Patent ID: 6966908
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: A61B,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising: a delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a longitudinal axis and a radial axis; a circumferential ablation member cooperating with the delivery member, the delivery member being adapted to at least in-part deliver the circumferential ablation member to the location, the circumferential ablation member having, an ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, and a positioning means coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the atrium, wherein the ablation element and the circumferential support member are configured such that the circumferential area coincides with the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location.