Patent ID: 7367970

Claim:
A system for electrically isolating a cardiac chamber, comprising: a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, said resonant circuit being constructed and dimensioned for introduction into an operative position in a pulmonary vein of a subject proximate an ostium of said pulmonary vein; a catheter adapted to carry said resonant circuit into said operative position in said pulmonary vein; a stent dimensioned for circumferential engagement with an inner wall of said pulmonary vein to define a circumferential region of contact between said stent and said pulmonary vein, wherein a principal axis of said stent is substantially aligned coaxially with said pulmonary vein, said resonant circuit being incorporated in said stent; said stent and said resonant circuit forming a body in the shape of a ring, wherein said ring comprises a capacitor core and an inductor coil wound around said capacitor core; a generator disposed external to said subject for generating an electromagnetic field that has a frequency substantially equal to said resonant frequency of said resonant circuit, said electromagnetic field operatively including said resonant circuit and causing said resonant circuit to re-radiate electromagnetic energy so as to ablate intramural target tissue in said pulmonary vein; and a sensor system to position and orient said stent in said pulmonary vein proximate the ostium of the pulmonary vein so that when the target tissue of the pulmonary vein has been ablated, a coronary chamber communicating with the pulmonary vein at said ostium will be electrically isolated from the pulmonary vein.