Patent ID: 7250051

Claim:
A method of ablation of an atrium of a heart of a patient, comprising: selecting a first elongated ablation component carrying a longitudinally extending first electrode for delivery of ablation energy and a second elongated ablation component substantially pivotally coupled to the first ablation component and movable relative to the first ablation component, wherein the first and second components are provided with magnetically attractive elements mounted to and extending along the first and second ablation components for magnetically attracting the first and second ablation components toward one another along the length of the first electrode for delivery of ablation energy; placing selected one of the first and second components along a first portion of tissue of the atrium on an external portion of the heart adjacent one or more pulmonary veins; placing the other of the first and second components along a second portion of tissue of the atrium on an external portion of the heart adjacent the one or more pulmonary veins to allow the magnetically attractive components to draw the first and second ablation components toward one another to compress the first and second portions of tissue therebetween, along the length of the first and second components; and applying ablation energy.