Transurethral catheter (10) for the heat treatment of body tissue surrounding the catheter, including an elongated light carrier (11). A light receiving and light distributing elongated light probe (12) is operatively connected to said light carrier (11), and the light probe (12) comprises light reflecting surfaces (13) for preventing received light from escaping from the probe (12). At least one light emitting section (14) is formed in the probe (12) for emitting light into said body tissue.

Phototherapeutic instruments are disclosed having a light transmitting optical fiber with a flexible portion that facilitates passage of the instrument through a tortuous lumen within a patient and an outer support sheath slidably mounted about the fiber. In one preferred embodiment, the instrument includes a rigid light-emitting tip. The support sheath is configured to protect the more delicate optical fiber and provide support for the flexible portion of the optical fiber during penetration of the light-emitting tip into a patient's tissue. During insertion of the instrument into a tortuous lumen, the optical fiber is covered by the support sheath, allowing the light-emitting tip to deflect with ease as it travels along the tortuous lumen. Upon arrival of the light-emitting tip at the site of the target tissue, the operator moves the distal end of the apparatus into selected proximity with the target tissue, and then pushes the fiber element forcing the light-emitting tip to penetrate the target tissue. The flexible portion of the fiber element fits snugly in the sheath so that when the operator pushes on the fiber element from a remote location, the sheath-fiber element configuration provides enough force on the distal end of the light-emitting tip to penetrate the target tissue.

A medical device is constructed in the basic form of a catheter having a distal end for insertion into and manipulation within a body and a proximal end providing for a user to control the manipulation of the distal end within the body. A fiberoptic cable is disposed within the catheter and having a distal end proximate to the distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for external coupling of laser light energy. A laser-light-to-mechanical-power converter is connected to receive light from the distal end of the fiber optic cable and may include a photo-voltaic cell and an electromechanical motor or a heat-sensitive photo-thermal material. An electronic sensor is connected to receive electrical power from said distal end of the fiberoptic cable and is connected to provide signal information about a particular physical environment and communicated externally through the fiberoptic cable to the proximal end thereof. A mechanical sensor is attached to the distal end of the fiberoptic cable and connected to provide light signal information about a particular physical environment and communicated externally through the fiberoptic cable.

An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue includes an elongated flexible tube which extends through a working channel of an endoscope. A pressurized ionizable gas is supplied to the proximal end of the tube and is forced at a rate of greater than 1 liter per minute therethrough. The tube also includes at least one aperture located along the periphery of the tube and an angularly disposed surface located within the tube for redirecting the gas through the aperture and at the tissue. At least one electrode ionizes the gas prior to the gas exiting the aperture.

An instrument for directing the insertion of a penetration member urged through tissue. The instrument includes a shaft, and a backstop positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The backstop and shaft are configured such that the backstop may be positioned adjacent one side of the tissue to be penetrated, and a penetration member may thereafter be urged through the opposite side of the tissue into the backstop. A method of penetrating the tissue wall of an anatomical cavity is also provided.