An apparatus for mechanically manipulating hollow organs within the body of a subject, or an organ manipulation apparatus, includes a manipulation section. The manipulation section may include a substantially two-dimensional element, which may have a width that exceeds a distance across a portion of the interior of a hollow organ within which the manipulation section is to be positioned. The manipulation section is configured to manipulate at least a portion of a hollow organ from within, which may modify at least one of a shape, orientation, or location of at least part of the hollow organ. 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.被術者の体内の中空器官を機械的に操作するための器械、即ち器官操作器械は、操作部を含んでいる。操作部は、操作部が位置付けられる予定の中空器官の内部の一部分を横断する距離を超える幅を有し得る略二次元要素を含んでいる。操作部は、中空器官の少なくとも一部分を内部から操作して、中空器官の少なくとも部分の形状、向き、又は場所のうちの少なくとも１つを修正する。左心房アブレーションの様な施術技法としての、中空器官を操作するための方法も開示されており、当該方法では、中空器官の形状、向き、及び／又は場所が操作されて、中空器官を医療処置部位から遠ざけ、中空器官への損傷の可能性を低減する。【選択図】図２
