Apparatus and methods for procedures related to the electrophysiology of the heart

A method for treating electrophysiological disorders in the heart comprising:

• introducing an apparatus into the interior of the heart, said apparatus having elements of different electromotive potential, said elements being conductively connected at a junction;
• contacting the interior of the heart at a selected location with the junction;
• passing an electrical current through said elements to reduce the temperature of the junction in accordance with the Peltier effect and thereby cool the contacted heart tissue without damaging the heart tissue;
• monitoring for the effect of the cooling on the heart to determine whether the source of the electrophysiological disorder has been located;
• treating the heart tissue to substantially permanently interrupt said source of the electrophysiological disorder by introducing heat energy to said junction and thereby ablate said source while continuing to pass electrical current in accordance with the Peltier effect through said elements.