An electrophysiological catheter system comprising: a catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028) including proximal and distal ends; a catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030) coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028); a strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) coupled on the distal end of the catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028), the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) configured and arranged to deform in response to a force translated from the catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030), through the catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028), to the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), the deformation of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) fluctuating at least one electrical characteristic of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), and the change in the at least one electrical characteristic of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) indicative of the force exerted on the catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030); and wireless communication circuitry electrically coupled to the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), the wireless communication circuitry configured and arranged to wirelessly transmit a first electronic signal that is indicative of the force exerted on the catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030), characterized in that the wireless communication circuitry is further configured and arranged to receive a second electrical signal, store the energy received from the second electrical signal, monitor a change in at least one of the electrical characteristics of the strain sensitive element over time, and periodically transmit the first electrical signal, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes an induction coil (415, 515) that is electrically coupled to the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), the induction coil (415, 515) being configured and arranged to receive the second electrical signal, wherein the second electrical signal is at or near a resonant frequency of the induction coil (415, 515) which induces an oscillatory voltage in the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) and which modulates the second electrical signal to form the first electrical signal in response to deformation of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059). a catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028) including proximal and distal ends; a catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030) coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028); a strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) coupled on the distal end of the catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028), the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) configured and arranged to deform in response to a force translated from the catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030), through the catheter shaft (428, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028), to the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), the deformation of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) fluctuating at least one electrical characteristic of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), and the change in the at least one electrical characteristic of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) indicative of the force exerted on the catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030); and wireless communication circuitry electrically coupled to the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), the wireless communication circuitry configured and arranged to wirelessly transmit a first electronic signal that is indicative of the force exerted on the catheter tip (430, 530, 930, 1030), characterized in that the wireless communication circuitry is further configured and arranged to receive a second electrical signal, store the energy received from the second electrical signal, monitor a change in at least one of the electrical characteristics of the strain sensitive element over time, and periodically transmit the first electrical signal, wherein the wireless communication circuitry includes an induction coil (415, 515) that is electrically coupled to the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059), the induction coil (415, 515) being configured and arranged to receive the second electrical signal, wherein the second electrical signal is at or near a resonant frequency of the induction coil (415, 515) which induces an oscillatory voltage in the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059) and which modulates the second electrical signal to form the first electrical signal in response to deformation of the strain sensitive element (410, 510, 610, 710, 815, 950, 1059).