Systems and methods for prostate treatment

Abstract

A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the needle can ablate a continuous lobe region in the prostate parallel to the urethral wall. Another feature of the vapor delivery needle is that it can introduce a cooling fluid into the urethra during treatment. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), comprising the steps of:
 positioning an energy-emitting section of a needle in a plurality of locations in a prostate lobe adjacent the prostatic urethra; and   delivering energy at each location for less than 30 seconds to thereby confine thermal ablation to lobe tissue adjacent the prostatic urethra and preventing thermal diffusion to peripheral lobe tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the delivering energy step further comprises delivering a condensable vapor media at each location. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising inserting the energy-emitting section of the needle through a urethral wall into the prostate lobe. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the inserting step comprises inserting a tip of the energy-emitting section of the needle 15 mm or less through the urethral wall into the prostate lobe. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the delivering energy step comprises confining thermal ablation to a continuous lobe region extending less than 2 cm away from the urethral wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising introducing a cooling fluid into a urethra during the delivering energy step. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising inserting a vapor delivery tool shaft into the urethra, the needle being at least partially disposed within the shaft, the cooling fluid being introduced into the urethra through the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising introducing the cooling fluid into the urethra during the entire delivering energy step. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising sensing a temperature and controlling delivery of the energy based on the sensed temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the sensing a temperature step comprises sensing a temperature of the needle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising viewing the positioning step through an endoscope. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising inserting a vapor delivery tool shaft into a urethra, the needle and the endoscope being at least partially disposed within the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising introducing a cooling fluid into the urethra during the delivering energy step, the cooling fluid being introduced into the urethra through the shaft around the endoscope. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising viewing with the endoscope a mark on the needle that is visible only when the needle is in one of a retracted position or a deployed position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of locations in the prostate lobe comprise a first plurality of locations longitudinally spaced along the urethra, the method further comprising inserting the needle through the urethral wall in a second plurality of locations in the prostate, the second plurality of locations being angularly rotated from the first plurality of locations.