System and method for positioning an elongate member with respect to an anatomical structure

1. A method of ablating an anatomic structure in a patient as a treatment for atrial fibrillation, said method comprising:

providing an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

locating the anatomic structure with a positioning mechanism disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft;

anchoring the shaft with the positioning mechanism adjacent the anatomic structure;

electrically stimulating or sensing electrical signals from the anatomic structure with an electrode disposed adjacent a distal portion of the positioning mechanism;

delivering energy to the anatomic structure with an energy delivery element housed within an energy delivery structure disposed near a distal end of the shaft, and without contacting the anatomic structure with the energy delivery structure and the energy delivery element disposed therein, thereby creating a zone of ablation having a plurality of tissue points, that blocks abnormal electrical activity in order to reduce or eliminate atrial fibrillation in the patient; and

moving the energy delivery structure along an ablation path while delivering energy with the energy delivery element, without contacting the anatomic structure with the energy delivery structure and the energy delivery element disposed therein;

wherein the step of delivering energy further comprises modulating frequency, bandwidth, or amplitude of the energy delivered to the anatomic structure to compensate for known differences in distances between each of the plurality of tissue points in the zone of ablation and the energy delivery element, and

wherein the energy is ultrasound energy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft comprises a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the method further comprising delivering a fluid from the lumen to the anatomic structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the anatomic structure comprises visualizing the anatomic structure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the anatomic structure comprises tactile or audible feedback.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the anatomic structure comprises advancing the positioning mechanism from, or retracting the positioning mechanism into the elongate shaft.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a plurality of wires and the step of locating the anatomic structure comprises deflecting at least some of the plurality of wires.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the anatomic structure comprises determining an entry angle of the elongate shaft into the anatomic structure.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of anchoring the shaft comprises engaging the positioning mechanism against the anatomical structure and exerting an outward biasing force against an interior surface of the anatomical structure.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of anchoring the shaft comprises forming and engaging a cage-like structure on the positioning mechanism with the anatomic structure.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stimulating the anatomic structure comprises stimulating in a monopolar mode.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stimulating the anatomic structure comprises stimulating in a bipolar mode.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stimulating the anatomic structure comprises pacing the patient's heart.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the zone of ablation comprises creating an acruate ablation path.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the zone of ablation comprises creating an ablation path around more than one pulmonary vein.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering energy comprises rotating the elongate shaft around the positioning mechanism.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the zone of ablation comprises creating a linear ablation path.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering energy comprises delivering energy through a window in the elongate shaft.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering energy comprises directing the energy along a path such that the path and a surface of the anatomic structure form an angle between 65 and 115 degrees.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anatomic structure comprises a pulmonary vein.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the anatomic structure with cooling fluid.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein modulating comprises adjusting the energy to use less power for a first portion of the anatomic structure that is closer to the energy delivery element than a second portion of the anatomic structure.

22. The method of claim, wherein moving the energy delivery structure comprises actuating the elongate shaft to move the energy delivery structure along an ablation path, wherein actuating the elongate shaft comprises bending the shaft, moving the shaft linearly, or rotating the shaft about an axis.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the energy delivery structure comprises moving the energy delivery structure while maintaining a substantially constant distance between the energy delivery structure and each of the plurality of tissue points in the zone of ablation.

24. A method of ablating a target tissue adjacent an anatomic structure of a patient as a treatment for atrial fibrillation, said method comprising:

providing an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

locating the anatomic structure with a positioning mechanism disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft;

anchoring the shaft with the positioning mechanism adjacent the anatomic structure;

electrically stimulating or sensing electrical signals from the anatomic structure with an electrode disposed adjacent a distal portion of the positioning mechanism;

delivering energy to the target tissue with an energy delivery element housed within an energy delivery structure disposed near the distal end of the shaft, without contacting the target tissue with the shaft or any other structure disposed thereon, thereby creating a zone of ablation having a plurality of tissue points, that blocks abnormal electrical activity in order to reduce or eliminate atrial fibrillation in the patient; and

moving the energy delivery structure along an ablation path while delivering energy with the energy delivery element, without contacting the target tissue with the shaft or any other structure disposed thereon.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein moving the energy delivery structure comprises actuating the elongate shaft to move the energy delivery structure along an ablation path, wherein actuating the elongate shaft comprises bending the shaft, moving the shaft linearly, or rotating the shaft about an axis.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein moving the energy delivery structure comprises moving the energy delivery structure while maintaining a substantially constant distance between the energy delivery structure and each of the plurality of tissue points in the zone of ablation.