An apparatus for transmural ablation using an instrument containing two electrodes.
The electrodes extend along the surfaces of mating jaw members which are moveable
between open and clamped positions. The electrodes are connected to an RF energy
source so that, when activated, they are of opposite polarity. An EKG sensor is
located on one of the jaw members and spaced from the electrode so that, when the
electrodes are activated to form a line of ablation, the EKG sensor contacts the
tissue outside the line of ablation. A pacing electrode is located on one of the
jaw members so as to be on the opposite side of the line of ablation from the EKG
sensor. Thus, if the line of ablation is not transmural, the EKG sensor will be
able to detect signals generated by the pacing electrode.
