METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION

摘要

An endometrial ablation apparatus and method wherein an RF current having a frequency of between 250 kHz and 100 MHz is passed through the entire surface of an endometrium in order to provide heating of the endometrium. An electroconductive expandable member such as a balloon (14) is used as the medium for passing the current and causing the heating of the endometrium. The temperature of the endometrium is raised to a temperature between 45 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius and preferably not above 70 degrees Celsius for a time sufficient to destroy the cells of the lining while maintaining the average temperature of the myo-metrium at a temperature below approximately 42 degrees Celsius. The expandable balloon (14) is connected to a power source (197) which provides the radio frequency power having the desired characteristics to selectively heat the endometrial lining to the desired temperature.