Medical instrument positioning tool and method

Abstract

A system and method for positioning a medical instrument at a desired biological target tissue site is provided. The system includes an elongated sheath having a deflectable distal end configured to deflect or otherwise position at least a portion of a medical instrument during a surgical procedure allowing for the placement of the deflected portion adjacent or proximate to a predetermined target tissue surface. The positioning system may be incorporated into the medical instrument. The medical instrument may be an ablation system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device to position a medical instrument during a surgical procedure, comprising: 
 a handle;    a guide sheath operably attached to the handle and having a deflectable distal end comprising a grasping means for grasping a distal end of the medical instrument; and    a deflection means for deflecting the distal end of the guide sheath.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the grasping means is a hook configured to grasp the medical device.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the grasping means is a pair of pivoted jaws operably attached to the deflectable distal end and configured to grasp the medical device.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument is an ablation system.  
     
     
         5 . A method of positioning a medical instrument within a patient's body during a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a positioning tool comprising a guide sheath having a deflectable distal end, the deflectable distal end comprising a grasping means for grasping the medical instrument;    introducing the guide sheath into the patient's body along a first path;    deflecting the deflectable distal end of the sheath;    introducing the medical instrument into the patient's body along a second path;    grasping the medical instrument with the grasping means;    retracting the guide sheath along the first path,    wherein at least a portion of the medical instrument is operably placed adjacent a target tissue site.