# US 2025/0082384 A1 · Cryoprobe

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- Number: US 2025/0082384 A1
- Document ID: US20250082384A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/464,309
- Filed: 2023-09-11
- Published: 2025-03-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-09-11
- Assignees: Icecure Medical Ltd.
- Applicants: Icecure Medical Ltd.
- Inventors: Naum Muchnik; Ron Hilleli; Adir Weiser; Adir Gadyukov
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250082384A1

## CPC

- A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques
- A61B 18/082: {Probes or electrodes therefor}
- A61B 2017/00154: {pulsed}
- A61B 2018/00041: {Heating, e.g. defrosting}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00666: {using a threshold value}
- A61B 2018/00714: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00744: {Fluid flow}
- A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple}
- A61B 2018/0262: {using a circulating cryogenic fluid}
- A61B 2018/0293: {using an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needle}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Apparatus, consisting of a probe with a probe distal end having an external surface that contacts tissue when the distal end is inserted into a patient. A heater and a temperature sensor are in the distal end, and a gas inlet is coupled to the distal end to provide gas. While the heater is activated, a controller registers a first time when a temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds a preset temperature, and, in response to the temperature equaling or exceeding the preset temperature, delivers a gas pulse through the gas inlet so as to cool the probe distal end. The controller then registers a second time when the temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds the preset temperature, and, in response to a time difference between the second and first times, estimates a temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus, comprising:
a probe comprising a probe distal end having an external surface configured to contact tissue of a patient when the probe distal end is inserted therein;
a heater, located in the probe distal end;
a temperature sensor, located in the probe distal end;
a gas inlet, coupled to the probe distal end and configured to provide gas thereto; and
a controller, configured, while the heater is activated:
to register a first time when a temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds a preset temperature,
in response to the temperature equaling or exceeding the preset temperature, to deliver a pulse of gas through the gas inlet so as to cool the probe distal end,
to register a second time, subsequent to the first time, when the temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds the preset temperature, and
in response to a time difference between the second time and the first time, to estimate a temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a cryogen inlet, coupled to the probe distal end and configured to transfer cryogenic fluid thereto.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gas inlet and the cryogen inlet comprise a common tube, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the common tube as the gas inlet during a first period of time, and to operate the common tube as the cryogen inlet during a second period of time different from the first period of time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas is input to the probe as room temperature gas.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the room temperature gas comprises exhaust gas derived from cryogen fluid transferred to the distal end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple junction located between the heater and an internal surface of the probe distal end.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time difference and the temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end are related by a monotonic decreasing function.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the monotonic decreasing function comprises a linear function.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulse of gas is delivered until the temperature measured by the sensor equals a further preset temperature, lower than the preset temperature.

### Claim 10

A method, comprising:
providing a probe comprising a probe distal end having an external surface configured to contact tissue of a patient when the probe distal end is inserted therein;
locating a heater in the probe distal end;
locating a temperature sensor in the probe distal end;
coupling a gas inlet to the probe distal end, wherein the gas inlet is configured to provide gas to the probe distal end;
activating the heater, and, while the heater is activated:
registering a first time when a temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds a preset temperature,
in response to the temperature equaling or exceeding the preset temperature, delivering a pulse of gas through the gas inlet so as to cool the probe distal end,
registering a second time, subsequent to the first time, when the temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds the preset temperature, and
in response to a time difference between the second time and the first time, estimating a temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, and comprising coupling a cryogen inlet to the probe distal end, and configuring the cryogen inlet to transfer cryogenic fluid to the probe distal end.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the gas inlet and the cryogen inlet comprise a common tube, the method comprising operating the common tube as the gas inlet during a first period of time, and operating the common tube as the cryogen inlet during a second period of time different from the first period of time.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the gas is input to the probe as room temperature gas.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the room temperature gas comprises exhaust gas derived from cryogen fluid transferred to the distal end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple junction located between the heater and an internal surface of the probe distal end.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the time difference and the temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end are related by a monotonic decreasing function.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein the monotonic decreasing function comprises a linear function.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, wherein the pulse of gas is delivered until the temperature measured by the sensor equals a further preset temperature, lower than the preset temperature.