A probe operates in conjunction with an ablation system to prevent accidental injury of the esophagus during atrial ablation procedures. A distal portion of the probe is placed into the esophagus via the nasal cavity and positioned in the region of the esophagus that is in contact with the left atrium. In one embodiment of this invention the probe comprises an elongated flexible tube with an expandable sac, either compliant or non-compliant, disposed at is distal portion. Regulated cooling fluid with desired temperature and pressure is continuously circulating from the external source of the related device into the sac of the probe. The sac is positioned into the esophagus region that is in contact with the left atrium. Temperature and pressure sensors are disposed within the sac of the probe to transmit data to the external related devices of this invention. The information from the sensors within the sac of the probe can provide a safety feature to control or stop the energy delivery from the ablation energy generator (i.e., radio frequency generator) and to prevent the advancement of the lesion formation that is created by the tip of the ablation catheter in the left atrium. Hence, this can prevent the accidental injury of the esophagus during the left atrium ablation procedure. In a further embodiment, a distal portion of the probe includes a plurality of in-flow and out-flow perforations within tubes housed in the probe and extends to the proximal end of the probe that is connected to the related external device of this invention. The cold air or gas with desired temperature and pressure is delivered from the external device to the out-flow perforations of the distal portion of the probe. The released cold air or gas can cool the desired region of the esophagus and will be sucked back through the in-flow pores of the probe to the external device. In yet another embodiment of this invention a flexible tubular magnetic probe with a distal end and proximal end can be placed into the esophagus via the nasal cavity. The distal end of the magnetic probe located into the esophagus is temporarily displaced, e.g., laterally pulled or pushed, by an external magnetic field source(s) placed over the side chest of the patient. The tubular flexible magnetic probe is either constructed from a permanent magnet or by applying electrical current in a magnetic coil provided within the probe. The external variable magnetic field source(s) is positioned over the side chest of the patient with convergent angle to have better control over the pushing/pulling of the distal portion of the flexible magnetic probe in the esophagus resulting in temporary displacement and dislocation of the desired region of the esophagus that is in contact with the left atrium. It is important to achieve the temporary dislocation of the esophagus during the left atrial ablation procedure. This prevents the accidental advancement of the lesion formation to the esophagus by the tip of the ablation catheter in the left atrium during the left atrial ablation procedure.

 
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