Catheter for delivery of electric energy and a process for manufacturing the same

A catheter (10) for delivering electrical anergy to a selectable region of a patient's body has at least one layer (46) of fibers with at least one electrically conductive fiber (50-56, 60-68) stranded over a flexible core (28). Each layer (46, 42, 34) of fibers is stranded over the flexible core (28) and underlying layers opposite in direction from that of the immediately preceding layer so as to provide a catheter with good torque transfer properties in addition to its electrical energy transfer properties. The outermost layer (46) of stranded fibers is electrically conductive and is covered by an electrically insulative outer layer (17) which is mechanically strippable to expose selectable regions of the underlying layer of stranded fibers. Electrical anergy is transmitted along the outermost layer (46) of stranded fibers to tissue which is in contact with the exposed contact region of the outermost layer of stranded fibers. The catheter can also deliver electrical energy through a cutting tip for multipolar electro-cautery.