US Patent 7052493 Methods and devices for ablation

The invention is related to methods of sizing an area around the pulmonary veins along an epicardial surface. A sizing element is provided which has a plurality of indicators along its length which is used to size an area around the pulmonary veins. A sizing element is wrapped around the pulmonary veins along an epicardial location. The size of an ablating device is determined by using the indicators on the sizing element. An ablating device is then selected based on this measurement. The ablating device is then attached to the sizing element. The ablating device is then wrapped around the pulmonary veins while manipulating the sizing element.