Patent ID: 8057471
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of treating atrial fibrillation with a surgical device having a head, wherein the head of the device comprises a first tip having electrodes operable to communicate electrical signals, the method comprising: a) using the device to ablate tissue between one or more pulmonary veins of a patient's heart and one or both atria of the patient's heart, wherein the tissue ablated as a result of the act of using the device to ablate tissue substantially electrically insulates the one or more pulmonary veins from the one or more atria; b) verifying whether the ablated tissue provides sufficient electrical resistance, wherein the act of verifying comprises: c) snapping a second tip onto the head of the surgical device adjacent to the first tip, wherein the second tip has electrodes operable to communicate electrical signals, wherein the act of snapping on a second tip is performed either: