METHOD FOR PROTECTING A PATIENT'S ESOPHAGUS WHILE ABLATING TISSUE OF THE PATIENT'S HEART AND INTRA-ESOPHAGEAL SYSTEM THEREFOR

摘要

The present invention concerns a method for protecting a patient's esophagus (2) while ablating tissue of the patient's heart, comprising the steps of: - inserting an intra-esophageal system into the esophagus (2) of a body; - moving the esophagus (2) from an initial position close to the patient's heart to a second position further away from the patient's heart by operating the intra-esophageal system; - ablating tissue of the patient's heart; - returning the esophagus (2) into said initial position by relaxing the intra- esophageal system; and - removing the intra-esophageal system from the esophagus (2), wherein during the step of moving the esophagus (2) from an initial position to a second position, the intra-esophageal system applies a negative pressure along an area of the esophagus (2). The present invention further concerns an intra- esophageal system and a use of the intra-esophageal system as an intra- esophageal system in the method of the present invention.