Abstract: An infusion array ablation apparatus includes an elongated delivery device having a lumen and an infusion array positionable in the lumen. The infusion array includes an RF electrode and at least a first and a second infusion member. Each infusion member has a tissue piercing distal portion and an infusion lumen. At least one of the first or second infusion members is positionable in the elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. Also, at least one of the first or second infusion members exhibits a changing direction of travel when advanced from the elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site. At least one infusion port is coupled to one of the elongated delivery device, the infusion array, the first infusion member or the second infusion member.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite lesion pattern in a tissue region

Abstract: A method of creating a lesion in tissue with infusion includes providing an apparatus comprising a first elongated delivery device with a lumen, an obturator with a second elongated delivery device and an energy delivery device positional in a lumen of the first elongated delivery device. The energy device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes being deployable from the first elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The energy delivery device includes an infusion lumen and at least one infusion port. The obturator and second delivery device are introduced to a selected tissue site. The obturator is removed from a lumen of the second delivery device and the first delivery device and energy delivery device are introduced into the lumen of the second delivery device. The first and second RF electrodes are advanced from the first delivery device to at least partially surround a target tissue site.

Abstract: A tissue ablation apparatus comprises a first elongated delivery device including a lumen and an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end. The obturator is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. A second elongated delivery device is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. An energy delivery device is positionable in the second elongated delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the second elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the second elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the second elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site.

Abstract: Systems and methods introduce a closure material to seal a vessel puncture site. The system and methods provide a catheter adapted for passage through a tissue puncture and sized to occupy substantially all the tissue puncture. The catheter includes a lumen in fluid communication with a fluid delivery port adjacent the catheter distal end. One or more dispensers are in fluid communication with the catheter lumen for dispensing first and second fluid compositions in the catheter lumen. An actuator causes the first and second fluid compositions to be dispensed from the dispensers and mixed by flowing the first and second fluid compositions through a static mixer. The first and second fluid compositions are dispensed from the fluid delivery port as a fluid mixture that reacts in situ to form a nonfluent closure composition adjacent the vessel puncture site.

Abstract: An apparatus to treat a sphincter includes a catheter means including a catheter means distal portion means. An energy delivery device means is coupled to the catheter means and includes a tissue piercing distal end. The energy delivery device means is configured to pierce a sphincter exterior surface, advance a sufficient distance in an interior of the sphincter to a tissue site, deliver energy to the tissue site and create controlled cell necrosis of the sphincter in order to reduce a frequency of sphincter relaxation. A cable means is coupled to the energy delivery device means.

Abstract: A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially moveable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue.

Abstract: An RF treatment apparatus includes a catheter with a catheter lumen. A removable needle electrode is positioned in the catheter lumen in a fixed relationship to the catheter. The needle catheter includes a needle lumen and a needle electrode distal end. A removable introducer is slidably positioned in the needle lumen. The introducer includes an introducer distal end. A first sensor is positioned on a surface of the needle electrode or the insulator. An RF power source is coupled to the needle electrode and a return electrode. An insulator sleeve is slidably positioned around the electrode and includes a second sensor. Resources are associated with the electrode, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. By ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha, the size of the nasal concha is reduced. The three nasal concha in the body (inferior, middle and superior nasal concha) form at least a portion of the three nasal meatus (inferior, middle and superior nasal meatus) in the body. By reducing the size of a nasal concha, obstruction of a nasal meatus is reduced or eliminated. As a result, air flow through the nasal meatus is improved.

