Medical system and method of use
Methods, systems and devices for applying energy to tissue, and more particularly relates to a system for ablating or modifying structures in a body with systems and methods that generate a flow of vapor at a controlled flow rate for applying energy to the body structure.
1. A medical system for applying energy to tissue, comprising:
a handle;
an elongate member coupled to the handle, the elongate member comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
a coil in the handle having a flow channel extending helically therein, the flow channel being coupled to a liquid media source, the coil being coupled to a flow channel in the elongate member;
a pump configured to cause the flow of liquid media from the liquid media source to the flow channel;
an electrical source coupled to the coil such that delivery of energy to the coil converts the flow of liquid media to a flow of vapor media via resistive heating of the flow channel;
a controller operatively coupled to the electrical source and pump;
a temperature sensor within the handle and coupled to the coil, wherein the temperature sensor communicates with the controller to adjust the temperature of the flow channel; and
a pressure sensor within the handle, wherein the pressure sensor communicates with the controller to adjust the delivery of energy to the coil.
2. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises a flexible catheter.
3. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the elongate member comprises a needle.
4. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the flow from the pump.
5. The medical system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is responsive to signals from the temperature sensor to control the flow from the pump.
6. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the flow channel of the elongate member is coupled to an aspiration source.
7. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the flow channel of the elongate member is coupled to a second liquid media source.
8. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the handle and the elongate member are detachable from each other.
9. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the handle and the coil are detachable from each other.
10. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the elongate member carries at least one balloon.
11. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the elongate member has an extendable-retractable needle.
12. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the flow channel in the elongate member is surrounded by an insulative space comprising air or a partial vacuum.
13. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the flow of vapor media in the flow channel has a vapor flow rate, wherein the vapor flow rate is configured for at least one of pre-heating and maintaining heat in the flow channel to convert the flow of liquid media to a flow of vapor media.
14. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the flow of the liquid has a first flow rate, wherein the first flow rate is less than 1.0 ml/min.
15. The medical system of claim 1 , wherein the energy applied for converting the liquid media to vapor media is between 1 W and 3000 W.