An ablation catheter system is disclosed that comprises a channel and a tubular braided element having an outer circumferential surface and a lumen. The tubular braided element is sized and shaped to be placed in the channel when in a compressed configuration and to be expanded in a target area of a blood vessel in a manner that the outer circumferential surface touches the walls of the target blood vessel in the target area when in an expanded configuration. The system also includes a longitudinal maneuvering element which is mechanically connected to a distal end of the tubular braided element and set to pull the distal end into the lumen so as to curve radially and outwardly a plurality of annular segments of the expand tubular braided element in a sequential manner.