The invention provides an apparatus and
system for
ablation of body structures or tissue in the region of the
rectum. A
catheter is inserted into the
rectum, and an
electrode is disposed thereon for emitting energy. The environment for an
ablation region is isolated or otherwise controlled by blocking gas or fluid using a pair of
inflatable balloons at upstream and downstream locations.
Inflatable balloons also serve to anchor the
catheter in place. A plurality of electrodes are disposed on the
catheter and at least one such
electrode is selected and advanced out of the catheter to penetrate and ablate selected tissue inside the body in the region of the
rectum. The electrodes are coupled to sensors to determine
control parameters of the body structure or tissue, and which are used by feedback technique to control delivery of energy for
ablation or fluids for cooling or hydration. The catheter includes an
optical path disposed for
coupling to an external view piece, so as to allow medical personnel to view or control positioning of the catheter and operation of the electrodes. The catheter is disposed to deliver flowable substances for aiding in ablation, or for aiding in repair of tissue, such as collagen or another substance for covering lesions or for filling fissures. The flowable substances are delivered using at least one lumen in the catheter, either from at least one hole in the catheter, from an area of the catheter covered by a microporous membrane, or from microporous balloons.