The present invention provides multi-functional medical catheters, systems andmethods for their use. In one particular embodiment, a medical catheter (100)includes a flexible elongate body (105) having a proximal end (110) and adistal end (120). A plurality of spaced apart electrodes (130-136) areoperably attached to the flexible body near the distal end. At least some ofthe electrodes are adapted for mapping a tissue and, in some embodiments, atleast one of the electrodes is adapted for ablating a desired portion of thetissue. The catheter includes a plurality of tissue orientation detectors (140-146) disposed between at least some of the electrodes. In this manner, themedical catheter is capable of tissue mapping, tissue imaging, tissueorientation, and/or tissue treatment functions.
