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US 2006/0235374 A1Published application
In-ice detection for cryotherapy applications
OwnerWilliam Mandelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for heating a cryotherapy probe to maintain an elevated temperature, while evaluating heat on-time and heat off-time to determine whether the probe is within an existing ice ball. Indication that the probe is not within the existing ice ball signals the user that the formation of a second ice ball can begin.
Claims28
A method for placing an instrument in a treatment zone having an ice ball therein, comprising:
- placing an instrument in a desired location within said treatment zone;
- maintaining said instrument in a desired temperature range by cyclical application of energy to said instrument;
- measuring energy on-time and energy off-time while maintaining said instrument in said desired temperature range, for each successive said energy cycle;
- and
- indicating the location of said instrument relative to said ice ball, based on relative energy on-time and energy off-time for each successive said energy cycle.
2 more elements
A method for placing a cryotherapy probe, comprising:
- placing a cryotherapy probe in a first location within a treatment zone;
- cooling said probe to form an ice ball in said first location, said ice ball having a temperature lower than the ambient temperature of said treatment zone;
- raising the temperature of said probe sufficiently to melt ice immediately adjacent to said probe, thereby releasing said probe from said ice ball;
- withdrawing said probe from said ice ball and placing said probe in a second location within said treatment zone;
- maintaining said probe in a desired temperature range by cyclical heat application;
- measuring heat on-time and heat off-time while maintaining said probe in said desired temperature range, for each successive said heating cycle;
- and
- evaluating relative said heat on-time and said heat off-time for each successive heating cycle to determine whether said probe is within said ice ball.
5 more elements
A cryotherapy apparatus, comprising:
- a cryotherapy probe, said probe having a cooling element and a heating element;
- a switching apparatus adapted to selectively maintain said probe in a desired temperature range by cyclical energy application to said heating element;
- a temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of said probe;
- a processor adapted to measure heating element on-time and off-time while maintaining said probe in said desired temperature range, for each successive said heating cycle, said processor being adapted to determine whether or not said probe is within an ice ball, based on relative said heating element on-time and off-time;
- and
- a display device adapted to advise a user as to whether said probe is within said ice ball, based on said determination by said processor.
3 more elements
A method for placing an instrument in a treatment zone having an existing ice ball therein comprising:
- placing an instrument in a desired location within said treatment zone;
- allowing said instrument to automatically pursue a desired temperature while within said treatment zone;
- monitoring a temperature-based parameter of said instrument while within said treatment zone and pursuing said desired temperature;
- and
- indicating the location of said instrument relative to said existing ice ball based on the monitored temperature-based parameter of said instrument.
2 more elements
A method of placing a cryotherapy probe, comprising:
- placing a cryotherapy probe in a first location within a treatment zone;
- cooling said probe to form an ice ball in said first location, said ice ball having a temperature colder than an ambient temperature of said treatment zone;
- raising the temperature of said probe sufficiently to melt ice immediately adjacent to said probe to release said probe from said ice ball;
- withdrawing said probe from said ice ball and placing said probe in a second location within said treatment zone;
- allowing said probe to automatically pursue a desired temperature while within said second location;
- measuring a temperature-based parameter of said probe while within said second location and while pursuing said desired temperature;
- and
- evaluating relative said measured temperature-based parameter whether said probe is within said ice ball.
5 more elements
A cryotherapy apparatus, comprising:
- a cryotherapy probe that automatically pursues a desired temperature and produces a temperature-based parameter;
- a sensor that monitors said temperature-based parameter and produces a signal representative of said temperature-based parameter;
- a processor that receives said signal from said sensor and determines whether said cryotherapy probe is within or proximate an existing ice ball based on said signal from said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.