Irrigated Catheter
An ablation catheter with saline irrigation through the tip electrode to prevent overheating and enable deeper tissue penetration.
Full Definition
An irrigated catheter is an advanced ablation catheter design that circulates cool saline through channels in or around the tip electrode during radiofrequency energy delivery. This irrigation system prevents electrode overheating, reduces impedance rise, and allows for larger, deeper lesion creation compared to standard catheters. The continuous saline flow maintains electrode temperature while enabling higher power delivery and longer ablation duration. Irrigated catheters have become standard for most ablation procedures, particularly for substrate modification and areas requiring transmural lesions. Flow rates typically range from 2-30 mL/min depending on power settings and clinical requirements.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'irrigated' as standard adjective form, not 'irrigation catheter' or 'irrigating catheter'.
In Context
- "An irrigated catheter was used for substrate modification with 25W power and 15 mL/min irrigation." — Procedure note
- "The irrigated catheter enabled transmural lesion creation through the thick atrial wall." — Technical report