Abstract: A method for treating a sphincter provides a polymer material having a liquid state. The method also provides a catheter having a distal end, a tissue piercing device carried by the distal end, and an energy delivery device coupled to the tissue piercing device. The tissue piercing device has a lumen. The method introduces the catheter into an esophagus and pierces an exterior sphincter tissue surface within with the tissue piercing device. The method advances the tissue piercing device into an interior sphincter tissue site and conveys the polymer material while in a liquid state through the lumen into the interior sphincter tissue site. The method delivers energy to the tissue piercing device to transform the polymer material into a less liquid state within the interior sphincter tissue site, to thereby remodel the sphincter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first expandable member that is expandable by an expansion medium. The first expandable member includes an exterior and a plurality of apertures. The expansion medium is released from the first expandable member when a sufficient pressure is applied to the expansion medium housed in an interior of the first expandable member. A second expandable member is positioned at least partially adjacent to the first expandable member. The second expandable member is configured to receive at least a portion of the expansion medium from the interior of the first expandable member. An electromagnetic energy delivery device is coupled to one of the first or second expandable members and is configured to be coupled to a power source. The first and second expandable members are sized to be expanded sufficiently to open a sphincter.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for sealing a puncture in a body vessel. The device has an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end sized to be positioned within a lumen of the body vessel; at least one closure composition precursor lumen within the elongated body having a entrance port adjacent the proximal end of the elongated body through which one or more fluent closure composition precursors can be delivered into the closure composition precursor lumen and an exit port adjacent the distal end of the elongated body through which the one or more fluent closure composition precursors can be delivered outside the vessel adjacent the vessel puncture; and a microwave antenna for delivering microwave energy adjacent the distal end of the elongated body to the fluent closure compound precursor. The microwave antenna according to this embodiment is preferably incorporated onto the elongated body adjacent the body distal end.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus comprises an elongated delivery device including a lumen and an energy delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site. At least one infusion port is coupled to one of the elongated delivery device, the energy delivery device, the first RF electrode or the second RF electrode.

Abstract: A closure device is provided for sealing a puncture in a body vessel. The closure device includes an energy delivery device for delivering energy to tissue adjacent the vessel puncture which enhances an adhesiveness of the tissue to a closure composition precursor.

Abstract: Improved electrode assemblies for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprise a support structure and an electrode carried by the support structure for advancement in a path to penetrate the tissue region. In one arrangement, the electrode has a non-cylindrical cross section selected to resist deflection when advanced to penetrate the tissue region. In another arrangement, the electrode includes a tissue stop to resist tissue penetration beyond a selected depth. In another arrangement, the electrode includes a proximal portion formed from a first material and a distal tissue penetrating portion formed of a second material different than the first material. The first material can comprise, e.g., stainless steel, and the second material can comprise, e.g., nickel titanium.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for sealing a puncture in a body vessel. The device has an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end sized to be positioned within a lumen of the body vessel; at least one closure composition precursor lumen within the elongated body having a entrance port adjacent the proximal end of the elongated body through which one or more fluent closure composition precursors can be delivered into the closure composition precursor lumen and an exit port adjacent the distal end of the elongated body through which the one or more fluent closure composition precursors can be delivered outside the vessel adjacent the vessel puncture; and a microwave antenna for delivering microwave energy adjacent the distal end of the elongated body to the fluent closure compound precursor. The microwave antenna according to this embodiment is preferably incorporated onto the elongated body adjacent the body distal end.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. By ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha, the size of the nasal concha is reduced. The three nasal concha in the body (inferior, middle and superior nasal concha) form at least a portion of the three nasal meatus (inferior, middle and superior nasal meatus) in the body. By reducing the size of a nasal concha, obstruction of a nasal meatus is reduced or eliminated. As a result, air flow through the nasal meatus is improved.

Abstract: A method for treating a sphincter provides a polymer material having a liquid state. The method also provides a catheter having a distal end, a tissue piercing device carried by the distal end, and an energy delivery device coupled to the tissue piercing device. The tissue piercing device has a lumen. The method introduces the catheter into an esophagus and pierces an exterior sphincter tissue surface within with the tissue piercing device. The method advances the tissue piercing device into an interior sphincter tissue site and conveys the polymer material while in a liquid state through the lumen into the interior sphincter tissue site. The method delivers energy to the tissue piercing device to transform the polymer material into a less liquid state within the interior sphincter tissue site, to thereby remodel the sphincter.

Abstract: Methods treat a tissue region. In one arrangement, the methods deploy an electrode on a support structure in a tissue region at or near the cardia of the stomach. In one embodiment, the support structure has a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region is enlarged in comparison to the distal region, and the electrode is carried by the enlarged proximal surface. The methods advance the electrode in a path to penetrate the tissue region and couple the electrode to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create a lesion in the tissue region.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first expandable member that is expandable by an expansion medium. The first expandable member includes an exterior and a plurality of apertures. The expansion medium is released from the first expandable member when a sufficient pressure is applied to the expansion medium housed in an interior of the first expandable member. A second expandable member is positioned at least partially adjacent to the first expandable member. The second expandable member is configured to receive at least a portion of the expansion medium from the interior of the first expandable member. An electromagnetic energy delivery device is coupled to one of the first or second expandable members and is configured to be coupled to a power source. The first and second expandable members are sized to be expanded sufficiently to open a sphincter.