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Abstract

A catheter which can be advanced through a body vessel to an internal organ, typically the heart, for electroshock ablation. The catheter includes a catheter lead and a contoured electroshock ablation electrode attached to the catheter lead at or near its distal end. The contoured electrode and the catheter lead are configured to provide a high arcing threshold. The electrode has a smoothly curved surface free of sharp edges. The catheter lead at the junction with the electrode has a smaller diameter than the electrode. Preferably, the diameter of the catheter lead at the junction with the electrode is no more than one third the diameter of the electrode. The catheter lead includes a flexible sheath that is tapered to a smaller diameter at or near the junction of the electrode with the catheter lead. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode includes a cylindrical surface coaxial with the catheter lead and hemispherical end surfaces having the same diameter as the cylindrical surface. The catheter permits delivery of high energy shocks without arcing.

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First Claim