Tissue warming device and method

A device for forming a liquid interface between an ultrasound probe and tissue of a mammal, the device comprising:

• an inner sheath having a longitudinal axis, the inner sheath being configured to receive therein at least a portion of an ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis;
• an outer sheath enveloping at least a portion of the inner sheath, wherein the outer sheath and the portion of the inner sheath enveloped by the outer sheath form a substantially enclosed volume therebetween, the substantially enclosed volume having first and second portions;
• an at least substantially circumferential first junction joining the inner and outer sheaths, wherein the first portion of the substantially enclosed volume is disposed proximal to the first junction and the second portion of the substantially enclosed volume is disposed distal to the first junction;
• a liquid source for introducing liquid to the substantially enclosed volume;
• and
• a passage fluidically connecting the first and second portions of the substantially enclosed volume, through which passage fluid in one of the first and second portions of the substantially enclosed volume may pass to the other of the first and second portions of the substantially enclosed volume.

A device for forming a liquid interface between an ultrasound probe and tissue of a mammal, the ultrasound probe having a distal end, the device comprising:

• a distal tip;
• an inner sheath having a longitudinal axis, the inner sheath being configured to receive therein at least a portion of an ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis;
• an outer sheath enveloping at least a portion of the inner sheath, wherein the outer sheath and the portion of the inner sheath enveloped by the outer sheath form a substantially enclosed volume therebetween;
• and
• wherein a distal end of the distal tip extends distally beyond the outer sheath along the longitudinal axis.

A device for forming a liquid interface between an ultrasound probe and tissue of a mammal, the ultrasound probe having a distal end, the device comprising:

• an inner sheath having a longitudinal axis, the inner sheath being configured to receive therein at least a portion of an ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis;
• an outer sheath enveloping at least a portion of the inner sheath, wherein the outer sheath and the portion of the inner sheath enveloped by the outer sheath form a substantially enclosed volume therebetween;
• and
• a distal tip configured to abut the distal end of the ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis of the inner sheath.

A device for forming a liquid interface between an ultrasound probe and tissue of a mammal, the device comprising:

• a distal tip;
• an inner sheath having a longitudinal axis, the inner sheath being configured to receive therein at least a portion of an ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis;
• an outer sheath enveloping at least a portion of the inner sheath, wherein the outer sheath and the portion of the inner sheath enveloped by the outer sheath form a substantially enclosed volume therebetween;
• and
• wherein a distal portion of the outer sheath is secured to a circumference of the distal tip.

A device for forming a liquid interface between an ultrasound probe and tissue of a mammal, the device comprising:

• a distal tip;
• an inner sheath having a longitudinal axis, the inner sheath being configured to receive therein at least a portion of an ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis;
• an outer sheath enveloping at least a portion of the inner sheath, wherein the outer sheath and the portion of the inner sheath enveloped by the outer sheath form a substantially enclosed volume therebetween;
• and
• wherein a distal portion of the outer sheath is secured to a circumference of the distal tip.

A device for forming a liquid interface between an ultrasound probe and tissue of a mammal, the device comprising:

• a distal tip;
• an inner sheath having a longitudinal axis, the inner sheath being configured to receive therein at least a portion of an ultrasound probe along the longitudinal axis;
• an outer sheath enveloping at least a portion of the inner sheath, wherein the outer sheath and the portion of the inner sheath enveloped by the outer sheath form a substantially enclosed volume therebetween;
• and
• wherein a distal portion of at least one of the inner and outer sheaths is secured to the distal tip and wherein a portion of the distal tip proximal to the secured distal portion of the at least one inner or outer sheath has a radial dimension of at least 14 mm.