Patent ID: 7160296
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A tissue-ablation apparatus comprising: (a) an elongate delivery device having a lumen terminating at a distal end, (b) a plurality of electrodes carried in said device for movement between retracted positions at which the electrodes are disposed within the device's lumen, and deployed positions at which the electrodes define a tissue volume, said electrodes being operatively connected to a power source for producing ablation within said volume in response to power supplied from the power source to said electrodes, (c) a plurality of passive elongate sensor elements carried in said device for movement between retracted positions at which the sensor elements are disposed within the device's lumen, and deployed positions at which the sensor elements are deployed from said distal end at a plurality of angularly spaced positions at which the deployed sensor elements are distributed within said volume, said sensor elements being unable to deliver ablative energy, and (d) at least one sensor positioned on each of the elongate sensor elements for monitoring tissue ablation in said volume, wherein the supply of power to said electrodes can be regulated to control a level and extent of tissue ablation throughout said volume according to the tissue ablation monitored by said sensors.