Occlusion detection via fluid dilution

A method of occlusion detection comprising:

• (a) determining, via a processor, an original value of at least one characteristic of blood of a patient;
• (b) positioning a medical tool coupled to a distal portion of a distal end of a delivery catheter at a target cavity within the patient, the medical tool comprising an expandable balloon, and at least one sensor;
• (c) expanding the expandable balloon when the balloon is positioned at the target cavity to thereby establish an occluded area and a leakage area of the target cavity, the expandable balloon having a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis, and a membrane formed of a plurality of irrigation pores;
• (d) introducing a fluid into the target cavity;
• (e) detecting, via a first sensor of the at least one sensor, a first updated value of the at least one characteristic of blood in the occluded area;
• (f) detecting, via a second sensor of the at least one sensor, a second updated value of the at least one characteristic of blood in the leakage area, the second sensor being positioned on an outer surface of the expandable balloon to thereby contact the blood;
• (g) processing, via a processor, the first and second updated values of the at least one characteristic of blood;
• and
• (h) determining, via the processor, a time from when the fluid is introduced into the target cavity to when the first and second updated values of the at least one characteristic of blood return to the original value taken prior to the step of positioning the medical tool in the target cavity, and
• a presence or absence of an occlusion being determined by the updated values of the at least one characteristic of blood from each of the first and second sensor, the original value, and a baseline of the at least one characteristic of blood that has no occlusion.