Cyrogenic treatment systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a body cavity or lumen are described where a heated fluid and / or gas may be introduced through a catheter and into treatment area within the body contained between one or more inflatable / expandable members. The catheter may also have optional pressure and temperature sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure and temperature within the treatment zone and also prevent the pressure from exceeding a pressure of the inflatable / expandable members to thereby contain the treatment area between these inflatable / expandable members. Optionally, a chilled, room temperature, or warmed fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 086,050 and No. 14 / 086,088, each filed on November 21, 2013; U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 019,898, each filed on September 6, 2013; No. 14 / 019,928; No. 14 / 020,265; No. 14 / 020,306; No. 14 / 020,350; No. 14 / 020,397; Continuation of Patent Application No. 13 / 900,916; this application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 361,779, filed January 30, 2012, which claims to have been filed in 2011 Priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 462,328, filed February 1, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 571,123, filed June 22, 2011, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. field of invention [0003] The present invention relates to medical devices. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and devices for use in therapeutic devices that are capable of exposing areas of the body...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Although successful in several areas, radiofrequency ablation has several major drawbacks, including incomplete ablation, often lack of visualization during catheterization, potential overlap between treatments (where some areas receive twice as much energy as others ), tissue charring and need for frequent debridement, frequent need for additional doses of energy after debridement, and potential perforation of body cavities or chambers due to rigidity of RF electrodes

[0005] Those in the art would benefit from minimally invasive devices and methods of delivering thermal energy to or extracting energy from desired areas in a consistent, controlled manner without charring or inadvertently freezing certain tissues or undue risk of undesired organ or chamber damage

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