# US 5,702,435 A · Fast changing heating-cooling device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,435 A - Document ID: US5702435A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/599,630 - Filed: 1996-02-09 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-01-25 - Assignees: State Of Israel Ministry Of Defense, Rafael-Armaments - Inventors: Ben-Zion Maytal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702435A ## CPC - F25B 29/00: Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously - A61B 18/02: by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques - F25B 9/02: using Joule-Thompson effect; using vortex effect - A61B 2017/00154: {pulsed} - A61B 2018/00041: {Heating, e.g. defrosting} - A61B 2018/0281: {using a tortuous path, e.g. formed by fins or ribs} - A61B 2018/0287: {the fluid flowing through a long thin tube with spiral shape} - A61F 2007/0059: {with an open fluid circuit} - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A method for creating a surface having a fast changing temperature, comprises providing a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice opening into a jacket which is in contact with the surface to be heated and cooled, the said jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surface to be heated and cooled, and providing two gas sources, each gas source being independently connected to the said heat exchanger, one source providing a first gas, which liquefies when it expands through the said orifice, and the other gas source providing a second gas, having an inversion temperature lower than the temperature obtained by the liquefaction of the first gas, and causing the exhaust gas flowing out from the said jacket, to flow through the said heat-exchanger to preheat or precool the inflowing gas, as the case may be, and further causing the said first and the said second gas alternately to flow through the said heat exchanger and orifice, to cool or to heat the said surface; means being provided for allowing and stopping the flow of each gas through the said orifice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical probe having a surface to be brought into contact with cells and/or tissue of a living organism, said surface being capable of being cooled and/or heated and being capable of undergoing fast temperature changes, the fast-changing temperature changing from above room temperature to below about -50.degree. C. and vice versa, and the fast-changing temperature changing from above to below about 0.degree. C. and vice versa at a sub-minute speed, said probe comprising: a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice, the orifice opening into a jacket; the jacket being in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled, the jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled; two gas sources providing two gases, a first and a second gas, each of the two gas sources being independently connected to the heat exchanger, the first gas liquifying when expanding through the orifice, the second gas having an inversion temperature lower than a temperature obtained by liquification of the first gas; and means for allowing and stopping a flow of each of the two gases through the orifice. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A surgical probe according to claim 1, wherein the surface to be heated and/or cooled is changeable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A surgical probe according to claim 1, wherein the cooling is a cryocooling. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein, in operation, in said probe an exhaust gas flows out of the jacket through the heat exchanger to preheat or precool an in-flowing gas from one of said gas sources, and the first gas and the second gas alternatively flow through the heat exchanger and the orifice to cause fast cooling or heating of the surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein the fast change in temperature is periodic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein the fast change in temperature is controlled and effected at a time selected by an operator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein the first gas is selected from a group consisting essentially of argon, nitrogen, air, krypton, CF.sub.4, xenon, and N.sub.2 O, and the second gas is helium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein the gas sources are pressurized, the pressurized gas sources being gas reservoirs containing gas under pressure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein the gas sources comprise one or more compressors, which draw gas from a reservoir containing gas at a lower pressure than desired. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a thin tube or a porous matrix heat exchanger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A probe according to claim 1, wherein, in operation there is generated a fast cyclical change of temperature, comprising sequentially cooling/heating of the surface by alternate gas supply to a Joule-Thomson liquification device comprising a heat-exchanger wherein an incoming gas exchanges heat with an exhaust gas. ### Claim 12 A method of selectively destroying a plurality of cells and/or tissue of a living organism, comprising: providing a surgical probe having a surface to be brought into contact with cells and/or tissue of a living organism, said surface being capable of being cooled and/or heated and being capable of undergoing fast temperature changes, the fast-changing temperature changing from above room temperature to below about -50.degree. C. and vice versa, and the fast-changing temperature changing from above to below 0.degree. C. and vice versa at a sub-minute speed, said probe comprising: a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice, the orifice opening into a jacket; the jacket being in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled, the jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled; two gas sources providing two gases, a first and a second gas, each of the two gas sources being independently connected to the heat exchanger, the first gas liquifying when expanding through the orifice, the second gas having an inversion temperature lower than a temperature obtained by liquification of the first gas; and means for allowing and stopping a flow of each of the two gases through the orifice; contacting the cells to be destroyed with the surface of the probe; and causing extreme temperature changes to take place at the surface of the probe to cool and/or heat the cells in contact with the surface thereby destroying said cells, said extreme temperature changes being from the initial temperature of the surface down to about -190.degree. C. up to about 205.degree. C. or changes between said extreme temperatures of about -190.degree. C. and 205.degree. C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the surface is epidermis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the surface is a human brain. