This application is a continuation-in-part of the fol- lowing co-pending applications : * Application Serial No. 08/651, 800, Express Mail mailing num- ber EM214961542US, filed May 22, 1996, attorney docket num- ber SOMN 1009-4 ; W, Application Serial No. 08/651, 378, Express Mail mailing num- ber EM214961556US, filed May 22, 1996, attorney docket num- ber SOMN 1009-5 ; Application Serial No. 08/643, 203, Express Mail mailing num- ber TB84970533US, filed May 6, 1996, attorney docket number SOMN 1011-1 ; Application Serial No. 08/643, 524, Express Mail mailing num- ber TB849705582US, filed May 6, 1996, attorney docket number SOMN 1012-2 ; Application Serial No. 08/651, 976 May 22, 1996, attorney docket number SOMN 2001 ; Application Serial No. 08/651, 798, Express Mail mailing num- ber EM214961539US, filed May 22, 1996, attorney docket num- ber SOMN 2002 ; Application Serial No. 08/660, 539, Express Mail mailing num- ber EH522034424US, filed June 7, 1996, attorney docket num- ber SOMN 2003 ; and Application Serial No. 08/663, 004, Express Mail mailing num- ber EH522034441US, filed June 7, 1996, attorney docket num- ber SOMN 2004.

Inventions described herein can be used in combination Dr conjunction with inventions described in the following patent application : Application Serial No. 09/407, 658, filed September 28, 1999, in the name of Stuart D. Edwards, titled"Treatment of Uri- nary Incontinence and Other Disorders by Application of En- ergy and Drugs,"attorney docket number VCAR-016, which ap- plication was a continuation of then co-pending Application Serial No. 08/677, 811, filed July 10, 1996, in the name of Lawrence J. Mohr, Jr., and Stuart D. Edwards, titled"Treat- ing Aneurysms by Applying Hardening/Softening Agents to Hardenable/Softenable Substances,"attorney docket number MOED-001, and which issued as U. S. Patent No. 5, 921, 954 on July 13, 1999 ; Each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Background of the invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to ablation of rectal and other internal body structures.

2. Description of Related Art Human beings are subject to a number of disorders in the area of the rectum and colon, including hemorrhoids (external and internal), prolapse of the rectal muscles, rectal muscle spasms, anal fissures, polyps, diverticulosus and diverticulitus, and pilonital cysts. Other internal disorders in nearby regions of the body include (in men) prostate cancer, (in women) inconti- nence, vaginal bleeding, vaginal cysts, vaginal fibroids, pro- lapse of the uterus, and related tumors or cancerous tissue.

Although there are treatments available for these dis- orders, such as surgery, systemic or topical medication, these treatments suffer from various drawbacks, including (for surgery) their relative invasiveness and expense, and (for medicinal ap- proaches) their relative ineffectiveness and the causation of se- rious side-effects. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide methods and apparatus for treatment which are not subject to the drawbacks of surgery and medicinal approaches.

Although it is known to use RF energy to ablate tissue in the body (such as heart muscle tissue) to treat disorders, one problem which has arisen in the art is accounting for the flow of bodily fluids and gases while ablating tissue. Bodily fluids can dissipate, and can detrimentally absorb, energy to be applied to tissue.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide im- proved techniques for treatment of disorders in the area of the rectum and colon. This advantage is achieved by a method and system according to the present invention in which a catheter is inserted into the rectum, and at least one electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy to ablate body structures or other tissue in an ablation region in or near the rectum, such as the sphincter, rectum, colon, or prostate.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a method and system for ablation of body structures or tissue in an ablation region in or near the rectum (such as the sphincter, rectum, colon, or prostate). A catheter is inserted into the rectum, and at least one electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy to ablate body structures or other tissue, such as by cell death, dehydration, or denatura- tion. The environment for the ablation region is isolated or otherwise controlled, such as by blocking gas or fluid using a pair of inflatable balloons at upstream and downstream locations from the ablation region. In a preferred embodiment, inflatable balloons also serve to anchor the catheter in place and prevent the catheter from being expelled from the body.

