Systems and methods for creating a lesion using transjugular approach

Abstract

A method of treating a tissue region includes inserting a flexible sheath within a vessel, the vessel leading to a tissue region, placing a distal end of the sheath through a wall of the vessel to thereby position the distal end is at or adjacent the tissue region, deploying a plurality of electrodes from the distal end of the sheath such that tips of the deployed electrodes approximately face towards a proximal end, and delivering energy to the tissue region using the deployed electrodes.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of treating a tissue region, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a flexible sheath within a blood vessel, the blood vessel leading to a tissue region;   placing a distal end of the sheath adjacent to the tissue region;   extending an electrode from the distal end of the sheath such that a portion of the electrode is located 0.1-10 mm from a wall of the blood vessel; and   delivering energy to the tissue region using the deployed electrode,   wherein (a) the electrode is dispensed at a distal end of a shaft slidably disposed within the sheath, (b) the step of extending the electrode from the distal end of the sheath includes advancing the shaft distally relative to the sheath, (e) the shaft is attached to a handle, the handle configured to move the shaft axially and rotationally, and (d) at least one of the shaft and the handle includes a visual indicator of a rotational orientation of the electrode.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the electrode has a curved shape when extended from the sheath. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the electrode curves radially outwardly when extended from the sheath. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of changing a rotational orientation of the electrode. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of changing an axial position of the electrode. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the tissue region is part of a kidney. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the electrode includes a plurality of conductive elements. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the energy is RF energy and is delivered from one or more of the plurality of conductive elements. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the electrode includes radiopaque material. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sheath includes a radiopaque material. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the electrode includes a sensor capable of sensing a temperature or an impedance, and the step of delivering energy to the tissue region includes varying the energy delivered based at least in part on a signal provided by the sensor. 
     
     
         33 . A system for treating a tissue comprising:
 as electrode disposed at a distal end of a flexible shaft;   a sheath slidably disposed over the flexible shaft; and   a handle connected to each of the sheath and the flexible shaft, the handle configured to move the shaft axially and rotationally relative to the sheath,   wherein at least one of the handle and the sheath includes a visual indicator of a rotational orientation of the shaft.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the electrode has a curved shape when extended from the sheath. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the electrode curves radially outwardly when extended from the sheath. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the electrode includes a plurality of conductive elements.