Patent ID: 8083738

Claim:
A method of constricting a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the method comprising: employing a bipolar electrode probe, the probe comprising: an elongate rigid shaft having an elongate axis, a proximal shaft end and a sharpened distal shaft end; a first electrode disposed near the distal shaft end; a second electrode spaced axially from the first electrode and located distal of the first electrode along the elongate axis, the second electrode having a smaller radial profile than the first electrode such that the second electrode does not extend as far radially from the elongate axis as the first electrode; and an electrical connector near the proximal end of the shaft for connecting the first and second electrodes to opposite poles of an electrosurgical power supply; puncturing body tissue with the sharpened distal shaft end as the sharpened distal shaft end is urged against the body tissue; inserting the distal shaft end, including the first and second electrodes, into a lumen of the HAS; and applying energy to the HAS with the electrodes to thereby constrict the HAS.