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 coupled therein, wherein the plurality of internal electrical traces 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 , 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 coupled therein, wherein the plurality of internal electrical traces 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 , 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 coupled therein, wherein the plurality of internal electrical traces 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 , 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 . <EOS>