Patent ID: 7241292
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An electrosurgical clamp for forming transmural lesions in cardiac tissue, the clamp comprising: first and second jaws relatively pivotably movable about a respective pivot between an open position for receiving cardiac tissue therebetween and a clamped position to compress the tissue therebetween; one of the jaws being independently relatively shiftable at the respective pivot relative to the other jaw to allow spacing between the jaws at the respective pivot to increase in the clamped position with the presence of tissue between the jaws; and a first electrically conductive element carried by the first jaw and a second electrically conductive element carried by the second jaw, the electrically conductive elements being adapted to be connected to an RF energy source so that the first and second electrically conductive elements direct electrical current through the cardiac tissue compressed therebetween to form a transmural lesion through the tissue.