RF electrode array for low-rate collagen shrinkage in capsular shift procedures and methods of use

Claim 2

Apparatus for delivering bi-polar RF current from an RF source to tissue in a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising: an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate region disposed between the first and second ends, the elongated member comprising an electrically insulating material; a first electrode disposed on the first end, the first electrode adapted to be coupled to the RF source; a second electrode disposed on the second end, the second electrode adapted to be coupled to the RF source; and a channeling electrode disposed in the intermediate region for contacting tissue, the channeling electrode spaced apart and electrically insulated from the first and second electrodes, the channeling electrode comprising an electrically conductive material, the channeling electrode spaced sufficiently close to each of the first and second electrodes to direct a path of the bi-polar RF current between the first electrode and the second electrode through tissue contacting the channeling electrode when a voltage in a range of about 0.5 watts to 25 watts is applied between the first and second electrodes.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated member comprises a flexible material.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated member has a first surface, each one of the first, second and channeling electrodes having a surface exposed on the first surface.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising indicator marks that assist in visualizing the location of the first and second electrodes.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is substantially transparent.

Claim 7

Apparatus for delivering bi-polar RF current from an RF source to tissue in a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising: an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate region disposed between the first and second ends, the elongated member comprising an electrically insulating material; a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the first end, each one of the plurality of first electrodes adapted to be coupled to the RF source; a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the second end, each one of the plurality of second electrodes adapted to be coupled to the RF source; and a channeling electrode disposed in the intermediate region for contacting tissue, the channeling electrode spaced apart and electrically insulated from the pluralities of first and second electrodes, the channeling electrode comprising an electrically conductive material, the channeling electrode spaced sufficiently close to each of the plurality of first and second electrodes to direct a path of the bi-polar RF current between a selected one of the plurality of first electrodes and a selected one of the plurality of second electrodes through tissue contacting the channeling electrode when a voltage in a range of about 0.5 watts to 25 watts is applied between the selected one of the plurality of first and the selected one of the plurality of second electrodes.

Claim 8

Apparatus for delivering bi-polar RF current from an RF source to tissue in a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising: an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate region disposed between the first and second ends, the elongated member comprising an electrically insulating material; a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the first end, each one of the plurality of first electrodes adapted to be coupled to the RF source; a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the second end, each one of the plurality of second electrodes adapted to be coupled to the RF source; and a channeling electrode disposed in the intermediate region for contacting tissue, the channeling electrode spaced apart and electrically insulated from the pluralities of first and second electrodes, the channeling electrode comprising an electrically conductive material, the channeling electrode spaced sufficiently close to each of the plurality of first and second electrodes to direct a path of the bi-polar RF current between a selected one of the plurality of first electrodes and a selected one of the plurality of second electrodes through tissue contacting the channeling electrode when a voltage in a range of about 0.5 watts to 25 watts is applied between the selected one of the plurality of first and the selected one of the plurality of second electrodes.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the elongated member comprises a flexible material.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the elongated member has a first surface, each one of the pluralities of first and second electrodes and the channeling electrode having a surface exposed on the first surface.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising indicator marks that assist in visualizing the location of the pluralities of first and second electrodes.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the elongated member is substantially transparent.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for determining the selected ones of the pluralities of first and second electrodes.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12 wherein providing an electrode array further comprises inserting the electrode array into a joint capsule using a cannula.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12 further comprising: monitoring a degree of tissue shrinkage caused by application of the bi-polar RF current; and terminating application of the bi-polar RF current when a desired degree of tissue shrinkage has been attained.

Claim 18

The method of claim 12 further comprising applying the RF current between the first and second electrodes at a power in a range from about 0.5 to 25 watts.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 further commprising applying the RF current between the first and second electrodes at a power in a range from about 2 to 10 watts.

Claim 20

The method of claim 12 further commprising applying the RF current between the first and second electrodes for a time period in a range from about 5 to 180 seconds.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17 further commprising applying the RF current between the first and second electrodes for a time period in a range from bout 10 to 60 seconds.