Instrument guide and method for use

1. A method for positioning a surgical instrument in a patient for treatment of a target tissue adjacent a pulmonary vein of a heart by means of an instrument guide and a positioning mechanism for the surgical instrument comprising the acts of:

a) providing a positioning mechanism comprising a blunt distal end with a light source thereon;

b) providing an instrument guide comprising a flexible, elongated member having a proximal end comprising an anchor, a distal end and a medial portion between the proximal and distal ends, a first translucent pocket located on the distal end of the elongated member, and a medial pocket positioned proximal to the first pocket;

c) providing a surgical instrument comprising a surgical ablation clamp having a distal jaw and a proximal jaw, each jaw having a tip for performing a medical procedure on target tissue;

d) placing the distal end of the positioning mechanism in the first pocket;

e) activating the light source on the distal end of the positioning mechanism;

f) using the distal end of the positioning mechanism to dissect tissue to create a pathway to the target tissue and to advance the first pocket to a position adjacent the target tissue;

g) viewing the light source through the first pocket of the instrument guide to confirm the location of the distal end of the positioning mechanism relative to the target tissue;

h) removing the positioning mechanism from the first pocket;

i) placing one of the jaws of the surgical instrument in the medial pocket of the instrument guide, attaching the anchor to a release lever on the surgical instrument, pulling the distal end of the elongated member of the instrument guide to further advance the instrument guide until the jaws of the surgical instrument are located on the target tissue adjacent to the pulmonary vein; and

j) ablating the target tissue with the surgical instrument.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acts are performed sequentially as listed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first pocket comprises enclosed sides and end, and an opening opposite the end, the distal end of the positioning mechanism being introduced into the first pocket through the opening.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising visually differentiating tissue composition with the activated light source.

5. A method for positioning a surgical instrument in a patient for treatment of a target tissue adjacent a pulmonary vein of a heart by means of an instrument guide and a positioning mechanism for the surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising a surgical ablation clamp having a release lever, a distal jaw and a proximal jaw, each jaw having a tip for performing a medical procedure on target tissue, the instrument guide comprising a flexible, elongated member having a proximal end comprising an anchor, a distal end and a medial portion between the proximal and distal ends, a first translucent pocket located on the distal end of the elongated member and a medial pocket positioned proximal to the first pocket, and the positioning mechanism comprising a blunt distal end with a light source thereon, the method comprising:

a) placing the distal end of the positioning mechanism in the first pocket;

b) activating the light source on the distal end of the positioning mechanism;

c) using the distal end of the positioning mechanism to dissect tissue to create a pathway to the target tissue and to advance the first pocket to a position adjacent the target tissue;

d) viewing the light source through the first pocket of the instrument guide to confirm the location of the distal end of the positioning mechanism relative to the target tissue;

e) removing the positioning mechanism from the first pocket;

f) placing one of the jaws of the surgical instrument in the medial pocket of the instrument guide, attaching the anchor to the release lever on the surgical instrument, pulling the distal end of the elongated member of the instrument guide to further advance the instrument guide until the jaws of the surgical instrument are located on the target tissue adjacent to the pulmonary vein; and

g) ablating the target tissue with the surgical instrument.