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Device and method for heating tissue, the device having a catheter shaft for insertion into a patient\s body, a chamber formed by a collapsible balloon mounted on the catheter shaft and filled with an electrically conductive fluid, two or more electrical contacts enclosed within the chamber, a power

Device and method for heating tissue, the device having a catheter shaft for insertion into a patient\s body, a chamber formed by a collapsible balloon mounted on the catheter shaft and filled with an electrically conductive fluid, two or more electrical contacts enclosed within the chamber, a power supply for applying an electrical potential to the contacts, and a two or more conductors for connecting each of the contacts to the power supply. The fluid is heated on the basis of I2R losses by a radio frequency electric current flowing between the electrodes, and the fluid in turn heats the surrounding tissue by heat transfer through the wall of the chamber. According to the method, the apparatus is inserted into the patient\s body, the chamber is filled with an electrically conductive fluid, and an electrical potential is applied to the contacts. The apparatus functions as a temperature source. A thermister sensor in the balloon or in contact with tissue responds to the heating effect to control the application of the current. Advantageously, by periodic sensing of temperature, and application of controlled rf power, a preset constant temperature is maintained at the selected sensing point, either at the internal body site or the liquid within the balloon. In this way carefully controlled therapy can be conducted at constant temperature.

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Device for heating tissue, comprising a chamber constructed for insertion into a patient\s body, an electrically conductive fluid preselected for resistive heating for filling the chamber, a plurality of spaced electrical contacts enclosed within the chamber and a corresponding plurality of conducto

Device for heating tissue, comprising a chamber constructed for insertion into a patient\s body, an electrically conductive fluid preselected for resistive heating for filling the chamber, a plurality of spaced electrical contacts enclosed within the chamber and a corresponding plurality of conductors for connecting the electrical contacts to a power supply for applying a radio frequency electrical potential between the contacts, said contacts being exposed to the fluid-containing space of said chamber so that said radio frequency electrical potential can cause current to flow through fluid between the contacts, said chamber and said contacts being cooperatively constructed and arranged to cause said current to be confined to said fluid within the chamber, whereby on the basis of I2R losses of said radio frequency electric current flowing between the electrical contacts, the fluid can be heated and the fluid in turn can heat the surrounding tissue by thermal conduction through a wall of the chamber.