Instruments and methodology involving cryoablation
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsPaul J. Wang, Neal K. Bhatia, Meghedi Babakhanian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In specific examples, aspects are directed towards an inner lumen which is at least partially moveable and/or slidable relative an outer lumen. The inner lumen is allowed to extend outside the outer lumen while the outer lumen remains stationary in a relative position to or outside the target tissue site. The inner lumen may then use a gas or liquid to cause a decrease in temperature as it expands with a sudden drop in pressure. This cools the target tissue sufficiently to cryoablate portions of the tissue at various depth.
Claims20
An apparatus useful for a cryoablation procedure, the apparatus comprising:
- an inner lumen, having a plurality of delivery positions along a length dimension of the inner lumen aligned with a depth dimension of tissue in a target tissue site, to use a gas or liquid to effect cryoablation at portions of the tissue at a plurality of depths within tissue;
- an outer lumen to permit movement of the inner lumen relative to the outer lumen, and the outer lumen having an outer portion to facilitate movement of the inner lumen relative to the target tissue site;
- and
- the inner lumen and the outer lumen being cooperatively configured wherein the movement of the inner lumen causes the temperature of the liquid or gas to be applied at different depth levels of the target tissue site via different ones of the plurality of delivery positions.
A method involving use of inner lumen within an outer lumen, the method comprising:
- using the outer lumen to permit movement of the inner lumen relative to the outer lumen, and while the outer lumen has an outer portion applied relative to a target tissue site while the inner lumen moves within the outer lumen;
- and
- with the inner lumen at least partially within the outer lumen and while a plurality of delivery positions along a length dimension of the inner lumen are aligned with a depth dimension of tissue in the target tissue site, using a temperature of gas or liquid at the plurality of delivery positions in the inner lumen to effect cryoablation of portions of the tissue at a plurality of depths within tissue, wherein the inner lumen and the outer lumen are cooperatively configured so that movement of the inner lumen causes the temperature of the liquid or gas to be applied at different depth levels of the target tissue site via different ones of the plurality of delivery positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.