Patent ID: 7276061
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A tissue ablation device assembly for ablating a region of tissue in a body of a patient, comprising: an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a tubular porous membrane located along the distal end portion, the porous membrane having a substantially non-compressible porous wall with an inner surface that defines an inner space; a tubular support structure disposed within the inner space of the porous membrane for supporting the porous membrane; an ablation element disposed over the porous membrane, the ablation element having a fixed position with respect to the porous membrane; and a fluid passageway extending through the elongated body and communicating with the inner space, the fluid passageway being adapted to be fluidly coupled to a pressurizeable fluid source for delivering a volume of pressurized fluid from the fluid source to the inner space, wherein the porous membrane allows at least a substantial portion of the volume of pressurized fluid to pass through the porous wall.