A catheter comprising the following: a catheter shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a catheter shaft longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a flexible tip portion located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the flexible tip portion comprising a flexible framework comprising nonconductive material; and a plurality of microelectrodes mounted on the flexible framework and forming a flexible array of microelectrodes adapted to conform to tissue; wherein the flexible framework is configured to facilitate relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes relative to other of the microelectrodes ; and wherein the nonconductive material insulates each microelectrode from other microelectrodes ; wherein the plurality of microelectrodes are mounted on the flexible framework and arranged in a plurality of groups; wherein each group of the plurality of groups of microelectrodes comprises a row of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes aligned parallel to the catheter shaft longitudinal axis; and wherein the flexible array of microelectrodes comprises a two-sided planar array of microelectrodes, wherein the microelectrodes are configured for contacting tissue on a front side and a back side of the planar array; wherein the flexible framework comprises a plurality of longitudinally-extending and laterally separated arms extending parallel to the catheter shaft longitudinal axis, and lying in a plane; wherein each longitudinally-extending arm has a group of the plurality of groups of microelectrodes distributed and located thereon; wherein a proximal bushing is mounted on the distal end of the catheter shaft; wherein the proximal portion of each of the longitudinally-extending arms extends through the proximal bushing; wherein each longitudinally-extending arm exits from a distal end of the proximal bushing . a catheter shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a catheter shaft longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a flexible tip portion located adjacent to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the flexible tip portion comprising a flexible framework comprising nonconductive material; and a plurality of microelectrodes mounted on the flexible framework and forming a flexible array of microelectrodes adapted to conform to tissue; wherein the flexible framework is configured to facilitate relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes relative to other of the microelectrodes ; and wherein the nonconductive material insulates each microelectrode from other microelectrodes ; wherein the plurality of microelectrodes are mounted on the flexible framework and arranged in a plurality of groups; wherein each group of the plurality of groups of microelectrodes comprises a row of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes aligned parallel to the catheter shaft longitudinal axis; and wherein the flexible array of microelectrodes comprises a two-sided planar array of microelectrodes, wherein the microelectrodes are configured for contacting tissue on a front side and a back side of the planar array; wherein the flexible framework comprises a plurality of longitudinally-extending and laterally separated arms extending parallel to the catheter shaft longitudinal axis, and lying in a plane; wherein each longitudinally-extending arm has a group of the plurality of groups of microelectrodes distributed and located thereon; wherein a proximal bushing is mounted on the distal end of the catheter shaft; wherein the proximal portion of each of the longitudinally-extending arms extends through the proximal bushing; wherein each longitudinally-extending arm exits from a distal end of the proximal bushing . <EOS>