A medical probe for use with tissue includes an elongate member having a
proximal end and a distal end, an operative element carried at the distal
end of the elongate member, and a stabilizer configured for applying a
vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. A
method of performing a medical procedure on a patient includes
introducing a medical probe having an operative element within the
patient, the operative element being adjacent a target tissue, applying a
vacuum force between the medical probe and the target tissue to secure
the operative element relative to the target tissue, and operating the
operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue
while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue.