US Patent 10564203 Probe heater remaining useful life determination

A probe system includes a heater and a control circuit. The heater includes a resistive heating element routed through the probe system. An operational voltage is provided to the resistive heating element to provide heating for the probe system. The control circuit is configured to provide the operational voltage and monitor a capacitance between the resistive heating element and a metallic sheath of the heater over time. The control circuit is further configured to determine a remaining useful life of the probe system based on the capacitance.