Patent ID: 8216235

Claim:
An apparatus for delivering electrical energy to tissue within a patient, comprising: a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end having a size for insertion into a body of a patient, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular member; a pair of opposing members extendable from the distal end of the tubular member, the opposing members being expandable away from one another and being directable towards one another for engaging tissue between inner surfaces of the opposing members, the opposing members comprising one or more electrodes for delivering electrical energy to tissue engaged between the opposing members; one or more hollow needles extending from an inner surface of at least one opposing member, each needle comprising a sharpened tip for penetrating tissue engaged between the opposing members and an outlet in the sharpened tip communicating with a lumen in the opposing member for delivering conductive fluid from the lumen into tissue penetrated by the sharpened tip; a control member extending through the lumen of the tubular member, wherein the opposing members extend from the control member, and wherein the opposing members are directable towards one another by directing the control member proximally to at least partially withdraw the opposing members into the lumen, the control member having an infusion lumen therein communicating with the outlet of the needle via the lumen in the opposing member; and a source of conductive fluid communicating with the infusion lumen for delivering conductive fluid to the outlet of the needle, the source of conductive fluid connected to a valve for removing gases from conductive fluid being delivered from the source of conductive fluid to the outlet of the needle.