Methods and apparatus for treatment of a body cavity or lumen
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 sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure 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 or room temperature fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session.
1. A method for treating a body cavity or lumen, comprising:
forming a treatment area for treating a tissue region of interest by defining the treatment area with one or more inflatable members;
adjusting a size of the treatment area by translating a first catheter relative to a second catheter;
introducing a cryoablative agent into the treatment area such that the tissue region is treated to a controlled depth by thermal ablation with the cryoablative agent;
monitoring a first pressure of the cryoablative agent introduced into the treatment area;
comparing the first pressure against a second pressure within the one or more inflatable members; and
adjusting the first pressure to be below the second pressure if the first pressure exceeds the second pressure.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein forming a treatment area comprises forming the treatment area within a body lumen selected from the group consisting of an esophagus, uterus, respiratory tract, and bladder.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein forming a treatment area comprises inflating the one or more inflatable members via a fluid.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting a size comprises translating the first catheter so that a lesion is contained within the treatment area.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein introducing a cryoablative agent comprises heating or cooling the cryoablative agent prior to introducing into the treatment area.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising visualizing via an endoscope while forming a treatment area.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein a temperature of the cryoablative agent is less than −5 degrees C.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising introducing an additional fluid into the treatment area having a temperature which warms the treatment area.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising introducing an agent having an active compound within the treatment area.