METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING LUMINAL TISSUE

摘要

A method and apparatus for sealing and/or grasping lesions or incisions of luminal tissue is provided. The apparatus (10) has a generally tubular assembly (12) with portions (18, 22) which expand away from each other. The apparatus is inserted into the lumen of a tissue and placed adjacent the area to be sealed. The portions expand to contact tho inner wall of the luminal tissue. Energy is delivered with a media (28) through the expanded tubular assembly to heat the tissue to a nondestructive range where the tissue forms a denatured proteinaceous substance. The media delivering the energy is rotated in the expanded tubular assembly to heat different areas of the tissue without moving the tubular assembly itself.