A basket catheter comprising: an outer tubing defining a lumen, the outer tubing disposed on a distal end of a catheter shaft defining a longitudinal axis; at least one positioning electrode disposed at or near the distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the at least one positioning electrode is configured to provide a signal indicative of at least one of a position and an orientation of at least a portion of the basket catheter by sensing an impedance; a plurality of splines configured to be deployed from the lumen, wherein each of the plurality of splines includes: at least one flexible circuit including a plurality of internal electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled therein, wherein the plurality of internal electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) is embedded within an insulating substrate; an electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d), wherein the electrode is an ablation electrode; a nonconductive hollow liner tube within at least a portion of the electrode, wherein the flexible circuit is disposed between the electrode and the liner tube; and an elastic support member included within at least a portion of the nonconductive hollow liner tube, wherein the elastic support member is electrically isolated from the electrode and provides axial support for the basket catheter, allowing for the basket catheter to deform away from the longitudinal axis; and a deployment member housed within the lumen defined by the outer tubing. an outer tubing defining a lumen, the outer tubing disposed on a distal end of a catheter shaft defining a longitudinal axis; at least one positioning electrode disposed at or near the distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the at least one positioning electrode is configured to provide a signal indicative of at least one of a position and an orientation of at least a portion of the basket catheter by sensing an impedance; a plurality of splines configured to be deployed from the lumen, wherein each of the plurality of splines includes: at least one flexible circuit including a plurality of internal electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled therein, wherein the plurality of internal electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) is embedded within an insulating substrate; an electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d), wherein the electrode is an ablation electrode; a nonconductive hollow liner tube within at least a portion of the electrode, wherein the flexible circuit is disposed between the electrode and the liner tube; and an elastic support member included within at least a portion of the nonconductive hollow liner tube, wherein the elastic support member is electrically isolated from the electrode and provides axial support for the basket catheter, allowing for the basket catheter to deform away from the longitudinal axis; and at least one flexible circuit including a plurality of internal electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) coupled therein, wherein the plurality of internal electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d) is embedded within an insulating substrate; an electrode surrounding the flexible circuit and electrically coupled with at least one of the plurality of electrical traces (70a, 70b, 70c, 70d), wherein the electrode is an ablation electrode; a nonconductive hollow liner tube within at least a portion of the electrode, wherein the flexible circuit is disposed between the electrode and the liner tube; and an elastic support member included within at least a portion of the nonconductive hollow liner tube, wherein the elastic support member is electrically isolated from the electrode and provides axial support for the basket catheter, allowing for the basket catheter to deform away from the longitudinal axis; and a deployment member housed within the lumen defined by the outer tubing.