MULTI-MODALITY ABLATION CATHETER HAVING A SHAPE MEMORY STYLET

A multimodality or hybrid ablation system includes an ablation apparatus for creating a lesion in target tissue. The ablation apparatus has an ablation shaft including a handle, a first portion, an ablation portion, distal tip, at least one ablation energy delivery lumen, at least one ablation energy return lumen, and a stylet lumen that extends substantially along a length of the ablation shaft from the handle to at least the ablation portion. The ablation apparatus also includes a stylet that is capable of being inserted into the stylet lumen where the stylet is made of a shape-memory material. A plurality of electrodes are arranged on the ablation portion for measuring or verifying tissue contact with the tissue and applying a pulsed electric field. Optionally, the pulsed electric field may be applied after or in parallel with freezing the target tissue.