MEDICAL APPARATUS SYSTEM HAVING OPTICAL FIBER LOAD SENSING CAPABILITY

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus for diagnosis or treatment of a vessel or organ, comprising : a deformable body (1) defining a longitudinal axis and having a distal extremity including a tissue ablation end effector (33) having irrigation ports (34); at least one irrigation channel disposed within said deformable body, said at least one irrigation channel being in fluid communication with said irrigation ports; at least two sensors disposed within said distal extremity to detect deformations imposed on said deformable body resulting from a contact force applied to said distal extremity. Said sensors are responsive to a wave in a specified range of frequency to detect said deformation and being substantially immune to electromagnetic interference. A microprocessor is operatively coupled with sensors and adapted to receive outputs therefrom, said microprocessor being configured to resolve a multi-dimensional force vector from said outputs, said multi-dimensional force vector corresponding to said contact force applied to said distal extremity.