this specification discloses various systems and methods for treating dysfunctions of organs or tissue in the gastrointestinal tract . still , it should be appreciated that the disclosed systems and methods are applicable for use in treating other dysfunctions elsewhere in the body , e . g ., for treating sphincter barrier dysfunctions in the lower gastrointestinal tract or in the upper gastrointestinal tract . the systems and methods that embody features of the invention are adaptable for use with catheter - based systems and surgical techniques , as well as systems and surgical techniques that are not necessarily catheter - based . a tissue treatment system 10 that embodies features of the invention is shown in fig1 a and 1b . the tissue treatment system 10 includes a tissue treatment device 12 and an apparatus 14 to deliver the tissue treatment device 12 to a tissue region 16 targeted for treatment . the treatment system 10 also includes a source 18 of a treatment agent 20 . the tissue treatment device 12 serves to apply the treatment agent 20 to the targeted tissue region 16 to obtain a desired therapeutic effect . the therapeutic effect can comprise either alteration of nerve impulse pathways in the region 16 or a physical alteration of tissue characteristics in the region 16 . the tissue treatment device 12 includes one or more agent delivery ports 22 . the one or more delivery ports 22 can apply the treatment agent 20 to surface tissue in the region 16 . desirably ( as fig1 a shows ), the port 20 is located at the end of a tissue piercing member 24 . in this arrangement , the treatment agent 20 may be injected into subsurface tissue . the tissue treatment device 12 can include single or multiple ports 22 located single or multiple tissue piercing members 24 to inject the treatment agent 20 . as fig1 a and 1b show , a single tissue piercing member 24 ( with a single port 22 ) may be used . alternatively , as fig2 a and 2b show , the treatment device 24 can carry multiple tissue piercing members 24 , each with a port 22 . desirably , the multiple tissue piercing members 24 are arranged in a spaced - apart array , to apply the treatment agent 20 in a prescribed pattern at the targeted site . alternatively , the tissue treatment device 12 may employ air powered , needle - less injection technology . the configuration of the delivery apparatus 14 for the device 12 can also vary , depending upon the accessibility of the treatment site and the particular treatment objectives desired . if the treatment site can be directly visualized the delivery apparatus 14 , the source 18 , and the treatment device 12 can comprise a syringe 100 and a needle 102 , as fig3 shows . if the treatment site can not be directly visualized or is otherwise not as readily accessible , the delivery apparatus 14 can comprise an endoscope 106 having an interior lumen 104 passed down the esophagus through the mouth , as fig4 shows . in this arrangement , the treatment device 12 is desirably carried on the distal end of a catheter tube 108 for passage through the endoscope lumen 104 to the targeted site . a guidewire may be used , if desired , to further facilitate deployment of the endoscope and treatment device to the targeted site . the treatment agent 20 is selected from a group of candidate agents based upon the physiologic effect or effects that are desired . one or more candidate agents may be applied , either as a primary treatment modality , a neoadjuvent treatment modality , or an adjuvent treatment modality . in the illustrated embodiment , the group consists essentially of two candidate agents : ( 1 ) vanilloid compounds , and ( 2 ) cytokine sub - types . the treatment agent 20 can comprise a vanilloid compound . vanilloid compounds have a unique capacity to bind to a membrane receptor in sensory neurons . capsaicin is one of many vanilloid compounds . capsaicin is a powerful basic compound which is derived from chili peppers . the specific neuron for capsaicin is deemed “ vrl ”. this receptor is expressed only on small unmyelinated c - fibers ( nerves typically involved in special visceral sensation and pain ). exposure to vanilloid compounds variably reduces the responsiveness of the neuron to stimuli . in many cases , the neuron may actually degenerate either temporarily or permanently , thus impairing transmission of pain signals or other special sensory signals . the term “ vanilloid compound ” as used herein means a compound or a mixture of compounds having a biologically active vanillyl group . vanilloid compounds include both naturally occurring vanilloids , synthetic vanilloids , pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the vanilloid compound ( whether natural or synthetic ) as well as pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and / or analogues thereof ( whether natural or synthetic ). examples of natural vanilloid compounds include both the crude extracts and the purified extracts of active vanilloid compounds from : capsicum , cayenne pepper , black pepper , paprika , cinnamon , clove , mace , mustard , ginger , turmeric , papaya seed and the cactus - like plant euphorbia resinifera . synthetic vanilloid compounds such as synthetic capsaicin are disclosed in wo 96 / 40079 , which is incorporated herein by reference . the vanilloid compound family includes : capsaicin ; dihydrocapsaicin : nordihydrocapsaicin ; homocapsaicin : homodihydrocapsaicin . alternatively , resiniferotoxin ( rtx ) is derived from the euphorbia cactus and is considered a capsaicin - like compound . this substance also activates the vrl receptor and attenuates or eliminates afferent nerve function , although it may not illicit the rapid heat sensation that other vanilloids produce . other examples of vanilloid compounds include capsaicin (( e )-( n )-[( 4 - hydroxy - 3 - methoxyphenyl )- methyl ]- 8 - methyl - 6 - nonenamide ); eugenol ( 2 - methoxy - 4 -( 2 - propenyl ) phenol ); zingerone ( 4 -( 4 - hydroxy - 3 - methoxyphenyl )- 2 - butanone ); curcumin ( 1 , 7 - bis ( 4 - hydroxy - 3 - methoxyphenyl )- 1 , 6 - heptadiene - 3 , 5 - dione ); piperine ( 1 -[ 5 -( 1 , 3 - benzodioxol - 5 - yl )- 1 - oxo - 2 , 4 - pentadienyl ] piperidine ); resiniferatoxin ( 6 , 7 - deepoxy - 6 , 7 - didehydro - 5 - deoxy - 21 - dephenyl - 21 -( phenylmethyl )- 20 -( 4 - hydroxy - 3 - thoxybenzeneacetate )) or pharmaceutically effective salts , analogues , derivatives or equivalents thereof . the treatment agent 20 can include capsaicin , another vanilloid compound , rtx , or combination thereof , alone or in combination with other substances ( which will