System and method for applying thermal energy to tissue

Claim 1

An apparatus for treating tissue at a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a bladder; and a bipolar electrode assembly positioned within the bladder, said bipolar electrode assembly including an active electrode and a shield configured to prevent the active electrode from contacting the bladder.

Claim 2

An apparatus for treating tissue at a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a bladder; and a bipolar electrode assembly positioned within the bladder, said bipolar electrode assembly including an active electrode and a shield configured to prevent the active electrode from contacting the bladder.

Claim 8

An apparatus for treating tissue at a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a bladder; and a bipolar electrode assembly positioned within the bladder, said bipolar electrode assembly including an active electrode and a return electrode, wherein the active electrode has an effective area, and the return electrode has an effective area different from the active electrode effective areas, wherein the return electrode effective area is at least twice as large as the active electrode effective area, wherein the active electrode is at a distal tip of the shaft, the return electrode is proximal to the return electrode on the shaft, and further comprising an insulator between the active electrode and return electrode, and wherein the return electrode is coaxial with the active electrode.

Claim 9

An apparatus for treating tissue at a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a bladder; and a bipolar electrode assembly positioned within the bladder, said bipolar electrode assembly including an active electrode and a return electrode, wherein the active electrode has an effective area, and the return electrode has an effective area different from the active electrode effective areas, wherein the return electrode effective area is at least twice as large as the active electrode effective area, wherein the active electrode is at a distal tip of the shaft, the return electrode is proximal to the return electrode on the shaft, and further comprising an insulator between the active electrode and return electrode, and wherein the return electrode is coaxial with the active electrode.

Claim 11

An apparatus for delivering controlled heat to a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: an expandable device, wherein the expandable device has a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the expandable device may be transformed from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration and subsequently returned to the delivery configuration; a shaft having a distal end disposed within the expandable device, said shaft configured for movement within the expandable device, wherein the shaft passes through an opening in the expandable device, and said shaft is configured for pivotal movement within said opening; and an electrode assembly at the shaft distal end.

Claim 12

An apparatus for delivering controlled heat to a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: an expandable device, wherein the expandable device has a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the expandable device may be transformed from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration and subsequently returned to the delivery configuration; a shaft having a distal end disposed within the expandable device, said shaft configured for movement within the expandable device, wherein the shaft passes through an opening in the expandable device, and said shaft is configured for pivotal movement within said opening; and an electrode assembly at the shaft distal end.

Claim 16

An apparatus for delivering controlled heat to a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a shaft having a distal end; an electrode assembly at the shaft distal end, said electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode; and a mechanically expandable device for the shaft distal end, wherein the mechanically expandable device has a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the mechanically expandable device may be transformed from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration and subsequently returned to the delivery configuration, the mechanical device in the expanded configuration defining a space therein, wherein at least one of said electrodes is positioned within said defined space, wherein the mechanically expandable device comprises an expandable cage, and wherein at least one of said electrodes is disposed on the mechanically expandable device.

Claim 17

An apparatus for delivering controlled heat to a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a shaft having a distal end; an electrode assembly at the shaft distal end, said electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode; and a mechanically expandable device for the shaft distal end, wherein the mechanically expandable device has a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the mechanically expandable device may be transformed from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration and subsequently returned to the delivery configuration, the mechanical device in the expanded configuration defining a space therein, wherein at least one of said electrodes is positioned within said defined space, wherein the mechanically expandable device comprises an expandable cage, and wherein at least one of said electrodes is disposed on the mechanically expandable device.

Claim 18

An apparatus for delivering controlled heat to a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a shaft having a distal end; a mechanically expandable device at the shaft distal end, wherein the mechanically expandable device has a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration; and an electrode assembly at the shaft distal end, said electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode and a plurality of return electrodes, wherein said return electrodes are disposed on the mechanically expandable device.

Claim 19

An apparatus for delivering controlled heat to a selected operation site, the apparatus comprising: a shaft having a distal end; a mechanically expandable device at the shaft distal end, wherein the mechanically expandable device has a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration; and an electrode assembly at the shaft distal end, said electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode and a plurality of return electrodes, wherein said return electrodes are disposed on the mechanically expandable device.

Claim 20

A method of treating tissue using a surgical device, wherein the surgical device has a distal end having an expandable device and a bipolar electrode assembly thereon, the bipolar electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the distal end of the surgical device into a selected operation site; (b) expanding the expandable device, wherein the expandable device comprises an expandable cage having a plurality of cage bars, said cage bars having underlying portions of the tissue when the expandable cage is in the expanded configuration; (c) filling the expandable device with a conductive fluid; (d) applying RF output power to the bipolar electrode assembly to cause current to flow between the active electrode and the return electrode through the conductive fluid, thereby increasing the temperature of the conductive fluid; (e) monitoring the impedance between the active electrode and return electrode; (f) determining the temperature of the conductive fluid from the monitored impedance; (g) positioning the bipolar electrode assembly at a location within the expandable device which is adjacent specifically targeted tissue; (h) applying RF output power to the bipolar electrode assembly to effect treatment of the specifically targeted tissue; (i) moving one or more cage bars to reveal the underlying tissue; (j) placing the bipolar electrode assembly adjacent to the revealed underlying tissue; and (k) applying output power to the bipolar electrode assembly sufficient to effect treatment of the revealed underlying tissue.

Claim 21

A method of treating tissue using a surgical device, wherein the surgical device has a distal end having an expandable device and a bipolar electrode assembly thereon, the bipolar electrode assembly comprising at least one active electrode and at least one return electrode, the method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the distal end of the surgical device into a selected operation site; (b) expanding the expandable device, wherein the expandable device comprises an expandable cage having a plurality of cage bars, said cage bars having underlying portions of the tissue when the expandable cage is in the expanded configuration; (c) filling the expandable device with a conductive fluid; (d) applying RF output power to the bipolar electrode assembly to cause current to flow between the active electrode and the return electrode through the conductive fluid, thereby increasing the temperature of the conductive fluid; (e) monitoring the impedance between the active electrode and return electrode; (f) determining the temperature of the conductive fluid from the monitored impedance; (g) positioning the bipolar electrode assembly at a location within the expandable device which is adjacent specifically targeted tissue; (h) applying RF output power to the bipolar electrode assembly to effect treatment of the specifically targeted tissue; (i) moving one or more cage bars to reveal the underlying tissue; (j) placing the bipolar electrode assembly adjacent to the revealed underlying tissue; and (k) applying output power to the bipolar electrode assembly sufficient to effect treatment of the revealed underlying tissue.