Cryogenic device, system and method of using same

A cryogenic method of treating biological tissue, comprising:

• providing at least two lumens, the at least two lumens comprising a first lumen for passage of a first medium, the first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion of the first lumen, and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, the second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a thermally conductive contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• providing means for expanding the first medium to form the second medium;
• longitudinally positioning the expanding means adjacent the contact portion;
• placing the contact portion in contact with the selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• expanding the first medium to form the second medium, whereupon the second medium is of a second temperature at the contact portion, the second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of the tissue.

A cryogenic device for treating biological tissue, comprising:

• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof, and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium, wherein said expanding means is disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen and a longitudinal position of said expanding means is selectable;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue.

A cryogenic device for treating biological tissue, comprising:

• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof;
• and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said expanding means disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen;
• and
• means for guiding the contact portion to the selected portion, said guiding means including a sheath which houses at least a portion of said second lumen;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue.

A cryogenic device for treating biological tissue, comprising:

• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof;
• a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• a catheter lumen which houses at least a portion of said first and second lumens;
• and a sheath lumen which houses at least a portion of said catheter lumen;
• and
• means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said expanding means disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue.

A cryogenic device for treating biological tissue, comprising:

• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof, wherein said first temperature is from about 13° C. to about −80° C.;
• and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said expanding means disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue.

A cryogenic device for treating biological tissue, comprising:

• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof;
• and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said expanding means disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue and being from about −70° C. to about −120° C.

A cryogenic device for treating cardiopulmonary tissue, comprising:

• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof, and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said expanding means disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen;
• and
• means for stimulating electrical activity of the tissue;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue.

A cryogenic system for treating biological tissue, comprising:

• a cryogenic device for treating biological tissue, said cryogenic device comprising:
• at least two lumens, comprising:
• a first lumen for passage of a first medium, said first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion thereof;
• a second lumen for passage of a second medium, said second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• and a third lumen for passage of a third medium sufficient for cooling of said first medium;
• and means for expanding said first medium to form said second medium said expanding means disposed in a media-flow pathway between said first lumen and said second lumen;
• wherein, upon expanding said first medium to form said second medium, said second medium is of a second temperature at said contact portion, said second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of tissue;
• and
• a source of said first medium operably connected to said first lumen.

A cryogenic method of treating biological tissue, comprising:

• providing at least two lumens, the at least two lumens comprising a first lumen for passage of a first medium, the first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion of the first lumen, and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, the second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• providing means for expanding the first medium to form the second medium and selecting a longitudinal position of said expanding means;
• placing the contact portion in contact with the selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• expanding the first medium to form the second medium, whereupon the second medium is of a second temperature at the contact portion, the second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of the tissue.

A cryogenic method of treating biological tissue, comprising:

• providing at least two lumens, the at least two lumens comprising a first lumen for passage of a first medium, the first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion of the first lumen, and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, the second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• providing means for expanding the first medium to form the second medium;
• placing the contact portion in contact with the selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• expanding the first medium to form the second medium, whereupon the second medium is of a second temperature at the contact portion, the second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of the tissue and being from about −70° C. to about −120° C.

A cryogenic method of treating cardiopulmonary tissue, comprising:

• providing at least two lumens, the at least two lumens comprising a first lumen for passage of a first medium, the first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion of the first lumen, and a second lumen for passage of a second medium, the second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue;
• providing means for expanding the first medium to form the second medium;
• placing the contact portion in contact with the selected portion of the tissue;
• stimulating electrical activity of the tissue;
• and
• expanding the first medium to form the second medium, whereupon the second medium is of a second temperature at the contact portion, the second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of the tissue.

A cryogenic method of treating biological tissue, comprising:

• providing at least two lumens, the at least two lumens comprising a first lumen for passage of a first medium, the first medium being pressurized and of a first temperature at a distal portion of the first lumen, a second lumen for passage of a second medium, the second lumen including a bellows portion and a distal end of a construction sufficient for contact between a contact portion thereof and a selected portion of the tissue, and a third lumen for passage of a third medium sufficient for cooling of the first medium;
• providing means for expanding the first medium to form the second medium;
• placing the contact portion in contact with the selected portion of the tissue;
• and
• expanding the first medium to form the second medium, whereupon the second medium is of a second temperature at the contact portion, the second temperature ranging from a temperature which is less than said first temperature to a temperature sufficient for cooling the tissue to form a lesion in the selected portion of the tissue.