Patent ID: 8419726

Claim:
A method for treating tissue by maximizing a treatment lesion in a target layer of tissue by applying energy to the layer of tissue located beneath a surface layer of tissue, the method comprising: providing an energy transfer unit comprising a plurality of electrodes each having an active area, the plurality of electrodes advanceable from the energy transfer unit at a fixed angle relative to a tissue engaging surface; advancing the plurality of electrodes into the surface layer of tissue by a uniform depth and at the fixed angle relative to the tissue engaging surface such that the active area of the electrodes extends at the oblique angle through the target layer of tissue; applying energy to the active region to create the treatment lesion in the target layer of tissue, where a length of the treatment lesion along the active area in the target layer of tissue is larger than if the plurality of electrodes were advanced perpendicular into the surface layer of tissue; and placing a portion of the surface layer of tissue in traction prior to advancing electrodes through the surface layer of tissue.