Large surface area temperature sensing device

摘要

A temperature probe for monitoring temperatures of a surface of a tissue or organ within the body of a subject includes a section with a substantially two-dimensional arrangement and a plurality of temperature sensors positioned across an area defined by the substantially two-dimensional arrangement. Such an apparatus may be used in conjunction with procedures in which thermal techniques are used to diagnose a disease state or treat diseased tissue. Specifically, a temperature probe may be used to monitor temperatures across an area of a surface of a tissue or organ located close to the treated tissue to prevent subjection of the monitored tissue or organ to potentially damaging temperatures.

主权项

1. A temperature monitoring system, comprising:
a temperature probe configured for introduction against an interior surface of an esophagus, the temperature probe including:
an elongate member including:
a distal portion for insertion into an interior of an esophagus of a subject and shaped to have a substantially two-dimensional arrangement having:
a length that coincides with a remainder of a length of the elongate member;a width of about 10 mm to about 30 mm, the width exceeding a width of the elongate member; anda thickness of about a same thickness of the elongate member and any additional elements carried by the distal portion of the elongate member, the distal portion configured to be placed against and to conform to a shape of an interior surface of the esophagus without substantially deforming the shape of the interior surface and/or without substantially displacing tissue of the esophagus; anda proximal portion adjacent to an opposite end of the elongate member from the distal portion, the proximal portion configured for communication with apparatus external to a body of the subject; anda plurality of temperature sensors carried by the distal portion so as to be arranged across an area array and simultaneously positioned against the internal surface of the esophagus when the distal portion is positioned against the internal surface of the esophagus, with:
at least two sensors spaced laterally (x-axis) apart from each other in the substantially two-dimensional arrangement by a lateral (x-axis) distance that exceeds a width of the elongate member; andat least two sensors spaced longitudinally (y-axis) apart from each other a longitudinal (y-axis) distance that is at least as great as the lateral (x-axis) distance; and a temperature display system in communication with the temperature probe, the temperature display system including:
a display element for showing temperatures at locations that are visually arranged in a manner that corresponds to a physical arrangement of the plurality of temperature sensors carried by the distal portion of the elongate member of the temperature probe.