Patent ID: 8888774

Claim:
A device for treating a tissue region at or near a sphincter comprising a proximal support; a distal support; an expandable basket having a plurality of spines, the spines having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion therebetween, the spines supported between the proximal and distal supports with the proximal portion of the spines supported at the proximal support and the distal portion of the spines supported at the distal support, wherein the spines are movable from a first non-expanded position to a second expanded position wherein in the expanded position the intermediate portion of the spines extends outwardly radially beyond the proximal and distal portions of the spines while remaining distal to the proximal portion and proximal to the distal portion; and a plurality of electrodes, the electrodes carried by the spines and movable outwardly to an outward position to penetrate tissue for application of energy to the tissue region, the electrodes movable from an initial flat condition essentially coplanar with the spines to the outward position as the spines move to the expanded position, in the outward position penetrating tips of the electrodes remain distal of the proximal portion of the spines and proximal of the distal portion of the spines.