Patent ID: 6315777
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical apparatus for creating a virtual electrode to ablate bodily tissue, the surgical apparatus comprising:an inner tube defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a plurality of orifices including a proximal-most orifice and a distal-most orifice for distributing a conductive solution from the inner tube and further forming an electrode; andan outer tube coaxially disposed about the inner tube, the outer tube defining a proximal end and a distal end and forming a slot proximal the distal end, wherein the outer tube is slidable relative to the inner tube and a longitudinal spacing between a distal side of the slot and the distal end is not less than a longitudinal distance between the proximal-most and distal-most orifices such that a portion of the outer tube distal the slot selectively, simultaneously blocks the plurality of orifices.