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Abstract

A catheter for ablating tissue is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated generally-tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A non-retractable ablation assembly is attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The ablation assembly comprises proximal and distal non-conductive tubings, each having a lumen extending therethrough and a generally tubular electrode mounted between the proximal and distal non-conductive tubings. The tubular electrode is formed of a material having shape-memory and has at least one irrigation port through which fluid can pass from the inside to the outside of the electrode. The ablation assembly further comprises a non-conductive protective tubing extending generally parallel to and along the outside of the tubular electrode. The protective tubing has proximal and distal ends extending into the proximal and distal non-conductive tubings, respectively. The catheter further comprises at least one of an electrode lead wire and a temperature sensor wire, and preferably both, extending through the non-conductive protective tubing and catheter body, the electrode lead wire having a distal end mounted to a ring electrode mounted on the distal non-conductive tubing, and the temperature sensor wire having a distal end mounted on or under the distal non-conductive tubing. The catheter also comprises an infusion tube extending through the catheter body and having a distal end in fluid communication with the proximal end of the tubular electrode.

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