AtriCure Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is greater than or equal to 18 years of age 2. Subject has history of persistent atrial fibrillation as defined by the ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines 3. Subject is scheduled to undergo elective on-pump cardiac surgical procedure(s) for one or more of the following: * Mitral valve repair or replacement * Aortic valve repair or replacement * Tricuspid valve repair or replacement * Coronary Artery Bypass procedures 4. Subject's Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≥ 30% 5. Subject is able and willing to provide written informed consent and comply with study requirements 6. Subject has life expectancy of at least 1 year Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with longstanding and continuous AF in which cardioversion has failed or has not been attempted 2. Previous cardiac ablation including catheter ablation, AV-nodal ablation, or surgical Maze procedure 3. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome 4. Prior cardiac surgery (Redo) 5. Class IV NYHA heart failure symptoms 6. Prior history of cerebrovascular accidents within 6 months or at any time if there is residual neurological deficit 7. Documented MI within 6 weeks prior to study enrollment 8. Need for emergent cardiac surgery (i.e. cardiogenic shock) 9. Known carotid artery stenosis greater than 80% 10. LA size greater than or equal to 8 cm 11. Current diagnosis of active systemic infection 12. Severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease defined as claudication with minimal exertion 13. Pregnancy or desire to get pregnant within 12-months of the study enrollment 14. Preoperative need for an intra-aortic balloon pump or intravenous inotropes 15. Renal failure requiring dialysis or hepatic failure 16. Requires anti-arrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of a ventricular arrhythmia 17. Therapy resulting in compromised tissue integrity including: thoracic radiation, chemotherapy, long term treatment with oral or injected steroids, or known connective tissue disorders