Patent ID: 7156843

Claim:
An irrigated ablation catheter assembly, comprising: a catheter shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, a fluid port in proximity to the proximal end, and a fluid delivery lumen extending from the port toward the distal end; a helical ablation electrode comprising a tube coupled to the catheter shaft and extending distally from the distal end of the catheter shaft, the electrode including a first end, a first portion extending from the first end and winding about a first diameter, a second portion extending from the first portion and winding about a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, a second end terminating the second portion, and a fluid lumen extending through the tube from a location in proximity to the first end to a location in proximity to the second end and in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter shaft; wherein an irrigation fluid delivered through the fluid port of the catheter shaft passes through the fluid lumen of the ablation electrode to cool the electrode, and wherein the second end of the helical ablation electrode extends into the catheter shaft and provides the fluid communication between the fluid lumen of the electrode and the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter shaft.