A temperature probe configured for introduction against an interior surface of an esophagus of a subject, comprising: an elongate tubular member including: a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured for communication with an apparatus external to the subject; a plurality of temperature sensors carried by the distal portion, wherein the distal portion is configured for insertion into the interior of the esophagus of the subject, the distal portion including a portion which is configured to have a pre-shaped, substantially two-dimensional arrangement as a relaxed state, and the two-dimensional arrangement covering an area with a width of 10 mm to 30 mm, thereby exceeding the diameter of the elongate tubular member, and a thickness of about the diameter of the elongate tubular member; and wherein the shape of the substantially two-dimensional arrangement distributes the plurality of temperature sensors over an area array, and the plurality of temperature sensors are configured to be positioned against the internal surface of the esophagus when the distal portion is in the substantially two-dimensional arrangement positioned against the internal surface of the esophagus, wherein the area array includes - at least two temperature sensors spaced laterally (x-axis) apart from each other by a first distance that exceeds the diameter of the elongate member and - at least two temperature sensors spaced longitudinally (y-axis) apart from each other by a second distance that is at least as great as the first distance, characterized in that the substantially two-dimensional arrangement comprises a serpentine configuration as the relaxed state. a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured for communication with an apparatus external to the subject; a plurality of temperature sensors carried by the distal portion, wherein the distal portion is configured for insertion into the interior of the esophagus of the subject, the distal portion including a portion which is configured to have a pre-shaped, substantially two-dimensional arrangement as a relaxed state, and the two-dimensional arrangement covering an area with a width of 10 mm to 30 mm, thereby exceeding the diameter of the elongate tubular member, and a thickness of about the diameter of the elongate tubular member; and wherein the shape of the substantially two-dimensional arrangement distributes the plurality of temperature sensors over an area array, and the plurality of temperature sensors are configured to be positioned against the internal surface of the esophagus when the distal portion is in the substantially two-dimensional arrangement positioned against the internal surface of the esophagus, wherein the area array includes - at least two temperature sensors spaced laterally (x-axis) apart from each other by a first distance that exceeds the diameter of the elongate member and - at least two temperature sensors spaced longitudinally (y-axis) apart from each other by a second distance that is at least as great as the first distance, characterized in that - at least two temperature sensors spaced laterally (x-axis) apart from each other by a first distance that exceeds the diameter of the elongate member and - at least two temperature sensors spaced longitudinally (y-axis) apart from each other by a second distance that is at least as great as the first distance, characterized in that the substantially two-dimensional arrangement comprises a serpentine configuration as the relaxed state.