Patent ID: 6673071
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A partial ablation device comprising:a support member; a first conductor member supported with the support member and reciprocable relative to the support member, the first conductor member having an end that extends beyond the support member; at least one nonconducting member interconnecting the first conductor member with the support member; and at least one flexible conductor member supported with the support member, extending along the first conductor member, and interconnected with the first conductor member; wherein the device has a stowed position in which the first conductor member is extended from the support member and the nonconducting member and the flexible conductor member are disposed alongside the first conductor member; wherein the support member, the first conductor member, the nonconducting member and the flexible conductor member are interconnected so that retraction of the first conductor member relative to the support member causes the end of the first conductor member to move toward the support member and causes the nonconducting member and the flexible conductor member to expand outward and away from the first conductor member and away from each other; and wherein, when the first conductor member is retracted to expand the nonconducting member and the flexible conductor member the flexible conductor member is operative to perform ablation of a first wall region of a cavity of the human body while a second wall region of the cavity is held apart from the first wall region by the nonconducting member so that the second wall region does not undergo ablation.