CPC A61B 18/082 (2013.01) [A61B 18/04 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00023 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00214 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0022 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0025 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00482 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00494 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00648 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00744 (2013.01); A61B 2018/044 (2013.01); A61B 2018/046 (2013.01); A61B 18/1492 (2013.01); A61M 25/04 (2013.01); A61M 2025/1013 (2013.01); F04C 2270/0421 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method of treating target tissue, the method comprising:
(1) providing a system comprising an energy delivery unit and an ablation device, wherein the ablation device comprises an elongate tube with a proximal portion, a distal portion, and at least one lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and wherein the ablation device further comprises an expandable treatment element mounted to the elongate tube distal portion and in fluid communication with the at least one lumen;
(2) delivering a first thermal dose to a first location of target tissue by delivering energy from the expandable treatment element to the target tissue by (a) delivering a first volume of a first heated fluid via the energy delivery unit to the expandable treatment element to ablate the target tissue, (b) subsequently delivering a first volume of a first cooling fluid via the energy delivery unit to the expandable treatment element to dilute the first volume of the first heated fluid, thereby generating a mixed fluid to cool the target tissue; and
subsequently applying a negative pressure to remove the mixed fluid from the expandable treatment element.
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