Patent ID: 8460286

Claim:
A conforming electrode for delivering ablative energy to tissue, the conforming electrode comprising the following: a plurality of flexible metal tubes, each of the plurality of flexible metal tubes having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end; wherein at least some of the plurality of flexible metal tubes have helical cuts along the longitudinal axis of the tubes; said flexible metal tubes arranged in a bundle with the longitudinal axes of the flexible metal tubes being aligned parallel, and wherein a plurality of nonconductive tubes are interspersed with the flexible metal tubes; and said flexible metal tubes electrically coupled to a conductor for transferring ablative energy to the flexible metal tubes; and a catheter shaft having a distal end and a sheath coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the proximal ends of the plurality of flexible metal tubes are secured to the distal end of the catheter shaft, and wherein the sheath is configured to be extendable over the plurality of flexible metal tubes.