Patent ID: 6565562
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for creating a hole in body tissue to be perforated and then enlarging said hole, using an elongated instrument, said instrument having an electrically insulated electrical conductor, an electrically conductive exposed tip for creating a perforation when Radio Frequency (RF) current is applied and for preventing the creation of a perforation when RF current is not applied and a body of said instrument near said tip having a larger diameter than said tip, comprising the steps of:inserting said instrument in a body cavity and guiding said instrument to a location where said body tissue to be perforated is; advancing said instrument to contact a wall of said body tissue to be perforated without applying RF current; emitting RF current at said tip to perforate said body tissue to be perforated; advancing said instrument into said perforation to pass through said tissue; turning off said RF current and expanding said hole by advancing said instrument through the perforation.