Anatomical vessel heat sensors

Abstract

Heat sensors can be positioned within the esophagus of a patient so as to monitor temperature changes during ablation procedures in the heart. Some heat sensors can include a wire that defines an extended heat sensing region capable of detecting a change in the local temperature. Some heat sensors can be conformable to an inner surface of the esophageal wall to maintain contact therewith or to be in close proximity thereto.

1 - 100 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . A heat sensing system comprising:
 a heat sensor that comprises:
 a heat sensing wire formed of a single continuous one-piece wire having a resistivity that varies with temperature, the heat sensing wire extending along a continuous path that defines a heat sensing region; 
 a first connection interface at a first end of the heat sensing wire at a first end of the continuous path; 
 a second connection interface at a second end of the heat sensing wire at a second end of the continuous path, the first and second connection interfaces being the only connection interfaces in electrical contact with the heat sensing wire; and 
 an encapsulation covering the heat sensing wire, the encapsulation being configured to electrically isolate the heat sensing wire from an electrically conductive substance at an interior of an anatomical vessel when the heat sensor is deployed within the vessel, and the encapsulation being configured to permit heat transfer to, from, or both to and from the heat sensing wire, wherein the encapsulation is configured to transition between a compressed state in which the encapsulation has a first cross-sectional profile and an expanded state in which the encapsulation has a second cross-sectional profile that is larger than the first cross-sectional profile, the encapsulation comprising an outer surface area that is the same whether the encapsulation is in the compressed state or in the expanded state, 
 wherein each of the heat sensing wire and the encapsulation is flexible to permit the heat sensing region defined by the heat sensing wire to conform to an inner surface of the anatomical vessel when the heat sensor is deployed within the anatomical vessel; and 
   a controller coupled with the heat sensor, wherein the controller is configured to detect that heating of the heat sensing region at any location along the heat sensing wire has occurred due to changes to an overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire.   
     
     
         102 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the first and second connection interfaces are connected to respective first and second electrical leads via which the heat sensor can be electrically coupled with the controller. 
     
     
         103 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the heat sensor further comprises a reference temperature sensor positioned in proximity to the heat sensing region, wherein the reference temperature sensor is configured to detect a reference temperature and communicate with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the reference temperature, and wherein the controller is configured to detect that the heating of the heat sensing region at any location along the heat sensing wire has occurred by monitoring the changes to the overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire in relation to the reference temperature. 
     
     
         104 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the encapsulation of the heat sensor comprises a substrate that comprises a solid core and further comprises a superstrate that comprises a tubular structure that sheaths the core. 
     
     
         105 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the encapsulation is resiliently flexible with an intrinsic bias toward the expanded state. 
     
     
         106 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the encapsulation is flexible, but not resiliently flexible, such that the encapsulation readily transitions between a compressed state and an expanded state, yet is intrinsically unbiased relative to each of the compressed and expanded states. 
     
     
         107 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate an alarm when a temperature is detected by the controller that reaches or exceeds a threshold value, wherein a change in the temperature is related to the overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire. 
     
     
         108 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the controller is further configured to monitor the changes to the electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire. 
     
     
         109 . The heat sensing system of  claim 101 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a rate of change of a temperature profile that is monitored by the controller, wherein the rate of change is determined by measuring the changes to the overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire over time. 
     
     
         110 . A heat sensing system comprising:
 a heat sensor that comprises:
 a heat sensing wire formed of a single continuous one-piece wire having a resistivity that varies with temperature, the heat sensing wire extending along a continuous path that defines a heat sensing region; 
 a first connection interface at a first end of the heat sensing wire at a first end of the continuous path; 
 a second connection interface at a second end of the heat sensing wire at a second end of the continuous path, the first and second connection interfaces being the only connection interfaces in electrical contact with the heat sensing wire; and 
 an encapsulation covering the heat sensing wire, the encapsulation being configured to electrically isolate the heat sensing wire from an electrically conductive substance at an interior of an anatomical vessel when the heat sensor is deployed within the vessel, and the encapsulation being configured to permit heat transfer to, from, or both to and from the heat sensing wire, wherein the encapsulation is configured to transition between a delivery state in which the heat sensing region has a first configuration and a deployed state in which the heat sensing region has a second configuration that is compliant to a wall on the anatomical vessel, the encapsulation comprising an outer surface area that is the same whether the encapsulation is in the delivery state or in the deployed state; and 
   a controller configured to couple with the heat sensor, wherein the controller is configured to detect that heating of the heat sensing region at any location along the heat sensing wire has occurred due to changes to an overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire.   
     
     
         111 . The heat sensing system of  claim 110 , wherein at least a portion of the heat sensor is disposed in a spiral pattern while in the second configuration. 
     
     
         112 . The heat sensing system of  claim 111 , wherein the spiral pattern is configured to extend along an inner periphery of the anatomical vessel along a longitudinal length of the anatomical vessel. 
     
     
         113 . The heat sensing system of  claim 110 , wherein the heat sensing region is substantially linear in the first configuration. 
     
     
         114 . The heat sensing system of  claim 110 , wherein the controller is further configured to monitor the changes to the electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire. 
     
     
         115 . The heat sensing system of  claim 110 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a rate of change of a temperature profile that is monitored by the controller, wherein the rate of change is determined by measuring the changes to the overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire over time. 
     
     
         116 . A heat sensing system comprising:
 a heat sensor that comprises:
 a heat sensing wire formed of a single continuous one-piece wire having a resistivity that varies with temperature, the heat sensing wire extending along a continuous path that defines a heat sensing region; 
 a first connection interface at a first end of the heat sensing wire at a first end of the continuous path; 
 a second connection interface at a second end of the heat sensing wire at a second end of the continuous path, the first and second connection interfaces being the only connection interfaces in electrical contact with the heat sensing wire; and 
 a first electrical lead coupled to the first end of the heat sensing wire at the first connection interface; 
 a second electrical lead coupled to the second end of he heat sensing wire at a the second connection interface; and 
 a support structure comprising a core and a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the heat sensing wire is disposed between the core and the sleeve, the sleeve being configured to electrically isolate the portion of the heat sensing wire from an electrically conductive substance at an interior of an anatomical vessel when the heat sensor is deployed within the vessel, and the sleeve being configured to permit heat transfer to, from, or both to and from the portion of the heat sensing wire, wherein the support structure is flexible in at least one direction that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the support structure; and 
   a controller configured to couple with the heat sensor, wherein the controller is configured to detect that heating of the heat sensing region at any location along the portion of the heat sensing wire has occurred due to changes to an overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire.   
     
     
         117 . The heat sensing system of  claim 116 , wherein the core is solid. 
     
     
         118 . The heat sensing system of  claim 116 , wherein the core comprises at least a portion of the first or the second electrical lead. 
     
     
         119 . The heat sensing system of  claim 116 , wherein the heat sensor further comprises a second heat sensing wire, wherein each of the heat sensing wires extends longitudinally along the support structure. 
     
     
         120 . The heat sensing system of  claim 116 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a rate of change of a temperature profile that is monitored by the controller, wherein the rate of change is determined by measuring the changes to the overall electrical resistance of the heat sensing wire over time.