Deflectable tip catheter with guidewire tracking mechanism

A deflectable tip catheter comprising:

• an elongated catheter body having proximal and distal end portions;
• a guidewire lumen extending along at least a portion of said distal end portion and terminating at a distal port, said guidewire lumen being formed to slidably engage a guidewire;
• an ablation element disposed on said distal end portion for ablating body tissue;
• and
• a means for directing advancement of said guidewire as said guidewire is advanced from said distal port.

A method for placing a therapeutic or diagnostic device within a body structure comprising:

• providing a catheter with proximal and distal end portions and a guidewire lumen which extends along at least a portion of said distal end portion and terminates at a distal port, said catheter having said therapeutic or diagnostic device disposed on said distal end portion, said catheter having a deflectable tip located along said distal end portion;
• slidably engaging a guidewire within said guidewire lumen;
• advancing said distal end portion of said catheter into a patient's body;
• deflecting said deflectable tip such that said distal port is positioned to direct advancement of said guidewire toward said body structure;
• and
• advancing said guidewire out of said distal port and toward said body structure.

A method for placing a therapeutic or diagnostic device at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium:

• providing a catheter with proximal and distal end portions and a guidewire lumen which extends along at least a portion of said distal end portion and terminates at a distal port, said catheter having said therapeutic or diagnostic device disposed on said distal end portion, said catheter having a deflectable tip disposed along said distal end portion;
• slidably engaging a guidewire within said guidewire lumen;
• advancing said distal end portion of said catheter into an atrium;
• deflecting said deflectable tip such that said distal port is positioned to direct advancement of said guidewire toward said location;
• advancing said guidewire out of said distal port and toward said location;
• advancing said catheter over said guidewire such that said therapeutic or diagnostic element ablation element is positioned at said location;
• and
• treating a region of tissue at said location.