System and method for advancing, orienting, and immobilizing on internal body tissue a catheter or other therapeutic device

摘要

This invention provides a system and method that allows a therapeutic device, such as an atrial fibrillation microwave ablation catheter or ablation tip to be guided to a remote location within a body cavity and then accurately immobilized on the tissue, including that of a moving organ, such as the heart.

主权项

1. A method for ablating a target tissue in a patient's body, the method comprising:
providing a device comprising an ablation catheter comprising an ablation element; and an immobilizer mechanism coupled to the ablation catheter, wherein the immobilizer mechanism is distal to the ablation element, is configured to anchor the catheter and to axially pull the ablation element toward the immobilizer mechanism after the immobilizer mechanism is engaged; inserting the device into a patient's body; immobilizing the device within the patient's body; axially pulling, via the immobilizer mechanism, the ablation element to contact to a target tissue while the immobilizer mechanism is engaged; and ablating a surface of the target tissue.