Improved electrode tips are provided for cardiac ablation. In accordance with certain preferred embodiments, such tips feature a plurality of conductive portions separated by nonconductive portions to form a plurality of electrodes in the tips. The materials of the tips are biocompatible and capable of sterilization. The same electrode portions may be addressed by a control device both to assess cardiac electrical signals at known cardiac loci and to deliver ablative radiofrequency energy to the same locations. The tips may be provided with perforations to permit irrigation of the catheters when in use.
