Patent ID: 6984233

Claim:
A device for clamping and ablating cardiac tissue comprising: a handle member; first and second jaw members, at least one of the jaw members being associated with the handle member and being movable by the handle member between a first open position and a second clamped position; a first elongated electrode extending along a portion of first jaw member and including a tissue contacting portion, the tissue contacting portion of the first elongated electrode having a width and the portion of the first jaw member including a clamping surface having a width greater than the tissue contacting portion of the first electrode and disposed on each side thereof; a second elongated electrode extending along a portion of second jaw member and including a tissue contacting portion, the tissue contacting portion of the second elongated electrode having a width and the portion of the second jaw member including a clamping surface having a width greater than the tissue contacting portion of the second electrode and disposed on each side thereof; the electrodes being substantially parallel through a range of tissue clamping spacing between the first open position and the second clamped position; and the first and second electrodes being in face-to-face relationship and being adapted to be connected to an RF energy source so that, when activated, the first and second electrodes are of opposite polarity.