Patent ID: 8021361

Claim:
A tissue contact sensing system that provides information indicative of contact between a tissue surface and a distal tip portion of an elongate member impinging upon the tissue surface, comprising: an elongate member having an intermediate section and a distal tip portion; a compliant material coupled between the intermediate section and the distal tip portion; and an electro-mechanical sensor means coupled to the compliant material for generating respective electrical signals in response to a mechanical load imposed on said electro-mechanical sensor means due to contact between a surface of tissue and said distal tip portion, wherein the electro-mechanical sensor means comprises at least three spaced-apart electro-mechanical sensors, the electro-mechanical sensors covered by an outer surface of the elongate member, and each of the electro-mechanical sensors being elongated haying a longitudinal axis and arranged laterally adjacent one another in an elongated direction, the longitudinal axis of the sensors being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.