Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovalegenerally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site ofthe defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distalend of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of thedefect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via thehousing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue withthe energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device tosubstantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, ahousing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissueat the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixationdevice such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of thehousing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.
