Apparatus for manually manipulating hollow organs

Abstract

Methods for manipulating hollow organs are also disclosed, as are operating techniques, such as left atrial ablation, in which the shapes, orientations, and/or locations of hollow organs are manipulated to move the hollow organs away from the site of the medical procedure, reducing the potential for damage to the hollow organs.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An elongated element of an apparatus for manipulating an esophagus, comprising:
 a distal end;   a proximal end opposite from the distal end;   a proximal portion adjacent to the proximal end, the proximal portion being substantially linear or substantially curvilinear; and   a distal portion adjacent to the distal end, a manipulation section of the distal portion having a substantially two-dimensional configuration defined by a plurality of deviations extending laterally beyond a linear or curvilinear path of the elongated element, including at least one deviation extending laterally beyond a fist side of the linear or curvilinear path and at least one second deviation extending laterally beyond a second side of the linear or curvilinear path, the substantially two-dimensional configuration having a width and a rigidity sufficient to flatten the esophagus.   
     
     
         2 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a substantially solid structure. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion is radiopaque. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion comprises a wire. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a diameter of about 0.035 inch to about 0.038 inch. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the manipulation section of the distal portion comprises a shape memory alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deviations impart the manipulation section with a shape of a waveform. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deviations of the manipulation section includes a series of curved deviations extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the linear or curvilinear path of the elongate element. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated element of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of deviations of the manipulation section of the distal portion includes at least two curved deviations extending laterally beyond the first side of the linear or curvilinear path of the elongate element. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the manipulation section of the distal portion has a width of more than about 14 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the manipulation section of the distal portion is about 15 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The elongated element of  claim 1 , wherein the rigidity of the manipulation section of the distal portion is sufficient to move the esophagus. 
     
     
         13 . An elongated element of an apparatus for manipulating an esophagus, comprising:
 a distal end;   a proximal end opposite from the distal end;   a proximal portion adjacent to the proximal end, the proximal portion being substantially linear or substantially curvilinear; and   a distal portion adjacent to the distal end, a manipulation section of the distal portion:
 defined by a plurality of deviations extending laterally beyond opposite sides of a substantially linear path or a substantially curvilinear path of the proximal portion of the elongate element, the plurality of deviations rendering the manipulation section substantially two-dimensional; 
 having a rigidity sufficient to move the esophagus. 
   
     
     
         14 . The elongated element of  claim 13 , wherein the rigidity of the manipulation section of the distal portion is sufficient to flatten the esophagus. 
     
     
         15 . The elongated element of  claim 13 , wherein a width and the rigidity of the manipulation section of the distal portion are sufficient to flatten the esophagus. 
     
     
         16 . The elongated element of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion comprise a wire. 
     
     
         17 . The elongated element of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion have a substantially solid structure. 
     
     
         18 . An elongated element of an apparatus for manipulating an esophagus, comprising:
 a distal end;   a proximal end opposite from the distal end;   a proximal portion adjacent to the proximal end, the proximal portion being substantially linear or substantially curvilinear; and   a distal portion adjacent to the distal end, a manipulation section of the distal portion:
 having a substantially two-dimensional configuration defined by at least one deviation extending laterally beyond a first side of a substantially linear path or a substantially curvilinear path of the elongate element and at least another deviation extending laterally beyond a second, opposite side of the substantially linear path or the substantially curvilinear path of the elongate element; and 
 having a rigidity sufficient to move the esophagus and/or flatten the esophagus. 
   
     
     
         19 . The elongated element of  claim 18 , wherein each of the at least one deviation and the at least another deviation comprises a curved deviation. 
     
     
         20 . The elongated element of  claim 18 , wherein a width of the manipulation section of the distal portion is greater than 14 mm.