Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an electrode portion of a catheter disposed at a distal portion of the catheter includes two or more electrically conductive panels which: are disposed a substantially fixed radial distance from a directly-underlying axis extending lengthwise through the center of the catheter; are longitudinal strips disposed parallel to the axis, substantially equally around the circumference of the distal portion of the catheter, and substantially isodiametric with the remainder of the catheter; are electrically isolated from each other; are selectively energizable by energy transmitted from a source through the channels to the panels; and can transmit received signals through the channels to means for recording the signals. In another aspect of the invention, a catheter includes an electrically conductive electrode portion which is: disposed at a distal portion of the catheter; energizable; capable of receiving signals; and bent or bendable into a substantially coil configuration.