Base member with curvature detection function, curvature detection system, device comprising base member with curvature detection function, and balloon catheter

A balloon catheter system comprising:

• a balloon;
• a base member having a longitudinal direction, wherein the base member is a cylindrical member having a wall delimiting a hollow;
• a catheter shaft having an outer cylinder shaft connected to a proximal end of the balloon, an inner cylinder shaft having a longitudinal direction and extending into the balloon to be connected to a distal end of the balloon, a first linear member extending in the longitudinal direction, and a second linear member extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the inner cylinder shaft extends inside the outer cylinder shaft, a gap between the inner cylinder shaft and the outer cylinder shaft serves as a liquid delivery path in communication with an inside space of the balloon, the first linear member is fixed to the base member at a first fixed position and is relatively movable with respect to the base member in the longitudinal direction, on one side of the first fixed position in the longitudinal direction, and the second linear member is fixed to the base member at a second fixed position different from the first fixed position and is relatively movable with respect to the base member in the longitudinal direction, on the one side of the second fixed position in the longitudinal direction;
• a heating member that heats a liquid in the balloon, the heating member being disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder shaft in the balloon;
• and
• a distance displacement sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect change in a relative position between the first linear member and the second linear member, thereby detecting curvature of the base member between the first fixed position and the second fixed position based on change in the relative position between the first linear member and the second linear member.

A curvature detection system, comprising:

• a base member having a longitudinal direction;
• a first linear member extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first linear member is fixed to the base member at a first fixed position, and is relatively movable with respect to the base member in the longitudinal direction, on one side of the first fixed position in the longitudinal direction;
• a second linear member extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second linear member is fixed to the base member at a second fixed position different from the first fixed position, and is relatively movable with respect to the base member in the longitudinal direction, on the one side of the second fixed position in the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a distance displacement sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect change in a relative position between the first linear member and the second linear member, thereby detecting curvature of the base member between the first fixed position and the second fixed position based on change in the relative position between the first linear member and the second linear member, and comprises a first sensor at a second, unfixed, end of the first linear member and a second sensor at a second, unfixed end, of the second linear member.