Patent ID: 7699844

Claim:
A method for treating fecal incontinence comprising identifying for treatment an anal cavity having a dentate line, anoderm tissue below the dentate line, and anal columns immediately above the dentate line, providing a transparent structure having a distal end and including an array of tissue-piercing electrodes at the distal end capable of controlled advancement relative to the transparent structure between a retracted position withdrawn in the transparent structure and an advanced position extending outward from the transparent structure, inserting the transparent structure into the anal cavity with the array of tissue piercing electrodes in the retracted position, visualizing from outside the anal cavity the dentate line within the anal canal through the transparent structure, while visualizing the dentate line, locating the distal end of the transparent structure at least about 3 cm above the dentate line, advancing the array of tissue piercing electrodes from the retracted position to the advanced position into tissue only at or near an anal sphincter at least about 3 cm above the dentate line, applying energy through the array of tissue-piercing electrodes while in the advanced position to create a lesion in the tissue without thermal damage to anoderm tissue and anal columns in the anal canal, and conveying fluid into contact with the tissue to cool the tissue while applying energy to the array of tissue-piercing electrodes.