Patent ID: 9743975
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A thermal ablation probe comprising: an elongated shaft; and a head portion formed by a distal end of the elongated shaft and defining a planar tissue contacting surface configured to contact a tissue surface, the head portion comprising: a plurality of tissue contacting sensors configured to determine if the planar tissue contacting surface is in direct contact with the tissue surface; and at least one electrode configured to apply energy to tissue, the at least one electrode defining a planar surface coplanar with the planar tissue contacting surface and disposed at a center portion of the planar tissue contacting surface, wherein the at least one electrode is prevented from applying energy to tissue when it is determined that the planar tissue contacting surface is not in direct contact with the tissue surface, the plurality of tissue contacting sensors disposed on the planar tissue contacting surface and concentrically surrounding the at least one electrode, wherein the head portion further defines a plurality of openings in the planar tissue contacting surface, and wherein each of the plurality of tissue contacting sensors is movably positioned within a respective opening of the plurality of openings.