An irrigated ablation catheter provides improved distribution of irrigation fluid across its tip electrode surface resulting in improved cooling and flushing of blood and proteins from the tip region. An axially directed flow of irrigation provides improved heat transfer from the tip electrode to the irrigation fluid allowing for a cooler tip electrode and larger lesions. The irrigation fluid is introduced to the catheter with improved flow by means of a standard constant flow pump. A lumen or tube within a shaft of the catheter transfers the irrigation fluid to a proximal end of the tip electrode where it exits the catheter via a flow directing member mounted on the tip electrode. In one embodiment, the flow directing member is a thin walled tube that surrounds the proximal end of the tip electrode and directs the irrigation fluid distally along an outer surface of the tip electrode.
