Method for sensing temperature profile of a hollow body organ
First Claim
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1. A method for sensing the temperature profile of a hollow body organ, comprising the steps of:
- providing a catheter;
providing a hollow, self-expanding guidewire that expands when unconstrained into a configuration including a plurality of helical loops of greater diameter than the catheter;
providing a temperature sensor disposable within the lumen of the guidewire and moveable longitudinally therein;
contracting the guidewire elastically and constraining the guidewire within the lumen of the catheter;
advancing the catheter and guidewire to a region of interest in a hollow body organ;
withdrawing the catheter while securing the guidewire against substantial longitudinal movement relative to the hollow body organ, whereby the guidewire self-expands into loops in contact with the hollow body organ;
moving the temperature probe through the lumen of the guidewire; and
sensing the temperature of the hollow body organ at multiple locations.
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Abstract
A method for sensing the temperature profile of a hollow body organ utilizes a catheter and a hollow guidewire. The guidewire is configured as a plurality of helical loops of greater diameter than the catheter when unconstrained. When constrained within the catheter, the guidewire can be advanced to a region of interest in hollow body organ. The catheter can be withdrawn, leaving the guidewire in place in an expanded configuration wherein the helical loops contact the inner wall of the hollow body organ. A temperature sensor is moveable within the guidewire to sense the temperature at multiple locations.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for sensing the temperature profile of a hollow body organ, comprising the steps of:
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providing a catheter;
providing a hollow, self-expanding guidewire that expands when unconstrained into a configuration including a plurality of helical loops of greater diameter than the catheter;
providing a temperature sensor disposable within the lumen of the guidewire and moveable longitudinally therein;
contracting the guidewire elastically and constraining the guidewire within the lumen of the catheter;
advancing the catheter and guidewire to a region of interest in a hollow body organ;
withdrawing the catheter while securing the guidewire against substantial longitudinal movement relative to the hollow body organ, whereby the guidewire self-expands into loops in contact with the hollow body organ;
moving the temperature probe through the lumen of the guidewire; and
sensing the temperature of the hollow body organ at multiple locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification