Stretchable cryoprobe sheath

A cryosurgical instrument, comprising:

• a probe handle;
• a probe cannula attached to said probe handle;
• a heat transfer element on said probe cannula;
• a cooling system providing a coolant at a desired temperature adjacent said heat transfer element;
• a hollow grip removably attachable to said probe handle;
• a catheter assembly attachable to said hollow grip, said catheter assembly having a tubular passageway for receiving said probe cannula;
• a thermally conductive segment on said catheter assembly, said conductive segment being in thermal contact with said heat transfer element, when said catheter assembly is disposed over said probe cannula;
• and
• a biasing element on said catheter assembly, said biasing element being constructed to longitudinally bias said conductive segment of said catheter assembly against a heat transfer portion of a cryosurgical probe when said hollow grip is attached to a cryosurgical probe.

A sheath for use as a removable cover for a cryosurgical probe, said sheath comprising:

• a hollow grip removably attachable to a cryosurgical probe;
• a connector body attachable to said hollow grip;
• a thermally resistive catheter attached to said connector body, said catheter having a tubular passageway for receiving a cannula portion of a cryosurgical probe;
• and
• a thermally conductive segment on said catheter, said conductive segment being in thermal contact with a heat transfer portion of a cryosurgical probe, when said catheter is disposed over a cannula portion of a cryosurgical probe;
• wherein said sheath is constructed to cause attachment of said hollow grip to a cryosurgical probe to result in a heat transfer portion of the probe pushing in a distal direction against said conductive segment of said catheter thereby stretching at least one of said catheter and said connector body, and thereby longitudinally biasing said conductive segment against the heat transfer portion of the cryosurgical probe.