Methods for delivering energy into a target tissue of a body

1. A method for treating a gastrointestinal tract to affect an individual, the method comprising:

advancing a device to the gastrointestinal tract, where the device comprises a structure configured to engage a targeted site comprising 360 degrees of a wall of the gastrointestinal tract;

applying a fluid media through a first flow channel in the device such that the structure confines a flow of the fluid media to the targeted site causing transfer of a controlled thermal energy to the targeted site on the wall of the gastrointestinal tract;

maintaining delivery of the flow of the fluid media for a period of time to ablate a thin layer of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract; and

withdrawing the fluid media through a second flow channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a scope into the gastrointestinal tract of the individual.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering a cooling fluid to the device to cool a surface of the wall after ablating the thin layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thin layer of the wall is in a duodenum of the individual.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to apply a heated fluid media to produce the controlled thermal energy.

6. The method of claim 5 , where a temperature of the heated fluid media is at least 60 degrees Celsius.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the period of time ranges from 1 second to 30 seconds.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the controlled thermal energy sequentially to at least one adjacent region of the wall.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a source of the fluid media is remote from the device and where a heating mechanism is coupled to an inflow channel in the device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to circulate the fluid media within the device.

11. A method for treating a tissue region in a small intestine of a patient, the tissue region having a plurality of secretory ducts and receptors, the method comprising:

delivering a catheter into the small intestine adjacent to the tissue region, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having an energy applicator portion configured with a first flow pathway that is fluidly coupled to a source of a heated flowable media; and

applying the heated flowable media to the tissue region using the energy applicator portion to create a thin ablation layer of a wall of the small intestine;

wherein the thin ablation layer affects the plurality of secretory ducts and receptors to alter hormonal function of the tissue region; and

withdrawing the heated flowable media from the tissue region through a second flow pathway in the catheter.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tissue region is within a duodenum of the patient.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heated flowable media has a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heated flowable media has a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heated flowable media is provided over a time interval ranging from 1 second to 30 seconds.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying the heated flowable media sequentially to at least one adjacent tissue region in the small intestine.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the source of the heated flowable media is provided from a remote source and the heating mechanism is coupled to an inflow channel in the catheter.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the catheter is configured to circulate movement of the heated flowable media.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising a controller configured to control a flow of the heated flowable media to the energy applicator portion.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising delivering a cooling fluid.

21. A method for treating a tissue region in a small intestine of a patient, the tissue region having a plurality of secretory ducts and receptors, the method comprising:

delivering a catheter into a small intestine adjacent to the tissue region, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having an energy applicator portion configured with a flow pathway that is fluidly coupled to a source of a heated flowable media; and

applying the heated flowable media to the tissue region using the energy applicator portion through a first flow pathway to create a thin ablation layer of a wall of the small intestine and withdrawing the heated flowable media using a second flow pathway to control ablation of the wall;

wherein the thin ablation layer affects the plurality of secretory ducts and receptors to alter hormonal function of the tissue region.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the tissue region is within a duodenum of the patient.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heated flowable media has a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heated flowable media has a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heated flowable media is provided over a time interval ranging from 1 second to 30 seconds.

26. The method of claim 21 , further comprising applying the heated flowable media sequentially to at least one adjacent tissue region in the small intestine.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the source of the heated flowable media is provided from a remote source and heating mechanism coupled to an inflow channel in the catheter.

28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the catheter is configured to circulate movement of the heated flowable media.

29. The method of claim 21 , further comprising a controller configured to control a flow of the heated flowable media to the energy applicator portion.

30. The method of claim 21 , further comprising delivering a cooling fluid.