Thermography catheter with improved wall contact

A catheter for measuring one or more characteristics of a body vessel, comprising:

• an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal section;
• an expandable body located at the distal section of the elongated body and comprising at least one support arm configured to be radially displaceable from and independently movable in relation to a longitudinal axis L of the expandable body and another support arm;
• the at least one support arm having a proximal section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D1 from the longitudinal axis L, a medial section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D2 from the longitudinal axis L, and a distal section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D3 from the longitudinal axis L, wherein distance D2 is greater than distances D1 and D3;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned on at least one of the proximal section of the at least one support arm, the medial section of the at least one support arm, the distal section of the at least one support arm, the expandable body, and the elongated body.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal section;
• an expandable body located at the distal section of the elongated body and comprising at least one support arm;
• at least one support arm retainer positioned on the distal section of the elongated body, the at least one support arm retainer independently securing at least one section of the at least one support arm to the elongated body in independently movable relation to another support arm and the elongated body;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned on at least one of the distal section, the expandable body, and the at least one support arm.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal section and having an inner body member positioned within a retractable outer sleeve;
• an expandable body located at the distal section of the elongated body and positionable within the outer sleeve, the expandable body comprising at least one support arm coupled proximately to the elongated body in fixed relation;
• at least one support arm retainer positioned on the distal section of the elongated body which independently couples a distal section of the at least one support arm to the distal section of the elongated body in independently movable relation to each of the other at least one support arms;
• and
• at least one thermal sensor positioned on at least one of the distal section, the expandable body, the deployment support member, and the at least one support arm.

A deployable expandable body for measuring one or more thermal characteristics of a body vessel, comprising:

• at least two support arms configured to be radially displaceable from a longitudinal axis of the expandable body and independently movable in a radial direction in relation to each other when deployed;
• the support arms having a proximal section, a distal section, and a medial section configured to be radially displaceable a greater distance from the longitudinal axis than the proximal and distal sections;
• and
• a thermal sensor disposed on the medial section of at least one of the support arms and configured to contact the body vessel when deployed.

An expandable body for measuring one or more thermal characteristics of a body vessel, comprising:

• at least two deployable support arms configured to be radially displaceable from a longitudinal axis of the expandable body and independently movable in relation to each other when deployed;
• the at least two support arms having a proximal section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D1 from the longitudinal axis L, a medial section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D2 from the longitudinal axis L, and a distal section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D3 from the longitudinal axis L, wherein distance D2 is greater than distances D1 and D3;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned on the medial section of the at least two support arms.

An expandable body for measuring one or more thermal characteristics of a vessel, comprising:

• at least one support arm configured to be radially displaceable from and independently movable in relation to a longitudinal axis L of the expandable body and another support arm;
• the at least one support arm having a proximal section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D1 from the longitudinal axis L, a medial section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D2 from the longitudinal axis L, and a distal section configured to be radially displaceable a distance D3 from the longitudinal axis L, wherein distance D2 is greater than distances D1 and D3;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned on at least one of the proximal section of the at least one support arm, the medial section of the at least one support arm, the distal section of the at least one support arm, and the expandable body.

An expandable body, comprising:

• at least one support arm defining the expandable body;
• at least one support arm retainer configured to retain at least a section of the at least one support arm therein in independently movable relation to at least another support arm;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned on at least one of the at least support arm and the at least one support arm retainer.

An expandable body, comprising:

• at least one support arm defining the expandable body, the at least one support arm having a sensor channel formed thereon;
• at least one support arm retainer configured to retain at least a section of the at least one support arm therein in independently movable relation to at least another support arm;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned within the sensor channel of the at least one support arm.

An expandable body, comprising:

• at least one support arm defining an expandable body having a longitudinal axis L, the at least one support arm having a first relaxed state displaced a first distance D1 from the longitudinal axis L and a second compressed state displaced a second distance D2 from the longitudinal axis L, wherein the first distance D1 is greater than the second distance D2;
• at least one support arm retainer configured to retain at least a section of the at least one support arm therein in independently movable relation to at least another support arm;
• and
• at least one sensor positioned on at least one of the at least one support arm and the at least one support arm retainer.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongated body having a distal section;
• an expandable body defining an expandable body passage disposed on the distal section of the elongated body;
• at least one thermal sensor configured to contact a vessel wall disposed on the expandable body;
• and
• an inner body having a flexible distal section co-linear with the expandable body.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongated body having a distal section;
• an expandable body defining an expandable body passage disposed on the distal section of the elongated body;
• a flexible distal tip disposed on the expandable body and partially traversing the expandable body passage;
• at least one thermal sensor configured to contact a vessel wall disposed on the expandable body;
• and
• an inner body having a flexible distal section co-linear with the expandable body.

A catheter, comprising:

• an elongated body having a distal section;
• an expandable body defining an expandable body passage disposed on the distal section of the elongated body;
• a coiled member defining a coil passageway coupled to the elongated body and traversing the expandable body passage;
• at least one thermal sensor configured to contact a vessel wall disposed on the expandable body;
• and
• an inner body having a flexible distal section co-linear with the expandable body.