US 5,334,181 AGranted

Cryosurgical system for destroying tumors by freezing

AssigneeCryomedical Sciences, Inc.

InventorsBoris Rubinsky, Gary Onik, J. J. Finkelstein, Dan Neu, Steve Jones

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Abstract

An improved cryosurgical system includes means for cooling the cryoprobe instrument to temperatures below the normal boiling point of liquid nitrogen as well as means for recovering the sub-cooled liquid coolant. A unique cryoprobe instrument of simplified construction uses an active vacuum for thermal insulation. Means are provided for controllably adjusting the length of the freezing zone of the cryoprobe to allow the freezing zone to be adjusted for different sizes and shapes of tumors which may be "observed" before surgery by ultrasound imaging. Multiple, disposable cryoprobe instruments can be individually controlled for both operating temperature and freeze zone length. A preferred refrigeration system for sub-cooling liquid nitrogen refrigerant or other cryogenic liquid refrigerant is based on the principles of evaporative cooling.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A cryosurgical system for destroying tumors by freezing, comprising

at least one source of cryogenic liquid refrigerant,
means for sub-cooling the cryogenic liquid refrigerant,
a multiplicity of cryoprobe instruments,
supply conduit means connecting the at least one source to each of the multiplicity of instruments,
flow control means for directing flow of liquid refrigerant from the at least one source via the supply conduit means to only preselected ones of the multiplicity of instruments to cryogenically activate the preselected ones,
temperature control means for controlling the temperature of each cryogenically activated cryoprobe instrument independently of the temperature of any other cryogenically activated cryoprobe instrument, and
display means for displaying which of the preselected ones of the multiplicity of instruments is receiving liquid refrigerant, and for displaying the temperature of each preselected one, whereby only one or a multiplicity of the cryoprobe instruments may be activated to simultaneously freeze different portions of a tumor to facilitate total destruction thereof and/or simultaneously freeze at least one portion each of two or more tumors in the same patient.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/828,732Filed 31 Jan 1992 · division
Priority: 26 Sep 1990
Granted: 2 Aug 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61B 18/02
Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques
A61B 18/1815
By applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves: using microwaves
A61B 2018/00041
Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe: heating, e.g. defrosting
A61B 2018/00101
Thermal conductivity: low, i.e. thermally insulating