Patent ID: 8007496

Claim:
A method of treating a tissue region, comprising: introducing a delivery sheath within an anatomical conduit, the delivery sheath comprising a pullwire extending proximally from a distal end of the delivery sheath; expanding an occlusive device associated with the delivery sheath, such that the conduit is at least partially occluded to reduce the flow of fluid through the conduit; manipulating a proximal end of the pullwire so as to bend the distal end of the delivery sheath so that the distal end is pointing towards a puncture site of the conduit adjacent the tissue region; introducing a tissue treatment catheter within the delivery sheath, the tissue treatment catheter having a lumen therein; advancing a scope within the lumen of the tissue treatment catheter to visualize the tissue region; removing the scope from the lumen of the tissue treatment catheter; introducing a stylet within the lumen of the tissue treatment catheter; piercing the conduit wall to create an aperture in the wall of the conduit adjacent the tissue region; advancing the tissue treatment catheter from the delivery sheath over the stylet and through the aperture; and conveying thermal energy from or to the tissue treatment catheter to treat the tissue region.