Patent ID: 7238180
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for forming a lesion in tissue along a desired ablation path, said apparatus comprising: a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface, said guide member having interior surfaces and a longitudinal axis; said guide member including a track extending at least partially along a length of said guide member; and said apparatus further comprises a carriage slidably received with said track, said ablation member secured to said carriage for guiding movement therewith said guide carriage slidably received within said track and moveable therein along said longitudinal axis, an optical fiber within said guide carriage and secured thereto for movement therewith; said carriage retaining said fiber and receiving said fiber with an entrance axis to said longitudinal axis at an entrance angle substantially less than 45 degrees and bending said fiber to a distal tip with a discharge axis of said fiber at said distal tip to said longitudinal axis at a discharge angle of at least 45 degrees and aligned for discharge of laser energy, from a laser source, through said tissue opposing surface and with an alignment of said distal tip and said carriage remaining constant throughout movement of said carriage.