Patent ID: 7122034

Claim:
A device for ablating endocardial tissue, the device comprising a sheath for intravascular insertion into a cardiac cavity, the sheath defining a lumen; an entrance port located at a proximal end of the sheath; and an exit port located at a distal end of the sheath; and a catheter for insertion within the lumen of the sheath, wherein a distal tip of the catheter comprises an ablation electrode; the catheter is pliant compared to the sheath and, when residing with in the sheath, a distal portion of the catheter, proximal and adjacent to the distal tip, is constrained by the sheath; and the distal portion of the catheter embodies the shape of a preset curve and retains the preset curve when not otherwise constrained within the sheath; wherein when the catheter emerges from the exit port of the sheath, the distal portion of the catheter progressively furls to form a hook-shape with an increasing radius of curvature to gradually assume the preset curve; the catheter translates linearly as it furls; and the distal tip maintains an interface with and an orientation directed toward the endocardial tissue as the catheter furls and translates wherein the ablation electrode is placed in contact with the endocardial tissue along a linear path.