Systems and methods for treating tissue with radiofrequency energy

A method of treating tissue by applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a device having an electrode advancer, a spacer to receive the electrode advancer and a plurality of electrodes movable between a retracted position and an advanced position, the plurality of electrodes each having a penetrating tip and a structure to maintain an equidistant radial spacing and to maintain longitudinal alignment of each of the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes;
• b. inserting the device into a sphincter of a patient;
• c. advancing the plurality of electrodes to penetrate sphincter tissue at a first location, the plurality of electrodes are configured to be longitudinally aligned in the advanced position and further being equidistantly radially spaced in the advanced position;
• d. applying non-ablative radio frequency energy to the plurality of electrodes to apply the non-ablative radiofrequency energy to tissue in a first area of the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes without causing tissue necrosis or tissue ablation with a minimum distance maintained between regions of tissue treated by the plurality of electrodes;
• e. retracting the plurality of electrodes within the device;
• f. rotating the device to a second position;
• g. advancing the plurality of electrodes from the device so that the penetrating tips penetrate sphincter tissue at a second location, the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes being longitudinally aligned and maintained in an equidistant radial spacing in the advanced position;
• and
• h. applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy to the plurality of electrodes to apply the non-ablative radiofrequency energy to tissue in a second area of the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes without causing tissue necrosis or tissue ablation, such equidistant radial spacing and longitudinal alignment maintain the minimum distance between regions of tissue treated to avoid overlapping of tissue treatment area which could cause ablation of tissue and tissue necrosis.