Ablation catheter with covered electrodes allowing electrical conduction therethrough

A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising:

• a shaft having a curved distal-end region with an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a plurality of band electrodes positioned at the distal-end region of the shaft;
• a surface covering including a first portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure covering a portion of each of the band electrodes;
• and
• a secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.

A catheter for applying energy to biological tissue having biological fluid flowing thereby, said catheter comprising:

• a shaft having a distal-end region defining a tissue-contacting surface and a fluid-contacting surface;
• a plurality of band electrodes positioned at the distal-end region of the shaft;
• a surface covering including a first portion comprising a bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure that covers the portion of each of the band electrodes coincident with the tissue-contacting surface;
• and
• a secondary surface covering the interior walls of the pores of the bio-compatible, non-electrically conductive porous structure.