Abstract: A thermal therapy method includes inserting an applicator including an energy-emitting device into a body cavity such as a urethra adjacent a targeted tissue region such as a prostate, energizing the energy-emitting device, and circulating coolant between the energy-emitting device and a wall of the body cavity. The therapy is controlled by decreasing a temperature of the coolant and continually adjusting coolant temperature based on therapy parameters. The applicator, or selected tissue at a predetermined depth from the wall of the body cavity, is maintained at a temperature corresponding to a predetermined applicator temperature profile by adjusting a power level provided to the energy-emitting device.

Abstract: A thermal therapy method includes inserting a microwave antenna-containing applicator into a body cavity such as a urethra adjacent a targeted tissue region such as a prostate, energizing the microwave antenna, and circulating coolant between the microwave antenna and a wall of the body cavity. The therapy is controlled by decreasing a temperature of the coolant and continually adjusting coolant temperature based on other parameters. The applicator is maintained at a predetermined temperature set point by adjusting a power level provided to the microwave antenna. In one embodiment involving treatment of the prostate, rectal temperature is monitored and, upon sensing a rectal temperature that exceeds a predetermined threshold, the temperature of the coolant is increased to force a reduction in power provided to the microwave antenna to maintain the applicator at the predetermined temperature set point.