicle probe or pedicle screw is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue, whether the conductive tip of a cannula is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and annulus tissue, and whether the conductive tip of a cathode is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and prostate gland tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for delivering energy to lung tissue, for example to cause lung volume reduction. In one embodiment, an elongated catheter has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid media under pressure. An energy source delivers energy to the media to cause a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the catheter. The delivery of energy and the flow of vapor are controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure and selected volume of vapor to propagate to the extremities of the airways. Contemporaneously, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the airway tissue. The thermal energy delivered is equivalent to the heat of vaporization of the fluid media, which shrinks and collapses the treated airways.

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: A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the needle can ablate a continuous lobe region in the prostate parallel to the urethral wall. Another feature of the vapor delivery needle is that it can introduce a cooling fluid into the urethra during treatment. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

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: A system and method for tissue thermotherapy including a source for generating a vapor phase media for treating a space in a human body, such as and intraluminal or intracavity space. The system further includes a filtering member for allowing a recirculation of flowable media about an interface with tissue, wherein the filtering member prevent ablation detritus from interfering with media outflows from the working end.

Abstract: An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy including an inductive heating means to generate a vapor phase media that is used for interstitial, intraluminal, intracavity or topical tissue treatment. In one method, the vapor phase media is propagated from a probe outlet to provide a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue to thereby apply ablative thermal energy delivery.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for delivering energy to lung tissue, for example to cause lung volume reduction. In one embodiment, an elongated catheter has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid media under pressure. An energy source delivers energy to the media to cause a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the catheter. The delivery of energy and the flow of vapor are controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure and selected volume of vapor to propagate to the extremities of the airways. Contemporaneously, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers a large amount of energy to airway tissue. The thermal energy delivered is equivalent to the heat of vaporization of the fluid media, which shrinks and collapses the treated airways.

Abstract: An energy delivery probe is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the energy can be applied with a vapor media. Another feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can deploy a stent to apply tissue-compressive forces to the prostate tissue after energy delivery. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

Abstract: An energy delivery probe is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the energy can be applied with a vapor media. The energy delivery probe can include a vapor delivery member configured to extend into a transition zone prostate tissue. A condensable vapor media can be delivered from the vapor delivery member into the transition zone tissue, wherein the condensable vapor media can propagate interstitially in the transition zone tissue and be confined in the transition zone tissue by boundary tissue adjacent to the transition zone tissue. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.