Patent ID: 8864757

Claim:
A contact sensing assembly comprising: a catheter including a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a bendable electrode pipe comprising an inner surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; wherein the electrode pipe is completely enclosed in the catheter body; and a flexible electrode wire including insulation thereon and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the electrode wire is completely enclosed in the electrode pipe and setoff from the inner surface of the electrode pipe when the catheter body is in a non-bent configuration, wherein the proximal end of the electrode wire is mechanically coupled to the proximal end of the electrode pipe; and wherein a non-coupled portion of the electrode wire is adapted to move toward and away from the inner surface of the electrode pipe when the catheter body bends, wherein a change in capacitance resulting from a change in a relative distance between the non-coupled portion of the electrode wire and the inner surface of the electrode pipe during bending of the electrode pipe directly correlates to a force applied to the catheter.