Multi-electrode ablator tip having dual-mode, omni-directional feedback capabilities

A tip electrode comprising:

• an electrically insulative substrate comprising an inner lumen and an external tip surface, wherein the electrically insulative substrate comprises a rigid material;
• a plurality of segmented ablation electrodes disposed on the electrically insulative substrate;
• and
• a plurality of wire or conductor traces,
• wherein each of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes is coupled to at least one of the plurality of wire or conductor traces and wherein each of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes are laterally separated from each other by an electrically insulative gap.

A system for ablating tissue comprising:

• a tip electrode comprising:
• an electrically insulative substrate comprising an inner lumen and an external tip surface;
• and
• a plurality of segmented ablation electrodes,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes is disposed on the electrically insulative substrate, wherein each of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes are laterally separated from each other by an electrically insulative gap and wherein each of the segmented ablation electrodes are electrically coupled to at least one wire or conductor;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to control the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes to bipolar ablate cardiac tissue.

A tip electrode comprising:

• an electrically insulative substrate comprising an inner lumen and an external tip surface;
• a plurality of segmented ablation electrodes;
• and
• a plurality of wire or conductor traces,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes is disposed on the electrically insulative substrate, wherein each of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes are laterally separated from each other by an electrically insulative gap, and wherein each of the segmented ablation electrodes are electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of wire or conductor traces.