Apparatus and method for compressing a gas, and cryosurgery system and method utilizing same

A method for cryosurgery, involving in situ compression of gas, comprising:

• (a) using a first in situ gas compressor which comprises a fixed-volume container having a hollow and a moveable element subdividing said hollow into a first variable-volume portion and a second variable-volume portion, by introducing a hydraulic and/or pneumatic fluid under pressure into said second variable-volume portion, thereby causing an increase in a volume of said second variable-volume portion by moving said moveable element, thereby decreasing volume of said first variable-volume portion, thereby compressing a gas contained therein, thereby transforming said gas contained therein into a first compressed gas at a first gas pressure;
• (b) transferring said first compressed gas at said first gas pressure from said first gas compressor to a cryoablation apparatus utilizing said first compressed gas at said first gas pressure;
• (c) using said cryoablation apparatus to perform cryoablation, thereby creating a depressurized gas at a second gas pressure;
• (d) transporting said depressurized gas at said second gas pressure to said first gas compressor, for recompression and reuse;
• and
• (e) recompressing and reusing said depressurized gas.