TISSUE ABLATION DEVICE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICALLY ISOLATING A PULMONARY VEIN OSTIUM FROM AN ATRIAL WALL

摘要

This invention is related to a tissue ablation system and method that treatsatrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential regionof tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. Thesystem includes a circumferential ablation member with anablation element and also includes a delivery assembly for delivering theablation member to the location. The circumferential ablationmember is generally adjustable between different configurations to allow boththe delivery through a delivery sheath into the atrium andthe ablative coupling between the ablation element and the circumferentialregion of tissue.