System and method for temperature control in irrigated ablation

A catheter ablation system comprising:

• a catheter probe having distal end comprising:
• a temperature sensor;
• a plurality of irrigation holes;
• and
• an ablating electrode;
• a radiofrequency (RF) heating controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply RF energy to the ablating electrode to control the ablating electrode to emit heat at a target power;
• an irrigation controller coupled to the catheter probe and configured to supply an irrigation fluid at a continuously adjustable irrigation flow rate through the catheter probe to exit through the irrigation holes, the continuously adjustable irrigation flow rate being adjustable in increments of less than or equal to 2 milliliters per minute;
• and
• an operating console having a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the irrigation controller to set the continuously adjustable irrigation flow rate based on the target power and a target average temperature,
• wherein the memory of the operating console further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the irrigation controller to set the irrigation flow rate to an initial irrigation flow rate during a preablation time based on the target power and the target average temperature, and
• wherein the memory of the operating console further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the irrigation controller to set the irrigation flow rate to an adjusted flow rate during a power ramp up period after the preablation time, the adjusted flow rate being set based on:
• the target power;
• the target average temperature;
• the initial irrigation flow rate;
• a temperature slope during the preablation time, measured by the temperature sensor;
• a temperature slope during the power ramp up period, measured by the temperature sensor;
• and
• a temperature rise measured since a start of ablation, measured by the temperature sensor.