Cryosurgical system and method
AssigneeFemRx, Inc.
InventorsWilliam A. Little, Igor Sapozhnikov, Todd Thompson, George M. Savage
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cryosurgical system comprises a compressor unit and a probe assembly. A secondary refrigerant stream from the compressor unit pre-cools a heat exchanger within the probe assembly in a standby mode of operation. After the heat exchange is pre-cooled, a primary refrigerant stream can be passed through the cooled heat exchanger and thereafter expanded within a tissue-contacting portion of the probe assembly to achieve very low temperatures, typically minus 100° C. or lower. After cooling, the refrigerant stream may be passed through the probe assembly with no or partial expansion to warm the tissue-contacting surface of the probe. A probe sheath can be used to provide sterility.
Claims10
A cryosurgical instrument comprising:
- a) a vacuum enclosure comprising a helical coil heat exchanger;
- b) a probe of smaller diameter than the vacuum enclosure extending from the heat exchanger and terminating at its distal end with a closed tip providing a freezing zone effective during operation of the instrument to freeze living tissue when in contact therewith;
- c) a vacuum enclosure extension enclosing a portion of the probe;
- and
- d) a compressor for supplying a refrigerant to the heat exchanger.
A cryosurgical instrument for ablating the endometrial lining of the uterus comprising:
- a) A hand-held assembly comprising a vacuum enclosure and a helical coil heat exchanger disposed within the vacuum enclosure;
- b) a probe of smaller diameter than the vacuum enclosure extending from the heat exchanger and terminating at its distal end with a closed tip providing a freezing zone effective during operation of the instrument to freeze living tissue when in contact therewith;
- c) a vacuum enclosure extension enclosing a portion of the probe;
- and
- d) a compressor for supplying a refrigerant to the heat exchanger.
A method of ablating the endometrial lining of the uterus comprising:
- a) providing a hand-held assembly comprising a vacuum enclosure and a helical coil heat exchanger disposed within the vacuum enclosure and a probe of smaller diameter than the vacuum enclosure and extending from the heat exchanger and terminating at the distal end of the probe a closed tip providing a freezing zone;
- b) providing a vacuum enclosure extension enclosing a portion of the probe;
- c) inserting a portion of the probe within the uterus;
- and
- d) compressing a refrigerant and supplying the refrigerant to the freezing zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.