Apparatus for treating a patent foramen ovale, the apparatus comprising an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy transmission element located on a distal portion of the catheter body for transmitting energy to contact tissue of the patent foramen ovale to close the patent foramen ovale, and a backstop element adapted to be positioned distal of the energy transmission element for facilitating energy delivery to the patent foramen ovale.
