Patent ID: 6817999
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of ablating tissue with an ablation apparatus including an elongated member having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a configurable distal portion that includes an ablation element disposed to emit ablative energy, the method comprising the steps of:advancing the distal portion into a patient's body toward a target tissue site; configuring the distal portion in a selected shape that is skewed relative to the longitudinal axis; deflecting the elongated member intermediate the proximal end and the configured distal portion to position the configured distal portion toward the target tissue site; advancing the configured distal portion to contact the target tissue; additionally deflecting the elongated member intermediate the proximal end and the configured distal portion to move the configured distal portion along an extended path at the target tissue site; and applying ablative energy to the ablative element during the additional deflecting to ablate tissue along the extended path.