Devices, systems and methods for treating tissue regions of the body

Claim 2

A support assembly for an elongated electrode element comprising at least one spine for holding the elongated electrode element for use, the spine peripherally defining at least one spine lumen, and an insert carried by the spine and peripherally defining an insert lumen sized to accommodate forward and rearward sliding movement of the elongated electrode element within the spine, the insert including a distal extension having a first outer dimension sized for insertion into the spine lumen, the insert also including a proximal region having a second outer dimension greater than the first outer dimension and sized to resist insertion into the spine lumen to thereby define a maximum insertion length for the distal extension.

Claim 3

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine includes a side opening, wherein the distal extension of the insert includes an open distal end, and wherein the maximum insertion length places the open distal end in desired alignment with the side opening for guiding sliding movement of a distal portion of the elongated electrode element toward the side opening.

Claim 4

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine includes a side opening and an interior ramp depending from the side opening, wherein the distal extension of the insert includes an open distal end, and wherein the maximum insertion length locates the open distal end on the interior ramp for guiding sliding movement of a distal portion of the elongated electrode element toward the side opening.

Claim 5

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine includes a side opening, wherein the distal extension of the insert includes a distal end, and wherein the maximum insertion length keeps the distal end from projecting through the side opening.

Claim 6

An assembly according to claim 1 further including material to secure the proximal region of the insert to the spine.

Claim 7

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine defines at least two spine lumens, and wherein the insert is carried by at least one of the spine lumens.

Claim 8

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine defines at least two spine lumens, and wherein the insert is carried by one of the spine lumens to guide sliding movement of the elongated electrode element, and wherein the other spine lumen holds another functional element for use in concert with the elongated electrode element.

Claim 9

An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the functional element comprises a temperature sensor.

Claim 10

An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the functional element comprises a fluid irrigation path.

Claim 11

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine is joined to several other spines to form a basket structure.

Claim 12

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the spine defines at least two spine lumens, and wherein the insert is carried by at least one of the spine lumens to guide sliding movement of the elongated electrode element.

Claim 13

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrode support structure includes an array of spines joined together to form a basket structure.

Claim 14

An electrode assembly comprising an elongated electrode element having a distal operative portion, a connector to couple the elongated electrode element to a source of radio frequency energy, and an electrode support structure comprising at least one spine for holding the elongated electrode element for use, the spine peripherally defining at least one spine lumen, the spine including a side opening, and an insert carried by the spine and peripherally defining an insert lumen sized to accommodate forward and rearward sliding movement of the elongated electrode element within the spine, the insert including a distal extension having a first outer dimension sized for insertion into the spine lumen, the distal extension including an open distal end, the insert also including a proximal region having a second outer dimension greater than the first outer dimension and sized to resist insertion into the spine lumen to thereby define a maximum insertion length for the distal extension to place the open distal end in desired alignment with the side opening for guiding sliding movement of the distal operative portion of the elongated electrode element toward the side opening.

Claim 15

An electrode assembly comprising an elongated electrode element having a distal operative portion, a connector to couple the elongated electrode element to a source of radio frequency energy, and an electrode support structure comprising at least one spine for holding the elongated electrode element for use, the spine peripherally defining at least one spine lumen, the spine including a side opening, and an insert carried by the spine and peripherally defining an insert lumen sized to accommodate forward and rearward sliding movement of the elongated electrode element within the spine, the insert including a distal extension having a first outer dimension sized for insertion into the spine lumen, the distal extension including an open distal end, the insert also including a proximal region having a second outer dimension greater than the first outer dimension and sized to resist insertion into the spine lumen to thereby define a maximum insertion length for the distal extension to place the open distal end in desired alignment with the side opening for guiding sliding movement of the distal operative portion of the elongated electrode element toward the side opening.

Claim 16

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the spine includes an interior ramp depending from the side opening, and wherein the maximum insertion length locates the open distal end on the interior ramp for guiding sliding movement of the distal operative portion of the elongated electrode element toward the side opening.

Claim 17

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the maximum insertion length keeps the open distal end from projecting through the side opening.

Claim 18

An assembly according to claim 13 further including material to secure the proximal region of the insert to the spine.

Claim 19

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the spine defines at least two spine lumens, and wherein the insert is carried by one of the spine lumens to guide sliding movement of the elongated electrode element, and wherein the other spine lumen holds another functional element for use in concert with the elongated electrode element.

Claim 20

An assembly according to claim 17 wherein the functional element comprises a temperature sensor.

Claim 21

An assembly according to claim 17 wherein the functional element comprises a fluid irrigation path.

Claim 22

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the elongated electrode element includes an axis, and wherein the distal operative portion assumes a bend along the axis when outside the side opening of the spine.

Claim 23

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the electrode includes an axis, and wherein the distal operative portion is biased to assume a bend along the axis when outside the side opening of the spine.

Claim 24

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the elongated electrode element includes a proximal electrode portion formed from a first material, and wherein the distal operative portion is formed of a second material different than the first material.

Claim 25

An assembly according to claim 13 wherein the elongated electrode element includes a proximal electrode portion that is sized differently than the distal operative portion to resist entry of the proximal electrode portion into the insert lumen.

Claim 26

An assembly according to claim 15 proximal electrode portion is formed from a first material, and wherein the distal operative portion is formed of a second material different than the first material.

Claim 27

An assembly according to claim 13 further including a mechanism to control the extent of forward and rearward sliding movement of the elongated electrode element within the spine.