Patent ID: 7727231

Claim:
An apparatus for use with a clamp including a first clamp member and a second clamp members that are connected to each other and configured to engage tissue, the apparatus comprising: an energy source; a first energy transmission device connected to the energy source and configured to be removably secured to the first clamp member, the first energy transmission device comprising a first electrically non-conductive mounting device and a first tissue ablation electrode; a second energy transmission device connected to the energy source and configured to be removably secured to the second clamp member, the second energy transmission device comprising a second electrically non-conductive mounting device and a second tissue ablation electrode, the first energy transmission device and the second energy transmission device being cooperatively operable to ablate tissue therebetween; and a first stimulation electrode carried by the first energy transmission device such that the first stimulation electrode is located between the first energy transmission device and the second energy transmission device, the first stimulation electrode being located in spaced relation to, and located between, the first tissue ablation electrode and the second tissue ablation electrode, the first stimulation electrode being configured to provide stimulation energy to tissue that does not form a transmural or therapeutic lesion in the tissue.