Expandable vein ligator catheter having multiple electrode leads

An apparatus for applying energy from a power source to an inner wall of a hollow anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a catheter having a working end with a distal tip with an orifice formed therein;
• a plurality of leads disposed at the working end, each lead having an uninsulated distal end, each lead electrically connected to the power source and each lead mounted at a proximal end to the working end in a cantilever arrangement;
• and
• means for extending the leads through the distal orifice;
• wherein each lead comprises a bend formed in the lead such that when the leads have been extended through the orifice, the leads expand outwardly moving away from each other into non-penetrating contact with the inner wall to form a substantially symmetric arrangement of substantially evenly spaced distal ends.

An apparatus for delivering energy to ligate an anatomical structure, the anatomical structure having an inner wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a catheter having a sheath, a working end, and an opening formed at the working end of the catheter;
• an inner member disposed within the sheath such that the inner member and the sheath are capable of being moved relative to one another;
• a plurality of leads, each lead having a distal end, the plurality of leads being attached to the inner member such that the distal ends of the plurality of leads extend out of the opening at the working end of the catheter when the position of the sheath changes in one direction relative to the inner member, each lead being formed to move the distal end away from a longitudinal axis defined by the sheath when the plurality of leads are extended out the opening and into non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall of the hollow anatomical structure;
• wherein the distal ends of the leads are configured to deliver energy to the inner wall of the anatomical structure.

An apparatus for applying energy from a power source to a hollow anatomical structure from within the hollow anatomical structure, the hollow anatomical structure having an inner wall, the power source being responsive to temperature signals to control the level of power, the apparatus comprising:

• a catheter having a working end and a lumen configured for fluid delivery;
• a plurality of expandable leads disposed at the working end in a cantilever mounting, wherein the leads are formed with a rectangular cross-section and are mounted to the catheter with a bend such that when in an unconfined configuration, the leads have sufficient strength to move themselves outward into non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall, and further, the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that they do not have sufficient strength to prevent the reduction of the diameter of the inner wall wherein as the inner wall reduces, the leads remain in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall and move inward with it, the leads also having a rounded, convex-shaped distal portion with an uninsulated distal tip, each lead electrically connected to the power source;
• and
• a temperature sensor located at a lead, the sensor providing temperature signals representative of the temperature sensed at the lead;
• wherein the expandable leads are configured so as to maintain non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall to permit the catheter to be moved in the hollow anatomical structure at the same time that the leads are applying energy to the hollow anatomical structure.

An apparatus for applying energy from a power source to a vein from within the vein, the vein having an inner wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a catheter having a working end;
• a plurality of leads disposed at the working end, each lead having a distal portion at which energy may be applied to the inner wall of the vein, each lead connected to the power source;
• a lead control device adapted to control the outward expansion of the leads from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration at which the distal portions of the leads are in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall of the vein;
• wherein the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that when in an unconfined configuration, the leads have sufficient strength to move themselves outward into non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall, and further, the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that they do not have sufficient strength to prevent the reduction of the diameter of the inner wall wherein as the inner wall reduces, the leads remain in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall and move inward with it.

An apparatus for applying energy from a power source to a vein from within the vein, the vein having an inner wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a catheter having a working end;
• a plurality of leads disposed at the working end, each lead having a distal end configured to apply energy to the inner wall of the vein and each lead having a proximal end, each lead connected to the power source and each lead mounted at the proximal end to the working end in a cantilever arrangement;
• a lead control device adapted to control the outward expansion of the leads from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration at which the distal ends of the leads are in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall of the vein;
• wherein each lead comprises a bend formed in the lead, the bend selected to result in the leads expanding outwardly moving away from each other into non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall;
• wherein the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that when in an unconfined configuration, the leads have sufficient strength to move themselves outward into non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall, and further, the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that they do not have sufficient strength to prevent the reduction of the diameter of the inner wall wherein as the inner wall reduces, the leads remain in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall and move inward with it.

An apparatus for applying energy from a power source to a hollow anatomical structure from within the hollow anatomical structure, the power source being responsive to temperature signals to control the level of power, the hollow anatomical structure having an inner wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a catheter having a working end and a lumen configured for fluid delivery, and a longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of expandable leads disposed at the working end, wherein the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that when in an unconfined configuration, the leads have sufficient strength to move themselves outward into non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall, and further, the leads are formed and mounted to the catheter such that they do not have sufficient strength to prevent the reduction of the diameter of the inner wall wherein as the inner wall reduces, the leads remain in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall and move inward with it, the leads also having a distal portion with an uninsulated distal tip, each lead electrically connected to the power source, and the plurality of leads being axially staggered such that when expanded, one lead is located farther from the working end of the catheter than another lead;
• and
• a temperature sensor located at a lead, the sensor providing temperature signals representative of the temperature sensed at the lead;
• wherein the expandable leads are configured so as to permit the catheter to be moved in the hollow anatomical structure at the same time that the leads are in non-penetrating apposition with the inner wall and are applying energy to the hollow anatomical structure.