Even temperature linear lesion ablation catheter

A method of ablating target tissue within a body, the method including the steps of:

• positioning a linear electrode of a catheter in the body adjacent the target tissue;
• and
• ablating the target tissue with the electrode at a generally uniform temperature along a length of the electrode,
• wherein the ablating step further comprises:
• applying an electrical ablating signal to the electrode over a resistance of the electrode that increases in value exponentially along a length of the electrode from a midpoint to a non-infinite value at the ends of the electrode.

A method of producing a linear lesion along a target tissue comprising:

• positioning a linear electrode in the body adjacent the target tissue;
• and
• heating the target tissue with the electrode at a generally uniform temperature along the length of the electrode without necrosing healthy tissue surrounding the target tissue,
• wherein the heating step further comprises:
• applying an electrical ablating signal to the electrode over a resistance of the electrode that increases in value exponentially along a length of the electrode from a midpoint to a non-infinite value at the ends of the electrode.

An ablation catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible member;
• an electrode disposed on a distal portion of the member and defining a plurality of electrically connected conductive regions which extend from the center of the electrode to a first end and a second end of the electrode with all of the conductive regions having substantially the same resistance value;
• a plurality of conductors, each conductor having a distal end connected to one of the conductive regions of the electrode and extending through the elongate flexible member to a proximal portion of the member;
• and
• an external control unit having multiple voltage outputs with each voltage output having a different value wherein each voltage output is connected to a proximal end of one of the conductors,
• wherein the conductive regions along the electrode produce a voltage pattern that decreases at the edges of the electrode.

An ablation catheter comprising:

• an elongate flexible member;
• an electrode disposed on a distal portion of the member and defining a plurality of electrically connected conductive regions which extend from the center of the electrode to a first end and a second end of the electrode;
• a plurality of conductors, each conductor having a distal end connected to one of the conductive regions of the electrode and extending through the elongate flexible member to a proximal portion of the catheter;
• and
• an external control unit having a single voltage output connected to multiple resistors with each resistor having a different value, and each resistor being connected to a proximal end of one of the conductors.