In preferred embodiments, the catheter is flexible for reaching a selected internal organ or region, a plurality of electrodes are disposed on the catheter and at least one such electrode is selected and advanced out of the catheter to pene- trate and ablate selected tissue inside the body in ablation re- gion in or near the rectum, such as an individual cyst, hemor- rhoid, polyp, tumor, or other selected lesion or tissue. The electrodes are coupled to sensors to determine control parameters of the body structure or tissue, such as impedance or tempera- ture, and which are used by feedback technique to control deliv- ery of energy for ablation or fluids for cooling or hydration.

In a preferred embodiment, the catheter includes an optical path disposed for coupling to an external view piece, so as to allow medical personnel to view or control positioning of the catheter and operation of the electrodes.

In further preferred embodiments, the catheter is dis- posed to deliver flowable substances for aiding in ablation, such as saline or antibiotics, or for aiding in repair of tissue (ei- ther before or after ablation), such as collagen or another sub- stance for covering lesions or for filling fissures in or near the ablation region, or for other medicinal effects, such as an- esthetic, anti-inflammatory, or antispasmodic substances. The flowable substances are delivered using at least one lumen in the catheter, either from at least one hole in the catheter, from an area of the catheter covered by a microporous membrane, or from icroporous balloons (either the same as or in addition to bal- loons used to anchor the catheter in place or to block gas or fluids Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of a catheter and electrode assembly.

Figure 2 shows a cut-away view of a catheter, taken along a line 2--2 in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a method of treatment of a hemorrhoid.

Figure 4 shows a method of treatment of a prolapsed or spasmodic muscle.

Figure 5 shows a method of treatment of an anal fis- sure.

Figure 6 shows a method of treatment of a tumor in the prostate.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment CATHETER AND ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY Figure 1 shows a side view of a catheter and electrode assembly.

An assembly 100 for ablating rectal and other internal body structures includes a catheter 110, a control and delivery linkage 120, and a control element 130.

The catheter 110 is coupled to the control and delivery linkage 120 using a gearing element 121, which allows the cathe- ter 110 to be rotated with respect to the control and delivery linkage 120 by an operator using the control element 130.

The catheter 110 includes a base 111, having a substan- tially cylindrical shape, coupled at a proximal end to the gear- ing element 121, and having a distal end. The catheter 110 is preferably disposed for insertion into the rectum at an angle to the control and delivery linkage 120, preferably an angle between about 30° and about 45° less than a right angle. The catheter 110 is between about 1 inch (2. 54 cm) and about 2 inches (5. 08 cm) in diameter, and between about 6 inches (15. 24 cm) and about 8 inches (20. 32 cm) in length.

The catheter 110 includes a plurality of holes 112, and a plurality of electrodes 113 which may be extended from at least some of the holes 112. The holes 112 are spaced regularly around _he circumference and along the length of the catheter 110, hav- ing a spacing of about 0. 25 inches (0. 64 cm) between adjacent 101es 112. The electrodes 113 are spaced regularly to occupy about one-half of the holes 112, and are between about 0. 5 cm and about 1. 0 cm in length.

The electrodes 113 each include a metallic tube 114 de- fining a hollow lumen 115, shaped similarly to an injection nee- dle, so as to be disposed to deliver at least one flowable sub- stance-to a region 140 near the catheter 110. In a preferred em- bodiment, the deliverable flowable substance includes saline with a concentration of less than about 10% NaCl, which aids in both hydration of body structures and other tissue, and in delivery of RF energy to the region 140. However, in alternative embodi- ments, the deliverable flowable substance includes other sub- stances, including saline with other concentrations, systemic or topical antibiotics, collagen or another hardenable substance, or other bioactive, chemoactive, or radioactive substances (includ- ing anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, or antispasmodic substances, or tracer materials).

The catheter 110 includes at least one balloon 116, disposed for inflation so as to block gas or fluid from the body from entering the region 140. In a preferred embodiment, there is a distal balloon 116 disposed at the distal end of the cathe- ter 110 and there is a proximal balloon 116 disposed at the proximal end of the catheter 110. The distal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116 preferably each comprise ring-shaped bal- loons, disposed so that when inflated each surrounds the catheter 10 and makes a gas-tight or fluid-tight seal, both with the atheter 110 and with a wall 141 of the rectum or other body tructure into which the catheter lib is inserted. However, in . Iternative embodiments, the distal balloon 116 may comprise a pherical or ellipsoidal balloon disposed at the distal end of he catheter 110 in such manner that when inflated it surrounds he catheter 110 and makes a gas-tight or fluid-tight seal with he wall 141.

