Patent ID: 8070746

Claim:
A method for sealing at least one lesion in at least one heart valve leaflet within the chest of a patient comprising the steps of: providing a forceps having at least one shaft and an end effector assembly attached thereto, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members configured to move from an open, spread position to a closed, grasping position; creating at least one opening in the patient for inserting the forceps therein; inserting the forceps through the at least one opening; manipulating the jaw members of the forceps through the at least one opening to grasp a first portion of a lesion of a heart valve leaflet and a second portion of the lesion of the heart valve leaflet therebetween; activating the forceps to close the jaw members about the lesion portions under a working pressure sufficient to seal the first portion of the lesion to the second portion of the lesion when radiofrequency energy is applied to the jaw members; and applying radiofrequency energy to the jaw members to seal the first portion of the lesion to the second portion of the lesion.