Importance

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Abstract

A catheter is designed with a virtual electrode structure for creating a linear lesion. The catheter includes a sensor array that measures temperatures of adjacent tissue along the length of the virtual electrode section. The sensors in the sensor array include a conductive material that is substantially coated with an electrically and thermally insulating material. An aperture is formed in the insulating coating to expose an area of the conductive material. Leads are coupled with each sensor and are connected at their opposite, proximal ends with a discrimination circuit. The circuit processes the signals induced in the sensors to output a single temperature measurement, for example, the highest temperature, the lowest temperature, or the average temperature. The sensors also measure cardiac electrical activity and the leads are further connected to an electrocardiograph monitor to determine the efficacy of treatment.

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First Claim