Ablation and temperature measurement devices

Abstract

A temperature measurement probe for a patient is provided. The probe includes a sensor assembly and produces a temperature map comprising temperature information for multiple patient locations.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A temperature measurement apparatus for a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a transmission conduit configured to rotate and translate relative to collect infrared energy from a tissue surface;   at least one infrared fiber arranged within the transmission conduit and configured transmit infrared signals corresponding to the collected infrared energy; and   a sensor assembly configured to process the infrared signals to calculate a temperature of the tissue surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue surface is an esophagus of a patient, and the transmission conduit is configured to rotate 360° to measure an internal circumference of the tissue surface of the esophagus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission conduit is configured to rotate and translate in a reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transmission conduit is configured to translate and rotate in the reciprocating motion to collect the infrared energy across an area of the tissue surface and the sensor assembly is configured to combine the infrared signals collected across the area of the tissue surface and produce a temperature map indicating the temperature within the area of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission conduit includes a lens configured to direct the infrared energy from the tissue surface toward the at least one infrared fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one infrared fiber is configured to remain stationary relative to the rotating and translation transmission conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one infrared fiber includes an infrared fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to continuously process the infrared signals to calculate and update the temperature of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         9 . A temperature measurement apparatus for a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a transmission conduit configured to rotate and translate relative to collect infrared energy longitudinally and circumferentially across an area of a tissue surface;   at least one infrared fiber arranged within the transmission conduit and configured transmit infrared signals corresponding to the collected infrared energy;   a sensor assembly configured to process the infrared signals to calculate a temperature of the tissue surface and generate temperature information across the area of the tissue surface; and   a display unit configured to display the temperature information.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  , wherein the temperature information includes a temperature map indicative of a temperature of multiple locations across the area of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to combine the infrared signals collected across the area of the tissue surface and to produce the temperature map indicating the temperature within the area of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor assembly is configured to continuously process the infrared signals to calculate and update the temperature map. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the display unit includes a transducer configured to alert a user in response to the temperature information exceeding a desired temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the transducer includes at least one of an audible transducer and a visual transducer. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one infrared fiber is configured to remain stationary relative to the rotating and translation transmission conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one infrared fiber includes an infrared fiber. 
     
     
         17 . A method of measuring temperature of an esophagus of a patient, the method including:
 rotating and translating a transmission conduit within the esophagus of the patient to collect infrared energy from a tissue surface of the esophagus;   transmitting infrared signals corresponding to the collected infrared energy by at least one infrared fiber arranged within the transmission conduit; and   processing the infrared signals to calculate a temperature of the tissue surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein rotating and translating the transmission conduit includes rotating and translating the transmission conduit the reciprocating motion to collect the infrared energy across an area of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising combining the infrared signals collected across the area of the tissue surface and produce a temperature map indicating the temperature within the area of the tissue surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising continuously processing the infrared signals to calculate and update the temperature map.