Bipolar architectures for pfa catheters with irrigated electrode

A catheter for ablating cardiac tissue through irreversible electroporation, the catheter comprising:

• a tubular outer shaft having a shaft proximal end and an opposite shaft distal end, the tubular outer shaft including a fluid tube extending from the shaft proximal end to the opposite shaft distal end configured to receive a fluid;
• an electrode assembly extending distally from the shaft distal end, the electrode assembly defining a distally located central hub portion and a plurality of splines each including a distal end portion extending from the central hub portion, and a proximal end portion attached to and constrained by the outer shaft, the plurality of splines forming an inner space, the electrode assembly comprising:
• a flexible circuit having a flex circuit hub and a plurality of flex circuit branches extending proximally from the flex circuit hub, the flexible circuit further including an ablation electrode including an ablation electrode hub portion located on the flex circuit hub and a plurality of radial segments integrally formed with the ablation electrode hub portion, each of the radial segments extending proximally along a portion of a respective one of the flex circuit branches and terminating in a proximal end;
• and
• a central post extending from the shaft distal end into the inner space having a post electrode and a fluid port disposed in the inner space, the fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid tube and configured to disperse the fluid into the inner space, the central post proximal to the proximal end of the ablation electrode.

A catheter for ablating cardiac tissue through irreversible electroporation, the catheter comprising:

• a tubular outer shaft having a shaft proximal end and an opposite shaft distal end, the tubular outer shaft including a fluid tube extending from the shaft proximal end to the opposite shaft distal end configured to receive a fluid;
• an electrode assembly extending distally from the shaft distal end, the electrode assembly defining a distally located central hub portion and a plurality of splines each including a distal end portion extending from the central hub portion, and a proximal end portion attached to and constrained by the outer shaft, the plurality of splines forming an inner space, the electrode assembly comprising:
• a flexible circuit having a flex circuit hub and a plurality of flex circuit branches extending proximally from the flex circuit hub, the flexible circuit further including an ablation electrode including an ablation electrode hub portion located on the flex circuit hub and a plurality of radial segments integrally formed with the ablation electrode hub portion, each of the radial segments extending proximally along a portion of a respective one of the flex circuit branches and terminating in a proximal end;
• and
• a central post extending from the shaft distal end into the inner space having a post electrode and a fluid port disposed in the inner space, the fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid tube and configured to disperse the fluid into the inner space, the central post proximal to the proximal end of the ablation electrode, wherein the post electrode is one of a planar electrode or a bulbous electrode.