Patent ID: 8721634

Claim:
A method of facilitating the treatment of a blood vessel, said method comprising: initiating power delivery to an electrically insulated heating coil of a blood vessel treatment device, the electrically insulated heating coil configured to prevent electrical contact and electrical conduction with tissue; measuring the temperature of said heating coil, said temperature being relevant to heat energy coupling between said heating coil and a blood vessel wall; determining whether proper heat energy coupling exists between said heating coil and said blood vessel wall, based on said measured temperature of said heating coil, wherein a low heating coil temperature indicates improper heat energy coupling; wherein determining whether proper heat energy coupling exists further comprises determining whether said heating coil meets or exceeds a first target temperature value for said temperature of said heating coil within a prescribed first period of time after initiating power delivery; and if improper heat energy coupling is found to exist within said first period of time, providing a warning; determining whether proper heat energy coupling exists between said heating coil and said blood vessel wall, including determining whether said heating coil meets or exceeds a second target temperature value different from the first, and within a second period of time following said first period of time, wherein a low heating coil temperature indicates improper heat energy coupling; and if improper heat energy coupling is found to exist within said second period of time, providing a warning and terminating power delivery to said heating coil.