Methods and systems for cooling and heating surgical instruments
OwnerAlexei Babkininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closed refrigerant loop system for fluid communication with a treatment tool that includes a compressor to compress a gas supply of the refrigerant to an elevated pressure; a condenser to cool the compressed gas and convert it to a liquid while at least substantially maintaining the elevated pressure of the refrigerant; and a cryocooler to bring the liquid that is maintained under the elevated pressure to a working temperature for the tip of the treatment tool. The closed refrigerant loop system further comprises a check or expansion valve to receive the refrigerant from the treatment tool; and a warming heat exchanger to provide the gas supply of the refrigerant.
Claims15
A closed refrigerant loop system for fluid communication with a treatment tool comprising:
- (a) a compressor to compress a gas supply of a refrigerant to an elevated pressure;
- (b) a condenser to cool the compressed gas and convert the compressed gas to a liquid while at least substantially maintaining the elevated pressure of the refrigerant;
- (c) a cryocooler to bring the liquid that is maintained under the elevated pressure to a working temperature for a tip of the treatment tool;
- (d) a check or expansion valve to receive the refrigerant from the treatment tool;
- and
- (e) a warming heat exchanger to provide the gas supply of the refrigerant.
A closed working fluid loop system for fluid communication with a treatment tool comprising:
- (a) a compressor to compress a gas supply of a working fluid to an elevated pressure;
- (b) a condenser to cool the compressed gas and convert it to a liquid while at least substantially maintaining the elevated pressure of the working fluid;
- (c) a thermal cycling system comprising a cryocooler and an external heater to bring the liquid that is maintained under the elevated pressure to a working temperature for a tip of the treatment tool;
- (d) a check or expansion valve to receive the working fluid from the treatment tool;
- and
- (e) a warming heat exchanger to provide the gas supply of the working fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.