US 12,433,658 B2
Cryoballoon contact assessment using capacitive or resistive sensors
Nicolas Coulombe, Anjou (CA)
Assigned to Medtronic CryoCath LP, Toronto (CA)
Filed by Medtronic CryoCath LP, Toronto (CA)
Filed on Sep. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/024,804.
Application 17/024,804 is a continuation of application No. 15/470,127, filed on Mar. 27, 2017, granted, now 10,813,680.
Prior Publication US 2021/0000522 A1, Jan. 7, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/02 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 18/02 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/0022 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00255 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00375 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0212 (2013.01); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical device for determining tissue contact, the device comprising:
an elongate body including a distal portion and a proximal portion; and
a treatment element coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body, the treatment element having:
a first expandable element having an inner surface and an outer surface;
a second expandable element, the first expandable element being within the second expandable element; and
at least one conductive contact sensing element disposed on the outer surface of the first expandable element, the at least one conductive contact sensing element configured to be in electrical communication with a control unit,
wherein the at least one conductive contact sensing element is configured to detect circumferential contact between the first expandable element and tissue.