Patent ID: 6887238

Claim:
A system for suction assisted ablation for creating a tissue ablation site, the system comprising: a tissue contact surface; a plurality of suction ports positioned substantially linearly along the tissue contact surface and capable of drawing a portion of tissue at least partially within the suction ports upon application of suction; a suction conduit for providing suction from a suction source to the suction ports, the suction conduit operatively connected with the suction ports; a first elongated energy transfer element positioned along the tissue contact surface and extending adjacent a first side of each of the suction ports; a second elongated energy transfer element positioned along the tissue contact surface and extending adjacent a second side of each of the suction ports, said first and second energy transfer elements capable of forming a linear transmural lesion in the portion of tissue drawn within the suction ports by application of energy via the first and second energy transfer elements; a sensor sensing a parameter or characteristic relating to the tissue ablation site positioned along the tissue contact surface; and means for automatically stopping ablation in response to a signal from the sensor.