System and method for performing ablation using an expandable member

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a catheter, a conductive element and a balloon. The catheter has a lumen. The conductive element is disposed along the catheter. The balloon has an interior in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter. The balloon is formed of a conductive material conductively coupled to the conductive element. The balloon has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of heating a body tissue utilizing a balloon catheter, the balloon of the catheter comprising (a) a plurality of conductive portions, (b) a plurality of non-conductive portions, and (c) an outer wall defining a plurality of fluid openings, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning the balloon of the catheter within a body lumen;   expanding the balloon; and   energizing the plurality of conductive portions, thereby heating a tissue adjacent to the lumen.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conductive portions are radiofrequency electrodes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conductive and non-conductive portions are uniformly distributed throughout the balloon. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of conductive and non-conductive portions are arranged along the length of the balloon. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of conductive portions are separated from each other by a non-conductive portion. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the balloon is expanded by flowing a fluid into the balloon, thereby flowing the fluid through the fluid openings and into the body lumen. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the catheter comprises a lumen in fluid communication with the balloon, the lumen configured such that the fluid flows through the lumen into the balloon. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue adjacent to the lumen includes margin tissue. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the heating ablates at least a portion of the margin tissue. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the heating defines the shape of the lumen. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lumen is formed by the removal of a tissue. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein at least some of the fluid flows through the fluid openings and into the body lumen 
     
     
         35 . A method of heating a body tissue utilizing a balloon catheter, the balloon of the catheter comprising (a) a plurality of radiofrequency electrodes and (b) an outer wall defining a plurality of fluid openings, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning the balloon of the catheter within a body lumen;   at least partially filling the balloon with a fluid, thereby flowing the fluid through the fluid openings and into the body lumen; and   energizing the radiofrequency electrodes, thereby heating a tissue adjacent to the lumen.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid openings is less than the temperature of the radiofrequency electrodes. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein energizing the plurality of radiofrequency electrodes directly heats the tissue adjacent to the lumen. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein energizing the plurality of radiofrequency electrodes heats the fluid flowing through the fluid openings. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the fluid flowing through the fluid openings increases the conductivity of energy form the energized radiofrequency electrodes to the tissue adjacent to the lumen. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the fluid is saline.