Methods for treating the cardia of the stomach

Abstract

Methods treat a tissue region. In one arrangement, the methods deploy an electrode on a support structure in a tissue region at or near the cardia of the stomach. In one embodiment, the support structure has a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region is enlarged in comparison to the distal region, and the electrode is carried by the enlarged proximal surface. The methods advance the electrode in a path to penetrate the tissue region and couple the electrode to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create a lesion in the tissue region.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A method for treating a tissue region at or near the cardia comprising the steps of 
 deploying an electrode on a support structure in a cardia tissue region at or near the cardia, the support structure being sized and configured to engage the cardia about the periphery of the junction of the stomach and the esophagus, and    advancing the electrode in a path to penetrate the cardia tissue region.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , further including 
 coupling the electrode to a source of radio frequency energy to ohmically heat tissue and create a lesion in the cardia tissue region.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2   wherein the support structure has a proximal region and a distal region, the proximal region being enlarged in comparison to the distal region, and    wherein the electrode is carried by the enlarged proximal surface.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the support structure expands and collapses.    
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5   wherein the expanded support structure is pear-shaped.    
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 5   wherein the expanded support structure is disk-shaped.    
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 5   wherein the expanded support structure is peanut-shaped.