Closed-loop cryogenic systems and processes for treating cervical abnormalities

A closed-loop cryotherapy process comprising:

• providing a handheld probe assembly with a cervix-contacting probe tip configured for focused freezing of a tissue, wherein the probe assembly includes an interior evaporation chamber configured to circulate one or more cryogenic materials;
• recycling the one or more cryogenic materials using a cryogenic circulating unit comprising a compressor, a condenser unit, a power module, and a controller by:
• receiving the one or more cryogenic materials from the probe assembly;
• pressurizing the one or more cryogenic materials using the compressor;
• converting the one or more cryogenic materials to a liquid using the condenser unit;
• circulating the liquid to the probe using one or more hoses;
• decreasing a pressure of the liquid before circulating the liquid to the probe assembly by using an expansion valve in line with the one or more hoses;
• and
• throttling the controller by:
• receiving a pressure of the liquid in the probe assembly;
• determining whether the pressure is above a threshold setpoint;
• closing a throttling expansion valve when the pressure is greater than the threshold setpoint;
• and
• opening the throttling expansion valve when the pressure is less than the threshold setpoint.

A closed-loop cryotherapy system comprising:

• a probe assembly configured for freezing cervical tissue, the probe comprising:
• a cervix-contacting probe tip at a distal end of the probe assembly;
• an internal probe body with an internal evaporation chamber configured to circulate one or more cryogenic materials;
• a cryogenic circulating unit designed to capture the one or more cryogenic materials the cryogenic circulating unit comprising:
• a compressor configured to receive the one or more cryogenic materials from the probe via a vapor return line and pressurize the one or more cryogenic materials;
• an oil separator loop configured to process the one or more cryogenic materials;
• a condenser unit configured to convert the one or more cryogenic materials from the oil separator loop to a liquid;
• an inlet capillary tube configured to carry the liquid to the cervix-contacting probe tip;
• an expansion valve in line with the capillary tube designed to generate an asymmetric pressure;
• a power module comprising a battery, wherein the power module allows the closed-loop cryotherapy system to operate without a stable power grid;
• and
• a controller configured to modulate a speed of the compressor in order to adjust a freezing temperature of the probe assembly, wherein the controller modulates the speed of the compressor based on an ambient temperature of one or more aspects of the probe assembly.

A method for treating precancerous lesions of a cervix using a closed-loop cryotherapy system, the method comprising:

• positioning a portable housing containing the closed-loop cryotherapy system near a patient, wherein the closed-loop cryotherapy system is configured with a rechargeable power module to allow the closed-loop cryotherapy system to operate without a stable power grid and a cryogenic circulating unit designed to recycle one or more cryogenic materials to allow the closed-loop cryotherapy system to operate without compressed gas;
• initiating focused cooling of a probe assembly of the closed-loop cryotherapy system, wherein the probe assembly comprises a cervix-contacting probe tip at a distal end of the probe assembly;
• determining the cervix-contacting probe tip has a temperature within −30 degrees C. and −80 degrees C.;
• and
• applying the cervix-contacting probe tip to the cervix until a tissue freeze radial dimension of 5 mm is achieved.

A refrigeration system comprising:

• a probe assembly operatively connected to a cryogenic circulating unit designed to recycle cryogenic material, the probe assembly comprising:
• a freezing probe tip at a distal end of the probe assembly;
• and
• an internal probe body in fluid connection with the freezing probe tip and comprising an internal evaporation chamber configured to circulate one or more cryogenic materials, wherein:
• the probe assembly receives the one more cryogenic materials in a liquid form from a condenser unit of the cryogenic circulating unit thereby cooling the freezing probe tip to −30° C. to −80° C.;
• the freezing probe tip is configured to contact human or animal anatomy and absorb heat therefrom, thereby converting the one or more cryogenic materials into a gas form via the internal evaporation chamber and cooling the human or animal anatomy;
• and
• the probe assembly transfers the one or more cryogenic materials in the gas form to the cryogenic circulating unit for pressurizing, condensing, and recycling the one or more cryogenic materials.

A refrigeration system comprising:

• a cryogenic circulating unit designed to recycle one or more cryogenic materials comprising:
• a power module comprising a rechargeable battery, wherein the power module enables the cryogenic circulating unit to operate without a stable power grid;
• a controller configured to modulate a speed of a compressor in order to adjust a temperature of the one or more cryogenic materials;
• the compressor configured to receive the one or more cryogenic materials from a probe assembly in a gas form and pressurize the one or more cryogenic materials;
• and
• a condenser unit configured to convert the pressurized one or more cryogenic materials to a liquid, wherein the liquid is circulated to the probe assembly to generate a temperature at a probe tip of the probe assembly of −30° C. to −80° C. to facilitate freezing of a precancerous lesion,
• wherein the cryogenic circulating unit operates without the use of consumable gases.