Removable Cryogenic Probe Appliance
OwnerMichael D. Hooveninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable cryogenic probe appliance is disclosed comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being releasably attachable to a cryogenic probe. The appliance further comprises a material having high thermal conductivity for conducting heat between said proximal and distal portions. A cryogenic probe system and methods of forming and using a cryogenic probe of selected shape are also disclosed, comprising providing a plurality of removable cryogenic probe appliances of differing shapes, selecting one of said appliances of the desired shape, and attaching the proximal portion of such selected appliance to a cryogenic probe.
Claims77
A removable cryogenic probe appliance comprising
- a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being releasably attachable to a cryogenic probe;
- the appliance further comprising a material having high thermal conductivity for conducting heat between said proximal and distal portions.
A method of forming a cryogenic probe of selected shape comprising
- a) providing a plurality of removable cryogenic probe appliances of differing shapes, each of such cryogenic probe appliances comprising
- (i) a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being releasably attachable to a cryogenic probe;
- (ii) the appliances further comprising a material having a high thermal conductivity for conducting heat between said proximal and distal portions;
- b) selecting one of said appliances of the desired shape;
- c) attaching the proximal portion of such selected appliance to a cryogenic probe.
A method of providing a cryogenic probe appliance of selected shape comprising
- a) providing a cryogenic probe appliance that is removably attachable to a cryogenic probe wherein at least a portion of the appliance is malleable to allow it to be formed into a desired shape;
- b) bending said appliance to form a desired shape;
- c) attaching the appliance to a cryogenic probe.
A method of using a cryogenic probe appliance comprising
- a) providing a cryogenic probe appliance that is removably attachable to a cryogenic probe wherein at least a portion of the appliance is bendable to allow it to be formed into a desired shape;
- b) attaching the appliance to a cryogenic probe;
- c) bending the appliance to form a desired shape;
- d) cooling the cryogenic probe and attached appliance;
- e) contacting the appliance with human tissue to be treated.
A cryogenic probe system that includes
- a cryogenic probe;
- a removable cryogenic probe appliance for attachment to the cryogenic probe, the removable cryogenic probe appliance comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being releasably attachable to a cryogenic probe;
- the appliance further comprising a material having high thermal conductivity for conducting heat between said proximal and distal portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.