Abstract: An ablation catheter is provided for ablating internal tissue of a patient. The catheter includes a distal end that is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity relative to a desired location therein (e.g., within the heart). An ablation electrode is connected relative to the distal end of the catheter for providing ablation energy to patient tissue. A heat sink is provided that is in thermal contact with the ablation electrode. The heat sink, in addition to being in thermal contact with the ablation electrode, is electrically isolated from the ablation electrode. This allows the heat sink to conduct heat away from the ablation electrode without dissipating electrical energy from the electrode. In this regard, the heat sink may prevent build-up of excess heat within the electrode that may result in blood coagulation and/or tissue charring.

Abstract: An ablation catheter is provided for ablating internal tissue of a patient. The catheter includes a distal end that is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity relative to a desired location therein (e.g., within the heart). An ablation electrode is connected relative to the distal end of the catheter for providing ablation energy to patient tissue. A heat sink is provided that is in thermal contact with the ablation electrode. The heat sink, in addition to being in thermal contact with the ablation electrode, is electrically isolated from the ablation electrode. This allows the heat sink to conduct heat away from the ablation electrode without dissipating electrical energy from the electrode. In this regard, the heat sink may prevent build-up of excess heat within the electrode that may result in blood coagulation and/or tissue charring.

Abstract: An electrode catheter is provided for ablation of arrhythmogenic tissue in a malperforming heart and includes an elongated catheter tube having longitudinally spaced apart proximal and distal ends. At least one electrode for ablation of the arrhythmogenic tissue in a targeted region of the patient is carried on the catheter tube, preferable at or proximate the distal end of the catheter tube. One such electrode may be located at the distal tip of the catheter and configured in the shape of a generally flat disk that substantially conforms to the contour of the targeted region and such that the ratio of the surface area of the tissue-contacting end face to that of a side wall portion of the electrode is greater than 1.0.