Expandable device for thermal therapy

Abstract

A method and expandable device for thermally affecting tissue in which there is a fluid conduit. An expandable element includes a wall defining an inner volume. The wall has a tissue contact region which is non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit. The tissue contact region is operable to have a first contact surface area and a second contact surface area in which the second contact surface area is larger than the first contact surface area. A port is formed through the wall and is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An expandable device for thermally affecting tissue, comprising: 
 a fluid conduit having a longitudinal axis; and    an expandable element, the expandable element including: 
 a wall defining an inner volume, the wall having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit, the tissue contact region being operable to have a first contact surface area and a second contact surface area, the second contact surface area being larger than the first contact surface area.  
   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit is a flexible catheter.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable element has a non-circular shape.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall is arranged to define a substantially circular shape.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall is arranged to define a spider-like shape.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit is comprised of: 
 an inlet conduit, the inlet conduit providing a path for thermally transmissive fluid from the fluid source to the expandable member; and    an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit providing a path for the thermally transmissive fluid from the expandable member to the fluid source,    wherein the fluid source, the fluid supply conduit and the expandable element define a circulation circuit.    
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid distribution member provided within the interior volume of the expandable member.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid distribution member is a vane.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid distribution member is an injection member, the injection member having an opening defining a fluid communication path between the fluid conduit and the interior volume.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of injection members each have a length different from at least one other injection member.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of injection members each have a length equal to each other injection member.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tissue contact region is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the injection member is comprised of a plurality of arms.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a junction provided at an end portion of the fluid conduit, the junction forming a fluid tight seal between the injection member and the fluid conduit.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the junction is a resilient material.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory conduit, the accessory conduit being in communication with the inner volume of the expandable element.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of a tissue to be treated.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is comprised of a resilient material.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wall is comprised of a top and a bottom opposite the top, a height of the expandable element being measured from the top of the expandable element to the bottom of the expandable element, wherein the expandable element has a deployed diameter to height ratio of approximately 1-to-1 to approximately 2-to-1, the deployed diameter being measured at a widest part of the wall when the device is in a deployed state.  
     
     
         21 . An expandable element for thermally affecting tissue, comprising: 
 a port, the port having a longitudinal axis; and    a wall defining an inner volume, the wall having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the port, the tissue contact region being operable to have a first contact surface area and a second contact surface area, the second contact surface area being larger than the first contact surface area; 
 the port being formed through the wall.  
   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the expandable element has a non-circular shape.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the wall is configured to define a substantially circular shape.  
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the wall is configured to define a spider-like shape.  
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 21 , further comprising a fluid distribution member provided within the interior volume of the expandable member.  
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid distribution member is a vane.  
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the fluid distribution member is an injection member, the injection member having an opening defining a fluid communication path between the fluid conduit and the inner volume.  
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein a plurality of injection members each have a length different from at least one other injection member.  
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein a plurality of injection members each have a length equal to each other injection member.  
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the tissue contact region is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the port.  
     
     
         32 . A method of using an expandable element to affect a thermal energy change in tissue of a patent's body, comprising: 
 creating an opening in the patient's body;    inserting at least a portion of the expandable element into the opening and into a region between an outer barrier of the patent's body and the tissue, the expandable element being in fluid communication with a fluid conduit, the expandable element having a tissue contact region, the tissue contact region being non-coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit, the tissue contact region being operable to have a first contact surface area and a second contact surface area, the second contact surface area being larger than the first contact surface area;    operating the tissue contact region to the second contact surface area; and    infusing a thermally transmissive fluid into the expandable element.