LARGE SURFACE AREA TEMPERATURE SENSING

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 left atrial ablation method, comprising:
introducing a temperature probe into an esophagus of an individual; placing a temperature-sensing portion of the temperature probe against an interior surface of a portion of the esophagus located adjacent to a left atrium of a heart of the individual, the act of placing the temperature-sensing portion including positioning a plurality of temperature sensors arranged in an area array against the interior surface of the portion of the esophagus; with the plurality of temperature sensors positioned against the interior surface of the esophagus, ablating abnormal tissue of a wall of the left atrium of the heart of the individual from an interior of the left atrium; and monitoring a temperature of the interior surface of the portion of the esophagus with the plurality of temperature sensors while ablating the abnormal tissue.