Deformation based pressure sensing

A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:

• providing a resilient probe, having a known spring constant, for insertion into a body of a patient, the probe comprising a plurality of electrodes and at least one position sensor at respective locations along the probe;
• recording relative location coordinates of the electrodes and the at least one position sensor when the probe is in an unrestrained state;
• while the probe is in the body and deformed by contact with tissue of the patient, recording changes in the relative location coordinates of one or more of the electrodes that are in contact with the tissue and the at least one position sensor;
• computing a shape of the probe in a deformed state, in response to the recorded changes;
• in response to the known spring constant of the probe and the computed shape of the probe in the deformed state, computing a respective force exerted by the tissue on each of the one or more of the electrodes;
• and
• controlling a reception or application of electrical signals through the one or more of the electrodes from or to the tissue responsively to the computed respective force on each of the electrodes.