Ablation system with blood leakage minimization and tissue protective capabilities

An apparatus for use in monitoring and/or managing temperature in a region of non-targeted tissue during an ablation procedure performed on tissue proximate said region of non-targeted tissue, comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis extending from said proximal end through said distal end;
• a handle disposed at said proximal end;
• and
• a tissue protecting apparatus, wherein said tissue protecting apparatus is disposed at said distal end of said elongate shaft and extends therefrom a predetermined distance along said longitudinal axis of said elongate shaft toward said proximal end of said elongate shaft, said tissue protecting apparatus configured to protect tissue in the region of non-targeted tissue from unintended ablation from the ablation procedure performed on targeted tissue disposed adjacent the region of non-targeted tissue from said tissue protecting apparatus.

An apparatus for use in monitoring temperature in a region of non-targeted tissue during an ablation procedure performed on tissue proximate said region of non-targeted tissue, comprising:

• a probe configured to be inserted into the anatomy of a patient, said probe having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• a temperature monitoring apparatus associated with said probe at least a portion of which is disposed proximate said distal end of said probe;
• wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus has a field of view and is configured to generate an image of tissue disposed within said field of view, and further wherein said temperature monitoring apparatus is configured to detect temperatures of said imaged tissue.

A method of monitoring temperature in a region of non-targeted tissue during an ablation procedure performed on tissue proximate said region of non-targeted tissue, said method comprising:

• providing a probe including a temperature monitoring apparatus having a field of view, said probe configured to be inserted into the anatomy of a patient;
• imaging tissue within said field of view and disposed within said region of non-targeted tissue;
• and
• detecting at least one of a temperature and a rate of change of the temperature of said imaged tissue.

An ablating device, comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a handle mounted to said elongate shaft at said proximal end thereof;
• and
• an ablation element mounted to said elongate shaft at said distal end, said ablation element including an ultrasound transducer and at least one inflatable balloon surrounding said ultrasound transducer, said balloon having an inner surface and an outer surface, and said balloon further having a layer of gel disposed on at least a portion of said outer surface.