Methods for delivering energy into a target tissue of a body

Abstract

An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy including an inductive heating means to generate a vapor phase media that is used for interstitial, intraluminal, intracavity or topical tissue treatment. In one method, the vapor phase media is propagated from a probe outlet to provide a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue to thereby apply ablative thermal energy delivery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating a lumen of small intestine of a patient, the system comprising:
 an elongated catheter having a working end of the elongated catheter configured to be positioned at a target site in the lumen of a small intestine using a trans-esophageal approach;   a first flow channel extending through the elongated catheter to an energy applicator located at the working end;   a source of a flow media fluidly coupled to the first flow channel;   a heating mechanism remote from the working end, the heating mechanism configured to apply energy to transform the flow media to a heated flow media;   a pressure source configured to cause an inflow of the heated flow media from the source of the flow media through the first flow channel to the energy applicator;   a second flow channel extending through the elongated catheter to allow an outflow of the heated flow media; and   a controller configured to control the heating mechanism and the pressure source for controlling heating of the flow media and controlling the inflow of the heated flow media to the energy applicator to produce a thin ablation layer on a wall of the lumen to cause an alteration of a hormonal function of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the energy is applied to the wall of the lumen for less than 120 seconds. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the energy is applied to the wall of the lumen for 1 to 30 seconds. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , where the flow media has a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , where the flow media has a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , where the flow media has a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , where the flow media has a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor in the working end operatively coupled to the controller for sensing a temperature of the flow media. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a temperature sensor in the working end adapted to send signals of the temperature of the flow media to the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to control the heating mechanism in response to the signals from the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a cooling mechanism for cooling a flow media and to control a pressure mechanism for providing an inflow of cooled flow media through a flow channel to the working end. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a pressure mechanism for inflating at least one balloon carried by the working end. 
     
     
         13 . A medical system for ablation of a targeted site of a patient, the medical system comprising:
 a catheter having a handle coupled to an elongate member with a working end, the catheter having a flow channel extending from the handle to the working end;   an energy source in the handle configured to deliver a flow media, a cooling media, and an inflation fluid to the working end via the flow channel;   a proximal expandable structure expandable by the inflation fluid, wherein a region distal to the proximal expandable structure comprises the targeted site;   one or more outlets located distal to the proximal expandable structure, wherein the flow media and the cooling media are provided to the targeted site via the one or more outlets; and
 a controller operatively connected to the energy source for controlling the energy source. 
   
     
     
         14 . The medical system of  claim 13 , further comprising a distal expandable structure expandable by the inflation fluid, wherein the targeted site is between the proximal expandable structure and the distal expandable structure. 
     
     
         15 . The medical system of  claim 13 , wherein the flow media is heated and has a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         16 . The medical system of  claim 13 , wherein the energy source is configured to control a rate of the flow of the flow media. 
     
     
         17 . The medical system of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal expandable structure comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         18 . The medical system of  claim 13 , further comprising a pressure sensor carried in the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The medical system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to modulate a parameter of the flow media delivery in response to signals from the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The medical system of  claim 13 , further comprising a visualization element carried by the catheter. 
     
     
         21 . The medical system of  claim 13 , further comprising an accelerometer carried by the working end. 
     
     
         22 . The medical system of  claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor in the working end operatively coupled to the controller for sensing a temperature of the flow media. 
     
     
         23 . The medical system of  claim 22 , wherein the temperature sensor is adapted to send signals of the temperature of the flow media to the controller. 
     
     
         24 . The medical system of  claim 13 , wherein a source of the flow media is remote from the working end and where a heating mechanism is coupled to the flow channel in the catheter.