Compound Bipolar Ablation Device and Method

Abstract

Method and apparatus for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient. The ablation device can include a lower jaw assembly including a proximal jaw having a proximal electrode and a distal jaw having a distal electrode, and an upper jaw assembly including an upper jaw having an upper electrode. A proximal actuator can be movable between a first position in which the proximal jaw is open and a second position in which the proximal jaw is clamped with respect to the upper jaw. A distal actuator can be movable between a third position in which the distal jaw is open and a fourth position in which the distal jaw is clamped with respect to the upper jaw.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the method comprising:
 inserting a lower jaw assembly through an incision in the patient;   inserting an upper jaw assembly through the incision;   coupling the upper jaw assembly to the lower jaw assembly;   moving at least one of a proximal actuator and a distal actuator in order to position at least one of a proximal jaw and a distal jaw with respect to an upper jaw; and   providing ablation energy to at least one of an upper electrode, a proximal electrode, and a distal electrode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising providing ablation energy individually to at least one of an upper electrode, a proximal electrode, and a distal electrode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising providing a liquid to at least one of an upper electrode, a proximal electrode, and a distal electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising coupling the upper jaw assembly to the lower jaw assembly with at least one of a magnet and a cable. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising moving at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator perpendicular to an arm of at least one of the upper jaw assembly and the lower jaw assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising moving at least one of a trigger, a knob, and a lever to move at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising moving a distal release button to release distal jaw after performing an ablation. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising providing at least one of radio frequency energy, thermal energy, cryogenic energy, and microwave energy.