Deflectable catheter for ablating cardiac tissue

A method for the therapeutic treatment of the heart of a patient by ablation of a selected area of heart tissue comprising the steps of:

• positioning an axially elongated catheter within the heart of a patient, the catheter having a distal ablation electrode with an exposable electrically conductive surface;
• exposing the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode to a selected area of heart tissue;
• gripping the selected area of heart tissue with the exposed electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode to stabilize the position of the electrically conductive surface relative to the selected area of heart tissue;
• and
• ablating the selected area of heart tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.

A method for the therapeutic treatment of the heart of a patient by ablation of a selected area of heart tissue comprising the steps of:

• providing an axially elongated catheter having a distal ablation electrode adjustable from a closed, low-profile position to an open position in which an electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode is exposable for contact with heart tissue over an area larger than an axially transverse area circumscribed by the rigid surface of the ablation electrode in the closed position;
• advancing the catheter through the vasculature of a patient and into the patient's heart with the ablation electrode in the closed position;
• adjusting the ablation electrode into the open position to expose the electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode for contact with a selected area of heart tissue;
• contacting the selected area of heart tissue with the electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode;
• and
• ablating the selected area of heart tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.