Patent ID: 7776034

Claim:
A catheter with a distal ablation electrode section, the catheter comprising an exterior catheter wall; a proximal section; an ablation section at a distal end of the catheter; an interior catheter wall at least partially defining a fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section; a fluid manifold at least partially defined by the interior catheter wall and the exterior catheter wall; wherein the fluid manifold is positioned in the ablation section adjacent to the fluid lumen and separated from the fluid lumen by the interior catheter wall; and wherein the interior catheter wall further defines a channel between the fluid lumen and the fluid manifold, and the interior catheter wall and the exterior catheter wall are configured such that the fluid lumen and the fluid manifold do not translate longitudinally relative to each other; an array of a plurality of apertures defined within the exterior catheter wall adjacent to the fluid manifold and in fluid communication with the fluid manifold; an electrode positioned within the fluid manifold; a movable sealing plug positioned within the fluid manifold; and an actuator attached to the movable sealing plug for repositioning the plug within the fluid manifold; wherein the electrode comprises a coil spring positioned between the movable sealing plug and a position of the channel in the fluid manifold.