Disclosed herein is an attenuation device comprising a flexible housing
and a medium capable of transformation to inflate the housing from the first configuration
to the second configuration. Also disclose herein are methods of treating a patient,
comprising: providing a self-inflating expandable attenuation device, containing
a medium which is transformable from a first, reduced volume to a second, expanded
volume; positioning the attenuation device within the patient at a treatment site;
and transforming the medium from the first volume to the second volume. In one
embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation device is used to treat urinary
tract dysfunction. In another embodiment, a self-inflating expandable attenuation
device is used to treat benign hypertrophy of the prostate.