Energy delivery devices and methods

Abstract

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A medical device, comprising:
 a catheter extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, the catheter including an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen separate from the inflow lumen;   an expandable member at the distal end of the catheter, the expandable member being reciprocally movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and   an energy delivery element disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member, the energy delivery element being configured to contact tissues defining a body lumen when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration, wherein the inflow lumen is configured to deliver a fluid to the expandable member, and the outflow lumen is configured to simultaneously convey the fluid from the expandable member.   
     
     
         27 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the catheter further includes an energizing lumen separate from the inflow and outflow lumens, wherein an energizing member is configured to extend through the energizing lumen. 
     
     
         28 . The medical device of  claim 27 , further including an RF source, wherein the energizing member is configured to deliver RF energy from the RF source to the energy delivery element. 
     
     
         29 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon, and the delivery of fluid from the inflow lumen to the balloon is configured to inflate the balloon from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is configured to absorb heat from the contacted tissues or the energy delivery element. 
     
     
         31 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is saline or water. 
     
     
         32 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element is one of a plurality of electrodes extending from a proximal end of the expandable member toward a distal end of the expandable member. 
     
     
         33 . The medical device of  claim 32 , further including an energizing member extending from a proximal end of the medical device, through the expandable member, toward a distal end of the expandable member, wherein the energizing member is configured to provide RF energy to the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         34 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid is not configured to directly contact any tissues defining the body lumen. 
     
     
         35 . The medical device of  claim 26 , further including an RF source coupled to the energy delivery element via an energizing member, wherein the expandable member extends from a proximal end of the expandable member toward a distal end of the expandable member, and the energizing member does not extend through a radial surface of the expandable member disposed between the proximal end of the expandable member and the distal end of the expandable member. 
     
     
         36 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element does not extend around an entire circumference of the expandable member, and the medical device includes only one energizing member configured to deliver energy to the energy delivery element. 
     
     
         37 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element is helically shaped. 
     
     
         38 . The medical device of  claim 26 , wherein the energy delivery element is an electrode coupled to a polymeric material. 
     
     
         39 . A medical device, comprising:
 a catheter extending from a proximal end toward a distal end;   an expandable member at the distal end of the catheter, the expandable member being reciprocally movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the catheter includes a first lumen configured to deliver a fluid to the expandable member or convey the fluid from the expandable member, and a second lumen separate from the first lumen;   an energy delivery element disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member; and   an energizing member extending through the second lumen, the energizing member being configured to deliver RF energy to the energy delivery element.   
     
     
         40 . The medical device of  claim 39 , wherein the catheter further includes a third lumen separate from both the first and second lumens, the third lumen being configured to deliver the fluid to the expandable member or convey the fluid from the expandable member. 
     
     
         41 . A medical device, comprising:
 a catheter extending from a proximal end toward a distal end;   a balloon at the distal end of the catheter, the balloon extending from a proximal end of the balloon toward a distal end of the balloon and being reciprocally movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;   an electrode disposed on an outer surface of the balloon; and   an energizing member configured to deliver RF energy to the energy delivery element, wherein the energizing member does not extend through a radial surface of the balloon disposed between the proximal end of the balloon and the distal end of the balloon.   
     
     
         42 . The medical device of  claim 41 , wherein the electrode does not extend around an entire circumference of the expandable member, and the medical device includes only one energizing member configured to deliver energy to the electrode.