The catheter 110 also includes at least one balloon 116 disposed to anchor the catheter 110 at a selected location within . he rectum or other body structure into which the catheter 110 is . nserted. In a preferred embodiment, the balloon 116 used to an- chor the catheter 110 is the proximal balloon 116, which when in- : late prevents the catheter 110 from being expelled from the ) ody in. like manner as the operation of a Foley catheter. How- ever, in alternative embodiments, the balloon 116 used to anchor : he catheter 110 may comprise an additional or alternative bal- loon which is disposed solely or primarily for the purpose of an- choring the catheter 110 into its selected place, again in like nanner as the operation of a Foley catheter.

The catheter 110 includes a fluid circulation system 117, including at least one fluid outlet port and at least one Eluid inlet port. The fluid circulation system 117 is disposed for providing fluid in the region near the catheter 110, such as for delivering fluid for cooling the region 140 and for removing other fluid for aspirating the region 140.

The catheter 110 includes an optical view port 118, 'possibly including a lens or other transparent or translucent overing, disposed to allow inflow of light (visible or infrared) : or transmission to an operator for viewing and control of the operation of the catheter 110.

The catheter 110 includes at least one sensor 119, such is a sensor 119 for impedance or temperature. In a preferred em- embodiment, the temperature sensor 119 includes a thermocouple, but n alternative embodiments, the temperature sensor 119 may in- elude a thermistor or other device for sensing temperature and providing signals responsive to temperature near the catheter L10.

The control and delivery linkage 120 includes a metal- Lie tube 223 defining a hollow lumen 224, and is further de- scribed with reference to figure 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the control and delivery linkage 120 is between about 1/2 inch (1. 27 cm) and about 5/8 inches (1. 59 cm) in diameter, and between about 6 inches (15. 24 cm) and about 8 inches (20. 32 cm) in length.

The control element 130 includes an electrode actuation element 131 for advancing the electrodes 113 out from the cathe- ter 110, a electrode retraction element 132 for retracting the electrodes 113 into from the catheter 110, and an operation ele- ment 133 for controlling operation of the catheter 110, including delivery of flowable substances using the holes 112 and delivery of energy using the electrodes 113.

ADVANCING AND RETRACTING ELECTRODES Figure 2 shows a cut-away view of a catheter, taken along a line 2--2 in figure 1.

The catheter 110 comprises a rotatable element 210 which is disposed for rotation in a first direction 211 to ad- vance the electrodes 113 out of the catheter 110 and in a second direction 212 opposite the first direction 211 to retract the electrodes 113 back into the catheter 110.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable element 210. is coupled to a spring (not shown) or other device which holds the rotatable element 210 in a steady state with the electrodes 113 retracted into the catheter 110.

The rotatable element 210 is coupled to the electrode actuation element 131, which forces the rotatable element 210 to rotate in the first direction 211 so as to advance the electrodes 113 out of the catheter 110. When the actuator element is not actuated, the spring causes the rotatable element 210 to rotate in the second direction 212 so as to retract the electrodes 113 back into the catheter 110.

Each electrode 113 is coupled to an electrode carrier 220. In a preferred embodiment, each electrode carrier 220 is substantially bar-shaped (but is shown end-on in the figure) and is coupled to a plurality of electrodes 113, such as about be- tween about three and about six electrodes 113, so as to substan- tially simultaneously advance that plurality of electrodes 113 out of the catheter 110 and retract that plurality of electrodes 113 back into the catheter. A plurality of electrode carriers 220 are each disposed in a set of lines corresponding to lines of electrodes 113 disposed for advancement out of the catheter 110 and retraction back into the catheter 110.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 may be disposed so that when advanced, the electrodes 113 extend to se- lected depths within the body structure to be ablated. These se- lected depths may be the same depth for all electrodes 113 which are advanced, or may include a first depth for a first set of electrodes 113 and a second depth for a second set of electrodes 113.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrode carriers 220 are coupled to a set of controls (not shown) in the control ele- ment 130 for selecting one or more electrode carriers 220 inde- pendently using one or more actuation levers 221, so as to be able to independently advance one or more sets of electrodes 113 coupled thereto out of the catheter 110 and to independently re- tract one or more sets of electrodes 113 back into the catheter 110.

