Patent ID: 6929642
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An electrode instrument used for thermal ablation therapy in an uterus of a patient, comprising an outer sheath, an electrode head connected to said outer sheath and having at least a first and second electrode for emitting RF energy, said first electrode having a proximal end connected to said outer sheath and a distal end positioned remote from said proximal end of said first electrode, said second electrode having a proximal end connected to said outer sheath and a distal end positioned remote from said proximal end of said second electrode, said first and second electrodes being movable between a collapsed configuration, in which said distal ends of said first and second electrodes are positioned proximate to each other and remote from opposed sidewalls of the patient's uterus, and a deployed configuration, in which said distal ends of said first and second electrodes are positioned remote from each other such that said distal end of said first electrode is positioned adjacent to one sidewall of the patient's uterus and said distal end of said second electrode is positioned adjacent to an opposite sidewall of the patient's uterus, and a first linkage mechanism connected between said first and second electrodes for maintaining said first and second electrodes in their deployed configuration, at least one portion of said first linkage mechanism being electrically connected to said first electrode and forming a part of said first electrode, said first linkage mechanism being positioned adjacent to a top wall of the patient's uterus when said first and second electrodes are in their said deployed configuration, wherein said first linkage mechanism cooperates with said first and second electrodes when said first and second electrodes are in their said deployed configuration so as to approximate the shape of the patient's uterus.