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Thermal treatment apparatus

  • US RE37,704 E1
  • Filed: 03/28/2000
  • Issued: 05/14/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Thermal treatment apparatus for thermally treating selected tissues of a subject located in or near a body cavity, comprising a catheter insertable into the subject'"'"'s body cavity and including a proximal end to be inserted into the body cavity, a distal end to be located externally of the body cavity, an inflatable anchoring balloon positioned adjacent said proximal end, and an inflatable heating section on said proximal end axially away from said inflatable anchoring balloon in a direction which is toward said distal end so as to be located near the tissue to be heated;

  • said catheter being formed with first and second passageways extending from said distal end to said inflatable heating section and in fluid communication with each other for circulating heated fluid through said inflatable heating section and a third anchoring inflation passageway extending from said distal end to said inflatable anchoring balloon, said anchoring inflation passageway configured separate from said first and second passageways, and thermal insulation, surrounding said first and second passageways from close to said distal end to close to said inflatable heating section, said thermal insulation including a plurality of separate compartments containing a non-heated fluid, said components extending axially along the catheter, whereby the inflatable heating section and the tissue in its proximity may be heated to a desired high temperature without correspondingly heating non-selected tissues.

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