Patent ID: 11944372
Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 11:
12. An ablation method comprising:
providing an ablation probe system having:
a sheath having a sheath lumen,
an electrode assembly defining a central channel, the electrode assembly further comprising a shaft and an expandable electrode array comprising two or more electrode elements positioned at a distal portion of the shaft, wherein the shaft is moveable between a retracted position contained within the sheath lumen and an expanded position with the electrode array protruding from the sheath, wherein the electrode elements surround a distal central channel opening when the electrode elements are in the expanded position, wherein the two or more electrode elements include free distal ends and proximal ends attached to an inner surface of the shaft,
an ultrasound imaging catheter configured to be inserted in the central channel,

a liquid delivery device configured to be introduced into and slidably moved within the central channel while the ultrasound imaging catheter is positioned within the central channel;
inserting the sheath into tissue of a patient;
inserting the electrode assembly into the sheath lumen;
while the electrode assembly is inside of the sheath lumen, ablating the tissue using the electrode assembly;
while the electrode assembly is inside of the sheath lumen, inserting the ultrasound imaging catheter into a proximal end of the central channel and out a distal end of the central channel such that the ultrasound imaging catheter protrudes from a distal portion of the electrode assembly; and
capturing an ultrasound image of the tissue while the ultrasound imaging catheter protrudes from the distal portion of the electrode assembly and further while the tissue is ablated.