Patent ID: 7955369

Claim:
A method for use with a catheter sized for insertion into a human blood vessel, the catheter comprising an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a heating coil having a proximal end and a distal end and being located at or near the distal end of the shaft, the heating coil being insulated so as to prevent electrical contact and electrical conduction with tissue, and a temperature sensor located along the coil near and proximal of the distal end of the coil; the method comprising: delivering electrical power to the coil while the coil is disposed in a first treatment segment of the blood vessel; monitoring a temperature via the temperature sensor; moving the coil from the first treatment segment; creating partial overlap between the first treatment segment of the blood vessel and a second treatment segment of the blood vessel by sensing a temperature drop via the temperature sensor and determining, based on the temperature drop, that the coil has been moved to the second treatment segment and that the temperature sensor has been moved, wherein the second treatment segment comprises an overlap portion created by the partial overlap between the first and second treatment segments, and a non-overlap portion adjacent to the first treatment segment and the overlap portion; and delivering electrical power to the coil again.