Systems and methods for reducing the number of temperature measurement wires
in multiple temperature sensor ablation systems are described. In a preferred embodiment,
temperature sensors capable of measuring the temperature of body tissue and transmitting
the temperature data digitally are incorporated in a catheter or probe ablation
system that also includes electrodes in operative contact with the sensors. The
sensors are connected in parallel to a common electrical bus, thereby allowing
the system to operate using a reduced number of electrical paths as compared to
conventional ablation systems. The present invention is also directed to ablation
systems that incorporate analog sensors rather than digital sensors. In this embodiment,
the system utilizes digital switching, filtering circuits, or oscillators to reduce
the number of wires required to operate the sensors.