Therapeutic Cryoablation System

A cryoablation system, comprising:

• a gas source which provides a working nitrogen gas at room temperature and at a constant set pressure;
• a liquid generator which is coupled to the gas source to receive the working gas, and which then generates a working cryogen fluid;
• and
• a catheter coupled to the liquid generator for receiving the working cryogen, the catheter having a distal section having a freezing element which delivers the working cryogen to a treatment location, and a balloon that is positioned adjacent to the distal section.

A method of applying cryoablation treatment to a location at a blood vessel system, comprising the steps of;

• providing a gas source which provides a working nitrogen gas at room temperature and at a constant set pressure;
• providing a liquid generator which is coupled to the gas source to receive the working gas, and which then generates a working cryogen fluid;
• providing a catheter coupled to the liquid generator for receiving the working cryogen, the catheter having a distal section having a freezing element which delivers the working cryogen to a treatment location, and a balloon that is positioned at the distal section and enclosing the freezing element;
• positioning the catheter within a blood vessel to a desired treatment location;
• inflating the balloon to contact the vessel wall at the treatment location by injecting inflation fluid into the balloon;
• actuating the freezing element to cause inflation fluid within the balloon to change into a solid phase thereby creating a thermal conductive path with the vessel wall;
• delivering cold energy from the freezing element via the solid-phase inflation fluid to the vessel wall, and
• removing body heat through the balloon wall by conducting the body heat from the vessel wall through the solid-phase inflation fluid to the freezing element.