| abstract |
A system for treating a target region in tissue beneath a tissue surface comprises a probe (22) for deploying an electrode array (32) within the tissue and a surface electrode (24) for engaging the tissue surface above the treatment site. Preferably, surface electrode includes a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which advance into the tissue, and the surface electrode is removably attachable to the probe. The tissue may be treated in a mono-polar fashion where the electrode array, the surface electrode are attached to a common pole on an electrode surgical power supply, powered simultaneously or successively, or in a bipolar fashion where the electrode array, and surface electrode are attached to opposite poles of the power supply. The systems are particularly useful for treating tumors, and other tissue treatment regions which lie near the surface. |