IRRIGATED ABLATION CATHETER ASSEMBLY HAVING A FLOW MEMBER TO CREATE PARALLEL EXTERNAL FLOW

摘要

Irrigated ablation catheter assemblies and methods of facilitating parallel irrigation fluid flow along irrigated assemblies (12) includes a catheter, an irrigated ablation electrode assembly (10), a flow member, and a catheter shaft (14) having a fluid lumen (19). The electrode assembly includes at least one irrigation passageway and a distal portion. The proximal portion can include a proximal member (18) and the distal portion can include a distal member (20) which is connected to the proximal member (18). The proximal end of the flow member (40) couples to the catheter shaft and the distal end of the flow member is disposed about the proximal portion of the assembly (10). Fluid flow is guided at least in part by the member (40) and traverses the outer surface of the proximal portion along the outer surface of the distal portion (20) substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly.