Irrigated ablation catheter and method of assembly

An electrode assembly for an irrigated ablation catheter, said assembly comprising:

• an electrode having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a passageway extending through said distal portion;
• a manifold body contacting a proximal portion of said electrode;
• and
• a distal tube extending from said manifold body through said electrode passageway.

An irrigated ablation catheter comprising:

• a tubular catheter body comprising an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, said catheter body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• an electrode extending from said distal portion of said catheter body;
• a flow member positioned at least partially within said distal portion of said catheter body;
• and
• a flow path extending through said catheter body and said member to an outside of said catheter, said flow path being configured to provide cooling fluid to an external surface of said electrode.

A method of assembling an electrode assembly for an ablation catheter, the assembly including an electrode, a manifold body, and a distal tube, said method comprising:

• loading the distal tube onto a mandrel;
• inserting the mandrel and the distal tube through a distal cavity of the manifold body until a proximal end of the distal tube is positioned adjacent an end of the distal cavity;
• and
• positioning the electrode over the mandrel and the distal tube.