Catheter with stretchable irrigation tube

A stretchable irrigation element for a medical device, the stretchable irrigation element comprising:

• a tube extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end configured for attachment to a deflectable element and the distal end configured for attachment to a distal portion of a basket catheter, the tube configured to be stretched axially relative to the longitudinal axis between an unstretched state and a stretched state when a force is applied to the tube;
• and
• a plurality of irrigation holes disposed longitudinally along the tube and configured to direct irrigation fluid outwardly from the longitudinal axis toward electrodes of the basket catheter, the plurality of irrigation holes defining a slot-like shape when the tube is in the stretched state, and the plurality of irrigation holes defining an approximately circular shape when the tube is in the unstretched state.