Patent ID: 8145289

Claim:
An esophageal catheter comprising an insertion element ( 1 ) able to be inserted into a patient's esophagus and having a distal end ( 2 ) and a sheath ( 3 ) containing cables ( 7 ) connected to at least three temperature sensors ( 4 ) fitted along the element ( 1 ) in the vicinity of the distal end, the sensors being mounted in predetermined positions relative to one or more positioning elements ( 5 , 6 ) fixed along the element ( 1 ) and defining a temperature detection zone ( 8 ), the three temperature sensors being a first temperature sensor positioned a first distance from the distal end, a second temperature sensor positioned a second distance from the distal end, and a third temperature sensor positioned a third distance from the distal end, the first distance being shorter than the second distance, the second distance being shorter than the third distance; the portion of the catheter between the first temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor consisting of (a) a first portion of the sheath ( 3 ) between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, (b) the second temperature sensor, and (c) a second portion of the sheath ( 3 ) between the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor, each of the first, second and third temperature sensors having a lateral dimension greater than any lateral dimension of the first portion and the second portion of the sheath ( 3 ); the first portion of the sheath ( 3 ) being the same length as the second portion of the sheath ( 3 ) so that the three temperature sensors can detect a central value and two deviations from the central value at two symmetrical, equidistant points.