Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an intra-esophageal catheter for sensing one or more physiological conditions within the esophagus, stomach or small bowel. The catheter includes features that facilitate catheter insertion and deployment, and reduce patient discomfort during deployment and indwelling use of the catheter. The intra-esophageal catheter has a main catheter section and a distal catheter section coupled to the main catheter body. The main catheter section is formed from a flexible material. The distal catheter section is formed from a material that is substantially less flexible than the flexible material of the main catheter section. The main catheter section and distal catheter section may be formed from different materials or different durometers of the same type of material.