Patent ID: 7588568

Claim:
A catheter for ablating tissue, the catheter comprising: an elongated generally-tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough; a non-retractable ablation assembly attached to the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the ablation assembly is fixedly bent relative to the catheter body, the ablation assembly comprising: proximal and distal non-conductive tubings, each having a lumen extending therethrough, the distal non-conductive segment comprising a coil spring, a single, continuous generally tubular elongated electrode mounted between the proximal and distal non-conductive tubings, the tubular electrode having a proximal end attached to the proximal non-conductive tubing and a distal end attached to the distal non-conductive tubing, the tubular electrode being formed of a material having shape-memory having at least one irrigation port through which fluid can pass from the inside to the outside of the electrode, wherein the tubular electrode has an elongated exposed portion extending between the proximal and distal non-conductive tubings, the exposed portion adapted to contact said tissue to provide a continuous linear lesion, and a non-conductive protective tubing extending generally parallel to and along the outside of the tubular electrode and having proximal and distal ends extending into the proximal and distal non-conductive tubings, respectively; at least one of an electrode lead wire and a temperature sensor wire extending through the non-conductive protective tubing and catheter body, the electrode lead wire having a distal end mounted to a ring electrode mounted on the distal non-conductive tubing, and the temperature sensor wire having a distal end mounted on or under the distal non-conductive tubing; and means for introducing fluid into the tubular electrode.