Expandable Mesh Platform for Large Area Ablation

Abstract

An ablation device and a method of ablating a tissue are provided. The ablation device includes a first elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough and a second elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The first elongate shaft is coaxially positioned and longitudinally movable relative to the second elongate shaft. The ablation device further includes a mesh member including a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion of the mesh member is operably connected to the distal portion of the second elongate shaft and the distal potion the mesh member is operably connected to an inner surface of the distal portion of the first elongate shaft. The mesh member includes a conductive portion configured to contact a surface for ablation.

1 . A method of ablating a tissue, the method comprising:
 inserting a distal portion of an ablation device into a lumen of a patient, the ablation device comprising:
 a first elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough; 
 a elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, the first elongate shaft coaxially positioned and movable relative to the second elongate shaft; and 
   a mesh member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the mesh member operably connected to the distal portion of the second elongate shaft and the distal potion the mesh member operably connected to an inner surface of the distal portion of the first elongate shaft, the mesh member having a first diameter and a second diameter greater than the first diameter and the mesh member comprising a conductive portion configured to contact a surface for ablation;   positioning at least a portion of the mesh member at a treatment site;   moving the first elongate shaft relative to the second elongate shaft to move the ablation device to an expanded configuration having the second diameter;   pressing an end face of the mesh member against the surface; and   applying energy to the tissue from an energy source.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising longitudinally moving the first elongate shaft relative to the second elongate shaft to move the ablation device to an extended configuration having substantially the first diameter wherein the end face is configured to be pressed against the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising longitudinally moving the first elongate shaft relative to the second elongate shaft to move the ablation device to retracted configuration where the distal portion of the mesh member is positioned within the lumen of the second elongate shaft and the proximal portion of the mesh member remains operably connected to the outer surface of the distal end of the second elongate shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising moving the ablation device to a second treatment site in the retracted configuration and expanding the mesh member at the second site by longitudinally moving the first elongate shaft relative to the second elongate shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising delivering the ablation device to the treatment site using an endoscope.