US Patent 6849072 Methods and apparatus for thermally affecting tissue

Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally affecting tissue via either a closed or open device. In each of the closed device embodiments, thermally transmissive fluid is circulated and distributed through into a device, an outer surface of which is in direct thermal contact with a region of tissue to thermally affect the tissue. In each of the open device embodiments, thermally transmissive fluid is circulated through a device and systematically deployed directly onto a region of tissue to irrigate, and, therefore, thermally affect the tissue.