Abstract: The invention is based on the realisation that inflamed plaques in blood vessel walls, which are potentially vulnerable to rupture, can be detected at elevated temperatures which are lower than previously realised. In particular, the low temperatures at which inflamed plaque can be detected are often associated with systems in which blood flow is generally close to normal in particular temperature differences above zero but not more than 0.39° C. have been found to be indicative of the presence of inflamed plaque.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter apparatus for temperature measurement of vascular tissue, comprising a flexible body, at least one resiliently biased projection depended from the body, a sensor carried by the projection and an electrical carrier for transmitting data from the sensor to a remote device, wherein the projection, in a deployed configuration, adopts an arcuate shape along at least part of its length, wherein the gradient of the arcuate portion of the projection, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, increases as a function of distance along the projection from the end attached to the catheter body.