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

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.