Patent ID: 7530980

Claim:
A method of forming a transmural lesion in cardiac tissue so as to encircle at least a pair of pulmonary veins comprising: a) positively securing a first electrode to the cardiac tissue at a first location; b) positively securing a second electrode to cardiac tissue at a second location spaced from the first location; c) connecting the electrodes to opposite poles of a bipolar RF generator; d) energizing the electrodes to ablate cardiac tissue between the electrodes between the first and second locations; e) moving the first electrode and positively securing the first electrode to cardiac tissue at a third location spaced from the second location; f) energizing the electrodes to ablate cardiac tissue between the electrodes between the second and third locations; g) moving the second electrode and positively securing the second electrode to cardiac tissue at a fourth location spaced from the third location; h) energizing the electrodes to ablate cardiac tissue between the electrodes between the third and fourth locations; and i) repeatedly alternately moving the first and second electrodes and energizing the electrodes until a lesion encircling the pulmonary veins is completed.