Patent ID: 6994706

Claim:
An apparatus for therapeutic treatment of the prostate gland, said prostate gland having a transition zone, with electrical energy, said apparatus comprising a handle, a urethral probe, and a needle cartridge, wherein: said urethral probe is attached to said handle and includes: a proximal probe end; an elongated rigid probe member configured for introduction into the urethra; a distal probe end including a balloon selectively expandable in the patient's bladder; and a urethral electrode attached to said elongated probe member; and said needle cartridge is movably attached to said handle and includes: a plurality of needle electrodes mounted for relative motion with respect to said handle to advance said needle electrodes into the body of the prostate, said needle electrodes being configured for placement within the transition zone of the prostate; wherein said urethral probe and needle cartridge are spatially positioned relatively to each other and attached to said handle such that said needle electrodes move substantially parallel to the distal part of the urethra at predetermined distances and positions from each other and from said urethral electrode; and wherein during a therapeutic procedure said proximal probe end is positioned outside of the patient's body and said distal probe end is disposed within the bladder such that when said balloon is inflated in the bladder said conductive probe electrode is disposed closely adjacent to the transition zone of the prostate; and wherein said plurality of needle electrodes are disposed in at least two circumferential rows such that during a therapeutic procedure said needle electrodes are placed substantially circumferentially about the urethra with said electrodes extending substantially parallel to each other and to the urethra and wherein each needle electrode in a said row is positioned at substantially the same distance from the urethra.