Catheter with improved temperature response

Abstract

A medical probe, consisting of an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy. The probe also has a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor, the cap including a side wall having multiple longitudinal bores therein. There are a plurality of thermocouples disposed in respective ones of the longitudinal bores, and an electrically conductive cement at least partially fills the longitudinal bores so as to secure the thermocouples in the bores while making electrically conductive contact between the thermocouples and the conductive cap.

1 . A medical probe, comprising:
 an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy;   a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor, the cap comprising a side wall having multiple longitudinal bores therein;   a plurality of thermocouples disposed in respective ones of the longitudinal bores; and   an electrically conductive cement at least partially filling the longitudinal bores so as to secure the thermocouples in the bores while making electrically conductive contact between the thermocouples and the conductive cap.   
     
     
         2 . The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive cement is thermally conductive. 
     
     
         3 . The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive cap has a cap thermal conductivity, and the electrically conductive cement has a cement thermal conductivity at least 25% of the cap thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         4 . The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermocouples comprises a first electrical conductor having a first composition electrically connected at respective junctions to a multiplicity of second electrical conductors having a second composition. 
     
     
         5 . The probe according to  claim 4 , wherein the first electrical conductor and the multiplicity of second electrical conductors are connected together by insulating material. 
     
     
         6 . The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of thermocouples comprises a first thermocouple positioned at a distal location in a given longitudinal bore and a second thermocouple positioned at a proximal location in the given longitudinal bore. 
     
     
         7 . The probe according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy comprises radiofrequency energy for ablating tissue in the body of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 providing an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen having an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy;   attaching a conductive cap to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupling the cap electrically to the electrical conductor, the cap comprising a side wall having multiple longitudinal bores therein;   disposing a plurality of thermocouples in respective ones of the longitudinal bores; and   at least partially filling the longitudinal bores with an electrically conductive cement so as to secure the thermocouples in the bores while there is electrically conductive contact between the thermocouples and the conductive cap.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive cement is thermally conductive. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the conductive cap has a cap thermal conductivity, and the electrically conductive cement has a cement thermal conductivity at least 25% of the cap thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of thermocouples comprises a first electrical conductor having a first composition electrically connected at respective junctions to a multiplicity of second electrical conductors having a second composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the first electrical conductor and the multiplicity of second electrical conductors are connected together by insulating material. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of thermocouples comprises a first thermocouple positioned at a distal location in a given longitudinal bore and a second thermocouple positioned at a proximal location in the given longitudinal bore. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the electrical energy comprises radiofrequency energy for ablating tissue in the body of the patient.