SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING A HOLLOW ANATOMICAL STRUCTURE
A catheter includes multiple primary leads to deliver energy for ligating a hollow anatomical structure. Each of the primary leads includes a resistive element located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the leads such that each lead can individually receive power. The catheter can include a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. Energy is applied until the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced to the point where occlusion is achieved. In one embodiment, a balloon is inflated to place the resistive elements into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure before the application of energy. The inflated balloon impairs blood flow and facilitates the infusion of saline, or medication, to the hollow anatomical structure in order to reduce the occurrence of coagulation and to improve the heating of the structure by the catheter.
1 . A method for use with a catheter sized for insertion into a human blood vessel, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a heating coil located at or near the distal end of the shaft, the heating coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the coil being electrically insulated so as to prevent electrical conduction to any vessel tissue that comes into contact with the coil, and a temperature sensor located along the coil near and proximal of the distal end of the coil; the method comprising:
delivering electrical power to the coil while the coil is disposed in a first treatment segment of the blood vessel;
monitoring a temperature via the temperature sensor; and
creating overlap between the first treatment segment and a second treatment segment of the blood vessel by delivering electrical power to the coil again after sensing a temperature drop via the temperature sensor.