Expandable catheter having two sets of electrodes, and method of use

Abstract

A catheter includes a first plurality of expandable leads and a second plurality of expandable leads separate and longitudinally spaced-apart from the first plurality to deliver energy to a hollow anatomical structure, such as vein, fallopian tube, hemorrhoid, esophageal varix, to effectively ligate that structure. Each of the leads includes an electrode located at the distal end of the respective electrode lead. Polarizations of the leads may be selected to achieve the power distribution desired. Each electrode lead includes an outward bend such that when a movable sheath is moved out of contact with the leads, they expand outwardly into apposition with an inner wall of the structure to be ligated. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes are freely moved inward by the shrinking structure while still maintaining apposition with the inner wall of the shrinking structure.

1 - 67 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         68 . A method of applying energy intraluminally to a hollow anatomical structure having an inner wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 introducing into the hollow anatomical structure a catheter having a working end with an energy application device mounted at the working end of the catheter;    applying energy to the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure from the energy application device to reduce the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure;    moving the energy application device along a length of the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure while energy is being applied to the hollow anatomical structure by the energy application device so as to lead to a lengthy effective occlusion of the hollow anatomical structure.    
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the step of moving the energy application device includes the step of withdrawing the catheter.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of controlling the application of energy to substantially avoid coagulation of blood.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of expanding the energy application device into apposition with the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the expanded energy application device collapses with the hollow anatomical structure during the step of applying energy.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the step of applying energy further comprising the step of heating a circumferential band along an axial length of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of establishing circumferential contact between the energy application device and the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure before the step of applying energy.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising the step of establishing circumferential contact between the expanded energy application device and the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the energy application device includes a plurality of electrodes.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the energy application device includes a fiber optic for delivering light energy.  
     
     
         78 . A method of applying energy intraluminally to a hollow anatomical structure having an inner wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 introducing into the hollow anatomical structure a catheter having a working end with an energy application device mounted at the working end of the catheter;    applying energy to the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure from the energy application device to produce a relatively uniform temperature distribution about the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure so as to reduce the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure and lead to effective occlusion of the hollow anatomical structure.    
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  further comprising the step of moving the energy application device along a length of the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure while energy is being applied to the hollow anatomical structure by the energy application device.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of controlling the application of energy to substantially avoid coagulation of blood.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of expanding the energy application device into apposition with the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the expanded energy application device collapses with the hollow anatomical structure during the step of applying energy.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising the step of establishing circumferential contact between the expanded energy application device and the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the step of applying energy further comprising the step of heating a circumferential band along an axial length of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising the step of establishing circumferential contact between the energy application device and the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure before the step of applying energy.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the energy application device includes a plurality of electrodes for delivering RF energy.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the energy application device includes a fiber optic for delivering light energy.  
     
     
         88 . A method of applying energy intraluminally to a hollow anatomical structure having an inner wall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 introducing into the hollow anatomical structure a catheter having a working end with an energy application device mounted at the working end of the catheter;    applying energy to the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure from the energy application device so as to reduce the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure and lead to effective occlusion of the hollow anatomical structure and substantially avoid coagulation of blood.    
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88  further comprising the step of moving the energy application device along a length of the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure while energy is being applied to the hollow anatomical structure by the energy application device.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of controlling the application of energy to substantially avoid coagulation of blood.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of expanding the energy application device into apposition with the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the expanded energy application device collapses with the hollow anatomical structure during the step of applying energy.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising the step of establishing circumferential contact between the expanded energy application device and the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the step of applying energy further comprising the step of heating a circumferential band along an axial length of the hollow anatomical structure.  
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 88 , further comprising the step of establishing circumferential contact between the energy application device and the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure before the step of applying energy.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the energy application device includes a plurality of electrodes for delivering RF energy.  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the energy application device includes a fiber optic for delivering light energy.  
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the step of applying energy structurally transfigures the collagen fibrils of the hollow anatomical structure and further includes the step of controlling the application of energy to substantially avoid cauterization.  
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 88  wherein the hollow anatomical structure is a blood vessel.  
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the hollow anatomical structure is a blood vessel.  
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 68  wherein the hollow anatomical structure is a blood vessel.