Systems and methods are provided for applying a
high frequency voltage in the presence of an
electrically conductive fluid to create a relatively low-temperature
plasma for
ablation of tissue adjacent to, or in contact with, the
plasma. In one embodiment, an electrosurgical probe or
catheter is positioned adjacent the
target site so that one or more
active electrode(s) are brought into contact with, or close proximity to, a
target tissue in the presence of
electrically conductive fluid.
High frequency voltage is then applied between the
active electrode(s) and one or more return
electrode(s) to non-thermally generate a
plasma adjacent to the
active electrode(s), and to volumetrically remove or ablate at least a portion of the
target tissue. The
high frequency voltage generates electric fields around the active
electrode(s) with sufficient energy to ionize the
conductive fluid adjacent to the active
electrode(s). Within the ionized gas or plasma, free electrons are accelerated, and
electron-atoms collisions liberate more electrons, and the process cascades until the plasma contains sufficient energy to break apart the tissue molecules, causing molecular dissociation and
ablation of the
target tissue.