Patent ID: 6849063

Claim:
Thermal treatment apparatus for selectively treating a targeted tissue adjacent a subject's body cavity, comprising a closed system of circulating fluid and a controller for controlling said closed system, said closed system including: (a) a temperature-setting device for providing a predetermined temperature to a quantity of fluid circulating therethrough, including: (i) a tubular element having electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity configured to apply heat to circulating fluid as the circulating fluid flows therethrough, said tubular element having two ends connectable to electrically and thermally insulating tubular elements; (ii) a housing element for receiving said tubular element, said housing element including fastening elements, said fastening elements including a connector member having electrical conductivity connectable to an electrical circuit; and (iii) a transformer element operatively associated with said electrical circuit, said transformer element electrically connected to said controller; (b) a catheter insertable into a body cavity, said catheter in fluid communication with said tubular element of said temperature-setting device, said catheter including a thermal treating section for thermally treating a targeted tissue adjacent said body cavity by circulating fluid of a predetermined temperature through said thermal treating section in a closed loop system, said catheter being disposable; (c) a pump for pumping said fluid of predetermined temperature through said closed loop system, said pump in fluid communication with said tubular element of said temperature-setting device, said pump electrically connected to said controller; and (d) a thermal sensor assembly for sensing the temperature of fluid circulating into said catheter, said thermal sensor assembly in communication with the fluid that circulates through said catheter, said thermal sensor assembly electrically connected to said controller.