Patent ID: 6328735
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A system for the therapeutic treatment of a volume of tissue, said system comprisingan energy source;an emitter for contacting the tissue and thereby imparting energy from the source to the tissue to raise the temperature of the tissue;a source of liquid which can be raised to a therapeutic temperature;a chamber forming a passage fluidly coupled to the source of liquid and the emitter, the passage having a proximal end and a distal end proximate the emitter;means for moving the liquid from the proximal end to the distal end;means for heating the liquid within the passage from a first temperature below the therapeutic temperature to a second temperature at least as high as the therapeutic temperature such that the liquid does not reach the therapeutic temperature prior to being proximate the distal end; andmeans for injecting the heated liquid into the tissue proximate to the emitter whereby the temperature of the volume of tissue is raised to a therapeutic level.