Delivery system for delivering a medical device to a location within a patient's body

A method of guiding a medical device along a path in an anatomy of a patient, the method comprising:

• navigating a sheath towards the anatomy, where the sheath includes a near portion, a far portion, and at least a first lumen extending therethrough, the sheath including a member located within the lumen, the member having a first and second portions extending from a near portion of the sheath, and a loop section located therebetween, where the loop section is advanceable out of the far portion of the sheath;
• defining a path in the anatomy by advancing at least one portion of the rail to adjust a size of the loop section in the anatomy;
• altering the profile of the path by manipulating at least one steering arm coupled to a portion of the member, where manipulation of the steering arm alters the loop section to alter the path in the anatomy:
• advancing the medical device along the loop section to position the medical device along the path in the anatomy.

A method of delivering a medical device into anatomy of a patient, the method comprising:

• introducing a manipulating arm into the anatomy;
• introducing a guide loop having a closed loop configuration into the anatomy;
• manipulating at least one region of the guide loop using at least one manipulating arm;
• positioning the medical device into the anatomy using both the guide loop and manipulating arm.

A medical device for use within a patient's body to perform a medical procedure, the medical device comprising:

• a guide member having a near portion, a far portion, and at least a first passage exiting at a first opening;
• a rail member having an adjustable loop section;
• and
• wherein the far portion of the guide member is advanceable along the loop section such that the first opening is positionable along a path determined by a shape of the loop section, and where the guide member is capable of positioning a second medical device relative to the guide member.

A medical device for use within a patient's body to perform a medical procedure, the medical device comprising:

• a guide member having a near portion, a far portion, and at least a first passage exiting at a first opening;
• a rail member having an adjustable loop section;
• and
• wherein the far portion of the guide member is advanceable along the loop section such that the first opening is positionable along a path determined by a shape of the loop section, and where at least a section of the far portion of the guide member does not engage the rail.

A medical system for performing a medical procedure on a patient, the medical system comprising:

• a guide member having a near portion, a far portion, and at least a first passage exiling at a far opening;
• a rail member having an adjustable loop section;
• wherein the far portion of the guide member is advanceable along the loop section such that the first opening is positionable along a path determined by a shape of the loop section;
• and
• a medical device being coupled to the guide member and where the medical device is configured to perform the medical procedure, on the patient.

A method of accessing a target site in a patient's body to perform a medical procedure, the method comprising:

• navigating a guide member in the patient's body where the guide member includes a near portion, a far portion, and at least a working passage extending therethrough;
• positioning a rail member within the patient's body;
• manipulating at least one end of the rail member outside of the patient's body, where at least a portion of the rail member extends through the guide member and where manipulating at least one end causes the rail member to assume a looped shape at the far portion of the guide member;
• advancing the far portion of the guide member over a portion of the loop shape such that the far portion is positionable along a path defined by the loop shape to position the far portion along the path;
• and
• performing the medical procedure at the target site using the guide member.

A method of accessing a target site in a patient's body to perform a medical procedure, the method comprising:

• positioning a first member having a loop section within the patient's body;
• manipulating at least a portion the first member from outside of the patient's body to position the loop section;
• maintaining the first member while advancing a guide member over a portion of the first member such that a far portion of the guide member moves along a path defined by a shape of the loop section;
• and
• performing the medical procedure at the target site using the guide member.