Patent ID: 6905495

Claim:
An irrigation probe comprising: a generally rigid probe body having proximal and distal ends; a generally flexible irrigation tube having first and second ends, the irrigation tube defining an inner cavity, wherein the irrigation tube generally forms a loop, wherein the first end of the irrigation tube is fixedly attached at a first location on the distal end of the probe body and the second end of the irrigation tube is fixedly attached at a second location on the distal end of the probe body, the irrigation tube having at least one irrigation opening through which fluid can pass from the inner cavity to the outside of the irrigation tube; means for introducing fluid into the inner cavity of the irrigation tube; and a continuous electrode comprising a flexible metal ribbon having first and second ends, wherein the metal ribbon is coiled around the irrigation tube to form coils, and wherein space is provided between the coils to allow fluid to pass from the irrigation tube to the outside of the electrode.