Patent ID: 7252663
Filing Date: 2007-08-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of ablating tissue within a patient comprising the steps of: inserting into a patient a substantially rigid sheath; maneuvering a flexible section mounted on the rigid sheath into an operative position in which a distal end of the flexible section is located within one of a pulmonary vein and a pulmonary vein ostium adjacent to a portion of tissue to be ablated, the flexible section including an occluding structure which has a retracted position and extended position; extending the occluding structure to the extended position once the flexible section is in the operative position to block blood flow past the occluding structure; and passing an ablation catheter through the flexible section so that an ablation tip of the ablation catheter exits the flexible section adjacent to the portion of tissue to be ablated.