Methods and systems for cryogenic cooling
AssigneeEndocare, Inc.
InventorsPeter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.
Claims13
A method for cooling the surface of a cryoprobe using a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature, the method comprising:
- raising a pressure of cryogen above its critical-point pressure, said cryogen comprising N2;
- and
- thereafter, placing the cryogen in thermal communication with the surface of a cryoprobe to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for the duration that the cryogen and said surface are in thermal communication.
A system for cooling the surface of a cryoprobe using a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature, the system comprising:
- means for raising a pressure of cryogen above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock, said cryogen comprising N2;
- and
- means for thereafter placing the cryogen in thermal communication with the surface of a cryoprobe to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains a pressure greater than determined pressure value for the duration that the cryogen and said surface are in thermal communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.