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the surface is a human eye. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein in operation in said probe an exhaust gas flows out of the jacket through the heat exchanger to preheat or precool an in-flowing gas from one of said gas sources and the first gas and the second gas alternatively flow through the heat exchanger and the orifice to cause fast cooling or heating of the surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein in operation in said probe there is generated a fast cyclical change of temperature by sequential cooling/heating of the surface by alternate gas supply to a Joule-Thomson liquification device comprising a heat-exchanger wherein an incoming gas exchanges heat with an exhaust gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the frequency of the change of temperature is increased by employing less extreme temperatures. ### Claim 19 A method of accelerating and intensifying cryodestruction of a plurality of cells and/or tissue of a living organism, comprising: providing a surgical probe having a surface to be brought into contact with cells and/or tissue of a living organism, said surface being capable of being cooled and/or heated and being capable of undergoing fast temperature changes, the fast-changing temperature changing from above room temperature to below about -50.degree. C. and vice versa, and the fast-changing temperature changing from above to below about 0.degree. C. and vice versa at a sub-minute speed, said probe comprising: a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice, the orifice opening into a jacket; the jacket being in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled, the jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled; two gas sources providing two gases, a first and a second gas, each of the two gas sources being independently connected to the heat exchanger, the first gas liquifying when expanding through the orifice, the second gas having an inversion temperature lower than a temperature obtained by liquification of the first gas; and means for allowing and stopping a flow of each of the two gases through the orifice; contacting the cells to be destroyed with the surface of the probe; and causing extreme temperature changes to take place at the surface of the probe to cool and/or heat the cells in contact with the surface thereby destroying said cells, said extreme temperature changes being from the initial temperature of the surface down to about -190.degree. C. up to about 205.degree. C. or changes between said extreme temperatures of about -190.degree. C. and 205.degree. C. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the surface is epidermis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the surface is a human brain. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the surface is a human eye. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein in operation in said probe an exhaust gas flows out of the jacket through the heat exchanger to preheat or precool an in-flowing gas from one of said gas sources and the first gas and the second gas alternatively flow through the heat exchanger and the orifice to cause fast cooling or heating of the surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein in operation in said probe there is generated a fast cyclical change of temperature by sequential cooling/heating of the surface by alternate gas supply to a Joule-Thomson liquification device comprising a heat-exchanger wherein an incoming gas exchanges heat with an exhaust gas. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the frequency of the change of temperature is increased by employing less extreme temperatures. ### Claim 26 A probe for industrial, non-medical use for cooling and/or heating another surface other than a human body, said probe having a probe surface to be brought into contact with said other surface, said probe surface being capable of being cooled and/or heated and being capable of undergoing fast temperature changes, the fast-changing temperature changing from above room temperature to below about -50.degree. C. and vice versa, and the fast-changing temperature changing from above to below about 0.degree. C. and vice versa at a sub-minute speed, said probe comprising: a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice, the orifice opening into a jacket; the jacket being in contact with the probe surface that is heated and/or cooled, the jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the probe surface that is heated and/or cooled; two gas sources providing two gases, a first and a second gas, each of the two gas sources being independently connected to the heat exchanger, the first gas liquifying when expanding through the orifice, the second gas having an inversion temperature lower than a temperature obtained by liquification of the first gas; and means for allowing and stopping a flow of each of the two gases through the orifice. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein, in operation, in said probe an exhaust gas flows out of the jacket through the heat exchanger to preheat or precool an in-flowing gas from one of said gas sources, and the first gas and the second gas alternatively flow through the heat exchanger and the orifice to cause fast cooling or heating of the probe surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the fast change in temperature is periodic. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the fast change in temperature is controlled and effected at a time selected by an operator. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the first gas is selected from a group consisting essentially of argon, nitrogen, air, krypton, CF.sub.4, xenon, and N.sub.2 O, and the second gas is helium. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the gas sources are pressurized, the pressurized gas sources being gas reservoirs containing gas under pressure. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the gas sources comprise one or more compressors, which draw gas from a reservoir containing gas at a lower pressure than desired. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the heat exchanger is a thin tube or a porous matrix heat exchanger. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein, in operation there is generated a fast cyclical change of temperature, comprising sequentially cooling/heating of the probe surface by alternate gas supply to a Joule-Thomson liquification device comprising a heat-exchanger wherein an incoming gas exchanges heat with an exhaust gas. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the cooling is a cryo-cooling. ### Claim 36 (depends on 26) A probe according to claim 26, wherein the probe surface to be heated and/or cooled is changeable.