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

Claim 0:
1. A catheter comprising:
an elongated body comprising a proximal body portion and a distal body portion;
an expandable member located at the distal body portion, the expandable member defining a distal section and a proximal section between the elongated body and the distal section, wherein the expandable member comprises:
a flexible membrane; and
an expandable ring or partial ring located at the distal section of the expandable member, the expandable ring or partial ring being configured to expand radially outward in response to electrical energy applied 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.