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Abstract

A medical probe device for treatment of the prostate of a human male having a bladder with a base with a urethra formed by a urethral wall extending into the base of the bladder with the prostate having tissue surrounding the urethra near the base of the bladder with a catheter having a control end and a probe end and a passageway extending from the control end to the probe end along a longitudinal axis. A flexible stylet assembly is slidably mounted in the passageway in the catheter and has a distal extremity. The stylet assembly includes a conductive electrode and a sleeve of insulating material surrounding the conductive electrode and permitting a predetermined portion of the conductive electrode to be exposed. A control device is secured to the stylet assembly and to the control end of the catheter for causing movement of the distal extremity of the stylet assembly between a retracted position disposed within the passageway and an extended position disposed outwardly from the probe end whereby the stylet assembly can extend through the urethral wall into the tissue of the prostate with the conductive electrode being disposed in the tissue of the prostate and the sleeve being disposed in the urethral wall. A radio frequency generator is coupled to the conductive electrode for supplying radio frequency energy to the conductive electrode for causing ablation of tissue in the prostate while the urethral wall is protected from the radio frequency energy supplied to the electrode.

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First Claim