be generically called a vanilloid - containing treatment agent 20 ). the vanilloid - containing treatment agent can be applied through the port 22 or ports 22 to the mucosal lining or extrinsically to the outside of an organ . the vanilloid - containing treatment agent can also be injected into the targeted tissue region or organ wall . the treatment agent 20 can be a solution , a gel , a powder , a pellet , or other form . the treatment agent may be released immediately , or , be a sustained release product such as a slow released implant , slow release gel , coated pellet , microsphere , or other form . the vanilloid - containing treatment agent 20 may be applied or injected as primary therapy , or , as a neoadjuvant or adjuvant procedure . for example , rf energy may be used to incite a wound , followed by application of the vanilloid - containing treatment agent to facilitate exuberant wound healing . in dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome , the use of a vanilloid - containing treatment agent can serve to diminish the pain impulses or could attenuate the dysmotility and alleviate the disease state . an example of vanilloid materials that can be used is produced by afferon and is called rtx , which has been instilled into the lumen of the urinary bladder for the treatment of urge incontinence . there are also several topical , over - the - counter capsaicin products for topical analgesic applications . the treatment agent 20 can include one or more subtypes of cytokines . a cytokine , in the natural state within the body , is a protein produced and released by a biological cell that has an effect on the local environment surrounding the cell . cytokines are involved in many cellular processes , such as wound healing . the mechanism of action would depend on the specific cytokine utilized . the term “ cytokine subtype ” as used herein means any polypeptide that affects the functions of other cells , and is a molecule which modulates interactions between cells in the immune or inflammatory response . a cytokine subtype includes , but is not limited to monokines and lymphokines regardless of which cells produce them . for instance , a monokine is generally referred to as being produced and secreted by a mononuclear cell , such as a macrophage and / or monocyte but many other cells produce monokines , such as natural killer cells , fibroblasts , basophils , neutrophils , endothelial cells , brain astrocytes , bone marrow stromal cells , epideral keratinocytes , and b - lymphocytes . lymphokines are generally referred to as being produced by lymphocyte cells . examples of cytokine subtypes include , but are not limited to , interleukin - 1 . ( il - l ), tumor necrosis factor - alpha ( tnf alpha ) and tumor necrosis factor beta ( tnf beta ). other cytokine subtypes include tgf - β ( transforming growth factor β ); pdgf ( platelet derived growth factor ) b - fgf ( basic fibroblast growth factor ): igf - l ( insulin - like growth factor 1 ); egf ( epidermal growth factor ); and vegf . some of these cytokines are available commercially , could be produced commercially , or can be extracted from a persons harvested platelets ( platelet releasates ) . the effects of a given cytokine upon tissue physiology can include one or more of the following : smooth muscle and fibroblast mitogenic effects ( induces division and growth of cells ); stimulation of the release of cytokines from other cells ; chemoattractant ( bringing new healing cells into local region ); decrease of collagen enzyme activity allowing collagen to build up ; inflammation ; and angiogenesis ( development of new blood vessels ). the treatment agent 20 can include a cytokine sub - type or combination of cytokine sub - types , alone or in combination with other substances . the cytokine - containing treatment agent can be applied by the port or ports 22 to the tissue or organ wall , or injected into the tissue or organ wall . the cytokine - containing treatment agent 20 can be a solution , a gel , a powder , a pellet , or other form . the treatment agent may be released immediately , or , be a sustained release product such as a slow released implant , slow release gel , coated pellet , microsphere , or other form . the cytokine - containing agent 20 may be applied or injected as primary therapy , or , as a neoadjuvant or adjuvant procedure . for example , radio frequency ( rf ) energy may be used to induce the wound healing process , followed by cytokine application to facilitate more exuberant wound healing . the application of a single cytokine or mixture thereof , as primary , neoadjuvant , or adjuvant therapy for abnormal tissue conditions ( e . g ., excess tissue volume ) could have the various mechanical and therapeutic effects . with or without an inciting wound event ( such as rf ), cytokines can serve to initiate the process of healing within the local region . this process includes , but is not limited to , influx of white blood cells and macrophages , stimulation of fibroblast and smooth muscle division and collagen secretion , new blood vessel growth , wound contraction and tightening , maturation of the new or existing collagen framework , and reduced tissue compliance . these tissue effects could improve the compliance and reduce the tissue volume . examples of cytokine materials that can be used include commercially available regranex , which is recombinant human pdgf - bb . this material has been applied as a gel for promoting the healing of diabetic foot ulcers . platelet granules contain many of the cytokines listed above , and the cytokines can be extracted with a fairly simple technique ( platelet releasates ). platelets ( harvested as a pooled platelet product or from autologous donation ) provide a source of cytokines for extraction . tgf - β and pdgf are considered to be the most important substances for the purpose of initiating the wound healing process . various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims .
systems and methods that treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract by applying one or more treatment agents to tissue at or near the region where abnormal neurological symptoms or abnormal tissue conditions exist . the treatment agent is selected to either disrupt the abnormal nerve pathways and / or to alleviate the abnormal tissue conditions . the treatment agent can include at least one cytokine and / or at least one vanilloid compound to evoke a desired tissue response . the systems and methods can be used a primary treatment modality , or as a neoadjuvent or adjuvant treatment modality .