US 7,641,679 B2 · Cryosurgical fluid supply

Abstract

Improved systems, devices, and methods for delivering cryogenic cooling fluid to cryosurgical probes such as cryosurgical endovascular balloon catheters take advantage of the transients during the initiation and termination of cryogenic fluid flow to moderate the treatment temperatures of tissues engaged by the probe. A flow limiting element along a cryogenic fluid path intermittently interrupts the flow of cooling fluid, often cycling both the fluid flow and treatment temperature. This can maintain the tissue treatment temperature within a predetermined range which is above the treatment temperature provided by a steady flow of cryogenic fluid. In another aspect, room temperature single-use cooling fluid cartridges are filled with a sufficient quantity of cryosurgical fluid to effect a desired endovascular cryosurgical treatment.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A system for treating a diseased region of a blood vessel to a desired tissue treatment temperature range, the diseased region of the blood vessel having occlusive material with a thickness between a vessel lumen and a vessel wall, the system comprising:

a balloon for positioning within the vessel adjacent the occlusive material;
a cooling fluid source;
a catheter body having a cooling fluid lumen, the cooling fluid lumen disposed along a cooling fluid path extending distally from the fluid source to an interior of the balloon and proximally from the balloon out of the vessel;
a valve disposed along the cooling fluid path;
a measurement apparatus for measuring the thickness of the occlusive material;
and
a controller coupled to the valve, the controller, in response to the thickness of the occlusive material, actuating the valve so as to cool the balloon below the target tissue temperature range such that the temperature of the vessel wall is within the target temperature range.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cryosurgical fluid supply

Life of this patent

Cryosurgical fluid supply

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12