CONTROLLER FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF TISSUE

Disclosed is an apparatus for use in conjunction with an RF ablation electrode insertable into a patient to ablate body tissue, e.g., prostate tissue of a pati ent with a BPH condition. The apparatus includes an RF generator for outputting RF current Through the ablation electrode and a second electrode in contact with the patien t to thereby ablate body tissue in the vicinity of the ablation electrode. Temperatur e measuring circuitry within the apparatus is coupled to a temperature sensor in a specific body region. An input means such as a plurality of switches on the appa ratus housing is provided to enable a user to input a treatment volume corresponding t o a target volume of body tissue to be ablated. Delivery of RF power is automaticall y terminated when a treatment time corresponding to the selected treatment volume is reached. In addition, a hypertonic saline syringe is preferably housed within th e controller. Saline solution is caused to flow from the syringe into the treatmen t region at a controlled rate both immediately prior to and during the delivery of RF power.