Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for treatment for body structures, especially internal body structures involving unwanted features or other disorders, that does not require relatively invasive surgery, and is not subject to other drawbacks noted with regard to the known art. A relatively minimally invasive catheter including a contained cooling element is inserted into the body. The distal and proximal end of the catheter are extended or retracted or some combination thereof so as to achieve optimal delivery of treatment. Treatment of the body structures is applied using the electrodes embedded in the cooling element, and the unwanted features or disorders are relatively cured using the applied treatments.

Abstract: Assemblies for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter have a support structure with a distal end and an electrode carried by the support structure for contact with the tissue region. A lumen in the support structure accommodates passage of a body through the support structure and beyond the distal end of the support structure. The body can comprise a guide wire to guide deployment of the support structure, or an endoscope to permit visualization of the support structure from beyond the distal end of the support structure.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in the region of the rectum. A catheter is inserted into the rectum, and an electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy. The environment for an ablation region is isolated or otherwise controlled by blocking gas or fluid using a pair of inflatable balloons at upstream and downstream locations. Inflatable balloons also serve to anchor the catheter in place. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the catheter and at least one such electrode is selected and advanced out of the catheter to penetrate and ablate selected tissue inside the body in the region of the rectum. The electrodes are coupled to sensors to determine control parameters of the body structure or tissue, and which are used by feedback technique to control delivery of energy for ablation or fluids for cooling or hydration.

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 movable 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 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: An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece means and an electrode means at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece means. The electrode means includes an electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface and is advance able from the interior of the handpiece means into the interior of the tongue. An electrode means advancement member is coupled to the electrode means and configured to advance the electrode means an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface to deliver electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. A cable means is coupled to the electrode means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment for body structures, especially internal body structures involving disorders involving unwanted features or other disorders, that does not require relatively invasive surgery, and is not subject to other drawbacks noted with regard to the known art. A relatively minimally invasive catheter is inserted into the body, treatment of the body structures is applied using the catheter, and the unwanted features or disorders are relatively cured using the applied treatments. The applied treatments can include application of energy or substances, including application of energy (such as of radio frequency energy, microwave energy, or laser or other electromagnetic energy) or substances (such as collagen or other bulking, plumping, or shaping agents; saline or other energy-receiving electrolytes; astringents or other debulking, reducing, or shaping agents; antibiotics or other bioactive, chemoactive, or radioactive compounds).

Abstract: A method of treating a sphincter provides a sphincter electropotential mapping device with at least one of a mapping electrode or a treatment electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is introduced into at least a portion of the sphincter, the lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, the cardia or the fundus. Bioelectric activity causing a relaxation of the sphincter is detected and energy is delivered from either the mapping electrode or the treatment electrode to treat the bioelectric activity.

Abstract: Systems and methods manipulate a support structure to form a composite lesion in a tissue region at or near a sphincter. The support structure carries an array of electrodes attachable to a source of energy capable of heating tissue when transmitted by the electrodes. The systems and methods advance the electrodes to penetrate the tissue region and form, when the energy is transmitted, a first pattern of lesions. The systems and methods retract the electrodes, and shift the position of the electrodes, either rotationally, or axially, or both rotationally and axially. The systems and methods advance the electrodes a second time to form, when the energy is transmitted, a second pattern of lesions either rotationally or axially or both rotationally and axially shifted from the first pattern of lesions. The first and second patterns of lesion together comprise the composite lesion.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an expandable member that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the expandable member, and the expandable member includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the expandable member. First and second fluid conduits, which can be first and second conforming members, are in a surrounding relationship to the expandable member. The second conforming member, including a conductive surface, is made of a material that provides substantial conformity between the conductive surface and a shape of the inner layer of the organ. A plurality of electrodes is positioned between the two conforming members. The expandable member serves as an insulator to RF energy. Each electrode includes an insulator formed on a surface of the electrode positioned adjacent to the second conforming member.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention provide for an apparatus for treating an aneurysm in a vessel. The apparatus includes an insertion member adapted to be inserted into a lumen of the vessel. A first electrode device is coupled to the insertion member and applies electrical energy to an interior surface of the vessel to shrink the aneurysm at an interior surface that is part of a surface that circumscribes a cross-section of the vessel.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter has an energy emitting surface for thermally destroying tissue. The surface normally presents a compact, low profile for introduction into the heart. Once introduced, the energy emitting surface can be significantly enlarged. The enlarged surface emits ablation energy sufficient to create a lesion that is significantly larger in terms of volume and geometry than the surface's initial low profile would provide.

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 electrode 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 electrodes, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for treatment of body strictures to restore luminal diameter to within a normal diameter range, in which the stricture is dilated to stretch its lumen to a desired diameter, collagen is exuded near to existing tissue of the stricture so as to be absorbed by that tissue or adhere to that tissue, making a collagen-enhanced tissue structure, and energy is emitted to affect the collagen-enhanced tissue, such as by ablation or by hardening. Ablation and hardening may be repeated so as to create a set of layers of hardened collagen in the form of a supporting frame, preferably having a hollow cylindrical shape. Dilation of the stricture is achieved by expanding one or more balloons, or by the pressure of exuded collagen, until the stricture is larger than a normal diameter range. When energy is emitted into the collagen, the stricture contracts back to the normal diameter range, either by ablation of excess tissue or by plating of the stricture wall.

Abstract: An apparatus reduces the volume of selected sections of a tongue. The apparatus includes an introducer means. An energy delivery device means is at least partially positioned in an interior of the introducer means. The energy delivery device means is configured to deliver sufficient energy to ablate an interior of the tongue without damaging a main branch of the hypoglossal nerve of the tongue. An energy delivery device advancement and retraction means is coupled to the energy delivery device means to advance and retract at least a portion of the energy delivery device means in and out of a selected tongue surface. A cabling means is coupled to the energy delivery device means.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an expandable member that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the expandable member, and the expandable member includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the expandable member. First and second fluid conduits, which can be first and second conforming members, are in a surrounding relationship to the expandable member. The second conforming member, including a conductive surface, is made of a material that provides substantial conformity between the conductive surface and a shape of the inner layer of the organ. A plurality of electrodes is positioned between the two conforming members. The expandable member serves as an insulator to RF energy. Each electrode includes an insulator formed on a surface of the electrode positioned adjacent to the second conforming member.

Abstract: A sphincter treatment apparatus includes an elongated member having at least one lumen including an inflation lumen and a basket assembly with first and second arms. The basket assembly is coupled to the elongated member and has deployed and non-deployed configurations. An inflatable member is coupled to the elongated member and positioned in an interior of the basket assembly. The inflatable member has deployed and non-deployed states and is coupled to the inflation lumen. In the deployed state, the inflatable member expands the basket assembly to its deployed configuration. A first energy delivery device is positionable in the first arm and advanceable from the first arm to a selected treatment site. A second energy delivery device is positionable in the second arm and advanceable from the second arm to a selected treatment site.

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: 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: A medical probe device of this invention comprising a catheter having a control end and a probe end. The probe end includes a stylet guide housing having at least one stylet port and stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. A stylet is positioned in at least one of said stylet guide means, the stylet comprising a non-conductive sleeve having a RF electrode lumen and an optional a fluid supply lumen and a temperature sensor lumen therein. At least one portion of an opposed surface of the electrode lumen and the electrode can be spaced apart to define a liquid supply passageway for delivery of medicament liquid.