Ablation is carried out by bringing a probe into contactwith a target tissue. The probe has a plurality of temperaturesensors and an ablation electrode on its distal portion.The temperature sensors are distributed circumferentiallyabout the longitudinal axis such that the probe has an omni-directionaltemperature sensitivity. After verifying thatcontact exists between the probe and the target tissue, andwhile applying energy through the ablation electrode datafrom the temperature sensors is repetitively recorded. There-after,responsively to detection of a drop in temperaturewith respect to the baseline temperature level, it is concludedthat a loss of contact between the probe and the targettissue has occurred. The operator is thereupon alerted.
