Patent ID: 11872359
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 18:
19. A system comprising:
an energy source; and
a catheter comprising:
an elongated body comprising a proximal body portion and a distal body portion; and
an expandable member located at the distal body portion, wherein the expandable member is configured to expand radially outward, the expandable member defining a distal section and a proximal section between the elongated body and the distal section, and wherein the expandable member comprises:
a flexible membrane; and
an expandable ring or partial ring located at a distal section of the expandable member, the expandable ring or partial ring being configured to expand radially outward in response to electrical energy applied from the energy source to the expandable ring or partial ring; and
an electrical conductor extending along the elongated body, the electrical conductor configured to deliver the electrical energy from an energy source to the expandable ring or partial ring,
wherein the proximal section of the expandable member is not configured to resistively heat in response to the electrical energy delivered from the electrical conductor.