Self-regulated PTC mini burner embedded in a catheter, PTC blood flow sensor and PTC cautery scalpel-like device, for cardiac procedures

Summary form only given. A novel positive temperature coefficient (PTC) self-regulated heat generating device was developed. Three options were proposed for this self-regulated heater: a scalpel-like device for surgical applications; a PTC mini burner embedded in a catheter at its tip; and a PTC blood flow sensor. The scalpel-like device is capable of maintaining a constant temperature and variable heat generation along with coagulation capabilities for human and veterinarian surgical, medical and dental use. The PTC mini burner, embedded at a catheter tip is used for internal tissue local burning. The PTC blood flow sensor size is infinitesimal. As the temperature is preset to a certain value, thermal load is measured. A first derivative (in the time domain), of the thermal load readout, gives the blood flow (l/min).