Each electrode carrier 220 is coupled to the rotatable : lement 210 using a bearing 222, in such manner so as to trans- . ate rotation of the rotatable element 210 into linear radial movement of the electrodes 113. When the rotatable element 210 -s rotated in the first direction 211, the electrodes are ad- ranced in a first linear movement 223, while when the rotatable element 210 is rotated in the second direction 212, the elec- : rodes are retracted in a second linear movement 224.

An interior 230 of the rotatable element 210 includes a Lumen 225 through which fluids and other flowable substances are provided, and in which conductors providing control signals and sensor signals are disposed.

OPERATION OF THE CATHETER AND ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY Operation of the catheter and electrode assembly 100 includes at least the following steps : o The catheter 110 is inserted into the body at an opening, such as the rectum.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening is the rectum.

A region of the rectum is first infused with a lubricant, such as K-Y jelly, and with an anesthetic, such as lidocaine. An anti- inflammatory, antispasmodic, or other condign medication would also be applied as appropriate. Thereafter, the catheter 110 is inserted into the lubricated region of the rectum. Due to the potential pain induced by the presence of the catheter 110 or electrodes 113, during operation the catheter 110 infuses a mix- ture of saline and lidocaine into the region 140 to be ablated.

In alternative embodiments, the opening may be another opening into the body, such as a natural orifice such as the va- gina or the urethra, or an opening which has been made surgi- cally, such as an incision which allows the catheter 110 to be inserted into a blood vessel.

The preferred size of the catheter 110 will of course be responsive to the size of the opening if other than the rec- tum. The choice of medicinal elements to be infused prior to or coeval with the catheter 110 will of course be responsive to judgments by medical personnel, and may include lubricants, anes- thetics, antispasmodics, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, or other materials with bioactive, chemoactive, or radioactive ef- fect. o The catheter 110 is positioned within the body at a selected orientation and location, such as a position near a hemor- rhoid.

In one preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is posi- tioned in the rectum near an eternal or internal hemorrhoid, in a manner as shown in figure 3. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into the hemorrhoid to ab- late the hemorrhoid.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in the rectum near a prolapsed or spasmodic muscle, in a manner as shown in figure 4. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into the prolapsed or spasmodic muscle to ablate selected portions of the prolapsed or spasmodic muscle.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in the rectum near an anal fissure, in a manner as shown in figure 5. In this preferred embodiment, collagen is de- posited into the fissure and the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into a region near the collagen to harden the collagen for filling the fissure.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in the colon near a polyp, in a manner similar to that shown in figure 3. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into the polyp to ablate the polyp.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in the rectum near a pilonital cyst, in a manner simi- lar to that shown in figure 3. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into the cyst to ablate the cyst.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in the rectum, colon, large intestine, or small intes- tine, near a cyst or tumor, in a manner similar to that shown in figure 3. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are iltimately advanced into the cyst or tumor to ablate the cyst or tumor.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in a male patient, in the rectum near the prostate, in manner as shown in figure 6. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into a tumor in the pros- fate to ablate the tumor.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in a female patient, in the vagina, near a cyst or fi- oroid, in a manner similar to that shown in figure 3. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into the cyst or fibroid to ablate the cyst or fibroid.

In another preferred embodiment, the catheter 110 is positioned in a female patient, in the vagina, near a prolapsed uterus, in a manner similar to that shown in figure 4. In this preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 are ultimately advanced into the prolapsed uterus selected portions of the prolapsed uterus. o The catheter 110 is anchored into place at the selected ori- entation and location by inflating a balloon 116, such as the distal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116.

In embodiments where the catheter 110 is positioned in the rectum, the catheter 110 is anchored into place using the proximal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116 operates in similar manner as a Foley catheter.

In alternative embodiments, the catheter 110 includes a 3top balloon 116, such as a ring balloon (as shown in figure 3), disposed outside the body so as to prevent the catheter 110 from seing inserted"too far", i. e., beyond its selected location.

