Radio-frequency generator for powering an ablation device

1. A method of ablating tissue comprising the steps of:

providing an RF ablation device and an RF generator system coupled to the ablation device, the RF generator system including an input device;

positioning the RF ablation device into contact with target tissue to be ablated;

using the input device, entering data corresponding to dimensions of the target tissue into the RF generator system;

causing the RF generator to automatically select an RF power based on the dimensions of the target tissue;

providing an RF signal at the selected RF power to the RF ablation device;

measuring a DC resistance of the RF ablation device; and

measuring an RF impedance of tissue in contact with the RF ablation device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating an audio signal based upon the RF impedance of the tissue in contact with the RF ablation device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring the RF impedance includes providing a low-power RF signal to the ablation device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining the power of the RF signal substantially constant based upon the measured RF impedance of the tissue in contact with the ablation device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating a fault if either of the DC resistance or the RF impedance falls outside a predetermined range.