Partial ablation procedure and device therefor

A partial endometrial ablation device comprising:

• an elongate support member;
• an elongate first conductor member reciprocably supported within the support member for reciprocating movement relative thereto in oppositely-disposed first and second directions, the first conductor member having an end that extends outside the support member;
• at least one flexible nonconducting member having a first end interconnected with the support member and having a second end interconnected with the end of the first conductor member;
• and
• a plurality of flexible conductor members, each having a first end interconnected with the support member and having a second end electrically interconnected with the end of the first conductor member for conducting a current through the first and flexible conductor members;
• wherein the support member, the first conductor member, the flexible nonconducting member and the flexible conductor members are interconnected so that extension of the first conductor member in the first direction relative to the support member causes the end of the first conductor member to move away from the support member and establishes a stowed position in which the flexible nonconducting member and the flexible conductor members are substantially parallel to and alongside the first conductor member and wherein retraction of the first conductor member in the second direction relative to the support member causes the end of the first conductor member to move toward the support member and establishes a deployed position in which the flexible nonconducting member and the flexible conductor members are expanded outward and away from the first conductor member and in substantially opposite directions to each other;
• and
• wherein, when the first conductor member is retracted to expand the flexible nonconducting member and the flexible conductor members the flexible conductor members are operative to perform ablation of a first wall region of an intrauterine cavity of the human body while an oppositely-disposed second wall region of the intrauterine cavity is held apart from the first wall region by the flexible nonconducting member so that the second wall region does not undergo ablation.