D The region 140 near the catheter 110 is isolated from the rest of the body by inflating the distal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116. In a preferred embodiment, this step uses the same distal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116 as the step of anchoring the catheter 110 into place.

Isolation of the region 140 near the catheter 110 from the rest of the body need not be absolute. In a preferred em- bodiment, the distal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116 are microporous, are inflated using saline or water, and thus are disposed to provide saline or water into the region 140 near the catheter 110. However, in such an embodiment, gas and fluids from the rest of the body are allowed to leak into one or more of the balloons 116 and from there are allowed to leak into the re- gion 140 near the catheter 110.

Moreover, while in a preferred embodiment the seal made with the wall 141 of the region 140 by the balloon 116 is gas- tight, in alternative embodiments, that seal is allowed to be simply fluid-tight, and might allow gas to leak from the rest of the body into the region 140 near the catheter 110.

One or more sets of electrodes 113 are selected for advance- ment into a selected mass of tissue in the region 140. The rotatable element 210 is rotated in the first direction 211, causing the selected sets of electrodes 113 to advance out of the catheter 110 and into the selected mass of tissue.

The selected set of electrodes 113 are just those elec- rodes 113 which are needed to penetrate the selected mass of issue for ablation.

In a preferred embodiment where the selected mass of issue for ablation is a hemorrhoid, the selected set of elec- rodes 113 are just those electrodes 113 which are needed to , enetrate the hemorrhoid. If a plurality of hemorrhoids are se- ected for ablation, either (1) electrodes 113 needed to pene- rate the plurality of hemorrhoids are selected, or (2) elec- rodes 113 needed to penetrate one of the hemorrhoids are se- ected, and the operation is repeated for each individual one of : he hemorrhoids.

Similarly, in preferred embodiments where the selected ) ody structure for ablation is an individual cyst, fibroid, ) olyp, or tumor, the selected set of electrodes 113 are just : hose electrodes 113 which are needed to penetrate the selected Dody structure. If there is more'than one such selected body structure, either (1) more than one set of electrodes 113 may be selected, or (2) just one set of electrodes 113 may be selected and the operation is repeated for each individual such body structure.

Similarly, in preferred embodiments where. the selected body structure for ablation is muscle tissue or other tissue which is part of a larger body structure, such as a prolapsed or spasmodic muscle, the selected set of electrodes 113 are just those one or more sets of electrodes 113 which are needed to penetrate the portion of the body structure which has been se- lected for ablation. o Flowable substances are provided using the holes 112, and energy is provided to the electrodes 113, so as to ablate the mass of tissue in the region 140.

In a preferred embodiment, the flowable substances are provided using the holes 112 to the region 140 near the catheter 110.

In alternative embodiments, the flowable substances may be provided, in addition or instead, (1) from an area of the catheter covered by a microporous membrane, or (2) from one or more microporous balloons. The microporous balloons may either be the same as or in addition to the balloons 116 used to anchor the catheter in place or to block gas or fluid.

In preferred embodiments, the flowable substances have one of the following functions : (1) to aid in ablation, such as by transmitting RF energy from the electrodes 113 to the body structure to be ablated, as is done by saline or other electro- lytic solutions, (2) to rehydrate tissue, as in done by saline or water, or (3) to repair tissue, such as by flowing into cysts or fissures or voids, or by covering lesions, as is done by collagen in a soft form which can be hardened by RF energy.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes 113 deliver RF energy having a frequency between about 435 megahertz and about 485 megahertz, for a period between about 5 minutes and about 10 minutes. The RF energy is received by and heats tissue and other body structures near the electrodes 113, causing abla- tion by means of cell death, dehydration, or denaturation.

In alternative embodiments, the electrodes 113 may de- liver other forms of energy, such as heat, microwaves, or infra- red or visible laser energy.

The electrodes 113 are controlled by a feedback tech- nique, using the at least one sensor 119. In embodiments where there is more than one sensor 119, the feedback technique may be responsive to each sensor 119.

In one preferred embodiment, the at least one sensor 119 includes a temperature sensor 119 and the feedback technique includes a microprocessor (not shown) disposed in or coupled to the control element 130 and operating under control of applica- tion software for maintaining the temperature of the body struc- ture to be ablated at a selected temperature, such as a tempera- ture exceeding between about 90° Celsius and about 120° Celsius.

