Patent ID: 8715276

Claim:
A method of applying energy to a vein, said method comprising: providing a catheter configured to emit steam through a plurality of openings along a portion of its length, the catheter comprising: a proximal end; a working end with a distal tip; a perforated outer sheath, including the plurality of openings, near the working end; a seal located within the perforated outer sheath and arranged coaxially with respect to the catheter; and a fluid chamber having a length extending between the seal and the distal tip; selecting a treatment length corresponding to the length of the fluid chamber by adjusting the longitudinal position of the seal, thereby selecting the length of the perforated outer sheath that allows steam to be emitted, wherein selecting the treatment length of a catheter further comprises adjusting a position of an energy element within the internal fluid chamber; inserting the catheter into the vein so that the catheter extends longitudinally along the vein; heating a fluid; applying energy to the vein by emitting the heated fluid as steam from the catheter toward the vein wall; and reducing the size of the vein via the applied energy.