Catheter based balloon for therapy modification and positioning of tissue

A system for minimally invasive therapy modification of tissue to be treated in a localized prostate therapy procedure in a patient, comprising:

• an energy source configured to emit sufficient energy into a region of target tissue associated with a prostate in the patient to provide a therapeutic result;
• an elongated shaft having at least one lumen extending therethrough;
• an inflatable member coupled to an end of said shaft that is positionable at a location between the target tissue and a region of adjacent tissue associated with a rectum and that is located adjacent to the target tissue;
• and
• wherein said inflatable member when inflated at the location is configured to separate the target tissue from the adjacent tissue;
• and
• wherein said inflatable member when inflated at the location is further adapted to substantially isolate the adjacent tissue from the energy delivered from the energy source and into the target tissue, such that the tissue effects on the adjacent tissue from the energy delivered from the energy source into the target tissue are substantially modified by the inflatable member.

A system for minimally invasive therapy modification of tissue to be treated in a localized prostate therapy procedure in a patient, comprising:

• an energy source configured to deliver sufficient energy into a region of target tissue associated with a prostate in the patient to provide a therapeutic result;
• an elongate tubular shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therethrough;
• said distal end of said shaft having a tip, said tip and said shaft configured for introduction into a body of a patient;
• an inflatable member having an interior and an exterior and that is disposed on said distal end of said elongate tubular shaft;
• said inflatable member being positionable at a location between the target tissue and an adjacent region of a rectum located adjacent the target tissue upon introduction of the tip and shaft into the patient's body;
• said interior of said inflatable member being open to at least one lumen;
• a source of material coupled to the interior;
• means for inflating said inflatable member at least in part with the material at the location;
• wherein said material is characterized as being substantially non-transmissive with respect to the energy delivered into the target tissue from the source;
• and
• wherein said inflatable member when inflated with the material at the location is configured to separate the target tissue from the adjacent tissue;
• and
• wherein said inflatable member when inflated with the material at the location is adapted to substantially isolate the adjacent tissue from the energy delivered from the energy source and into the target tissue, such that the tissue effects on the adjacent tissue from the energy emission from the energy source into the target tissue are substantially modified by the material in the inflatable member.