Patent ID: 7591818

Claim:
Apparatus for ablating heart tissue comprising: a tubular introducer cannula having an internal lumen; a first elongate jaw and a second elongate jaw, the first and second elongate jaws being sized and configured for insertion through the internal lumen of the introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration, a first guidewire lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the first elongate jaw and a second guidewire lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the second elongate jaw; a first ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the first elongate jaw near a distal end of the first elongate jaw and a second ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the second elongate jaw near a distal end of the second elongate jaw; and a first connection wire extending from the first ablation electrode to a proximal end of the first elongate jaw and a second connection wire extending from the second ablation electrode to a proximal end of the second elongate jaw; wherein the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are configured such that, when inserted through the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration, the first inner surface and second inner surface separate from one another as the distal ends of the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw extend beyond a distal end of the tubular introducer cannula, allowing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode to be placed on opposing sides of a portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and, when the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are withdrawn partially into the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula, the first inner surface and second inner surface are urged toward one another, pressing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode against the portion of heart tissue to be ablated.