In this preferred embodiment, the microprocessor also controls delivery of fluids for cooling or hydration, so as to maintain the temperature of surrounding tissue (i. e., other than the tis- sue selected for ablation) at temperatures less than between about 90° Celsius and about 120° Celsius.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least one sen- sor 119 also includes an impedance sensor 119 and the feedback technique includes a microprocessor operating to terminate deliv- ery of RF energy when a measured impedance of the body structure to be ablated undergoes a substantial change indicative of dehy- dration or denaturation. o One or more sets of electrodes 113 are selected for retrac- tion back from the selected mass of tissue in the region 140. The rotatable element 210 is rotated in the second di- rection 211, causing the selected sets of electrodes 113 to retract out of the selected mass of tissue and back into the catheter 110.

The same electrodes 113 which were advanced out of the catheter 110 are retracted back into the catheter 110. o The catheter 110 is withdrawn from the body at the opening through which it was inserted.

Before removal, the balloons 116 are deflated so the catheter 110 is no longer anchored in place, all electrodes 113 are retracted back into the catheter 110, and the catheter 113 is configured to no longer provide flowable substances or energy for ablation.

PARTICULAR METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENTS In preferred embodiments, the catheter and electrode assembly 100 may also be used for treatments in addition to, or instead of, ablation of body structures or tissue.

In one preferred embodiment, operation of the catheter and electrode assembly 100 includes at least the following steps : o The catheter 110 is inserted into a natural body lumen, such as the urethra.

In a preferred embodiment, the natural body lumen com- prises a normally tubular body structure which has prolapsed, is spasmodic, or is otherwise subject to blockage (partial or com- plete) or damage (such as to a wall of the natural body lumen). o The catheter 110 infuses a hardenable substance into the natural body lumen, so as to coat at least one selected sec- tion of the wall of the natural body lumen.

In a preferred embodiment, the hardenable substance in- cludes a collagen which is capable of being flowed onto the wall of the natural body lumen and which is capable of being hardened Jy application of RF energy, heat, or another agent to be pro- vided by the catheter and electrode assembly 100.

The electrodes 113 are advanced and deliver energy to the hardenable substance to harden it.

In a preferred'embodiment, the holes 112 provide saline ind the electrodes 113 deliver RF energy to the collagen to larden it, so as to form a hard covering to the wall of the natu- -al body lumen. If appropriate, more than one layer of collagen is applied, so as to provide a hard covering having a thickness exceeding a selected threshold, such as 0. 1 inch (0. 25 cm). The particular selected threshold will of course depend on the pre- =erred diameter of the natural body lumen.

In a preferred embodiment for treatment of a prolapsed Dr spasmodic muscle, (1) the catheter 110 is inserted and pushed through a region where the muscle has prolapsed or blocked the rectum, colon, large intestine, or small intestine, (2) the pro- Lapsed or spasmodic muscle is partially ablated, and (3) collagen is infused and hardened to strengthen the muscle wall. In alter- native embodiments, the collagen may be infused before ablation in one or more boluses deposited within the muscle (or on the muscle or near the muscle), so that the steps of muscle ablation and collagen hardening will occur substantially simultaneously.

In a preferred embodiment for treatment of an anal fis- sure, (1) the catheter 110 is inserted into a region where the fissure has occurred, (2) a suspension of collagen and saline is infused and fills the fissure, and (3) the collagen is hardened while the saline is removed from the suspension. In this pre- ferred embodiment, the isolated region between the distal balloon 116 and the proximal balloon 116 is maintained at a positive dif- ferential pressure with respect to the rest of the rectum, so that the collagen infuses into the fissure ; this procedure or a similar procedure is also followed for treatment of diverticulo- sus and diverticulitus.

In a preferred embodiment for treatment, in a female patient, of a prolapsed uterus, (1) the catheter 110 is inserted into a region where the uterus has prolapsed, (2) the prolapsed uterus is partially ablated, and (3) collagen is infused and hardened to strengthen the muscle wall. Similarly to treatment of a prolapsed muscle, in alternative embodiments, the collagen may be infused before ablation, so that the steps of muscle abla- tion and collagen hardening will occur substantially simultane- ously.

Alternative Embodiments Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.