Patent ID: 6974463

Claim:
A method of controlling the administration of a thermal therapy, comprising: inserting a catheter having a heat transfer element positioned at a distal tip of the catheter into a blood vessel of a patient, the catheter having a supply lumen for supplying a working fluid to the heat transfer element and a return lumen for returning a working fluid from the heat transfer element; circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature different from the patient temperature; receiving a signal from a temperature sensor mounted in one of the supply lumen or the return lumen; determining a control temperature based on the signal; and using the control temperature to control the temperature of the working fluid, and further comprising causing the working fluid to stop circulating, and wherein the receiving includes: allowing a first interval of time to pass; collecting data from the temperature sensor during a second interval of time, such that the allowing and collecting each follow the causing.