Patent ID: 6974454
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A device for clamping and ablating cardiac tissue comprising: a first handle member; a second handle member; first and second mating jaw members associated with the first and second handle members, respectively, the jaw members being movable by the handle members between a first open position and a second clamped position in which the jaws are substantially parallel, the jaw members having insulated outer surface with convex, opposed and facing mating surfaces, each mating surface having a central peak, the central peak of the first jaw being aligned with the central peak of the second jaw; a first elongated electrically conductive ablation member carried by the first jaw member so as to provide electrical current generally along the central peak to tissue clamped between the jaw members; a second elongated electrically conductive ablation member carried by the second jaw member so as to provide electrical current generally along the central peak to tissue clamped between the jaw members; the first and second conductive ablation members being adapted to be connected to an RF energy source; and one of the first and second mating jaw members having at least one thermocouple disposed for measuring the temperature of tissue held between the jaw members, the thermocouple being adapted to be connected to a remote monitoring device.