US5108390A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible cryoprobe
Assignee: Medtronic Cryocath LP
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Filing: 1988-11-14
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2008-11-14
Abstract
Abstract Cryosurgery may be performed by a microinvasive technique employing a novel cryosurgical probe. It is very thin, very long, and highly flexible. These characteristics are achieved by a construction consisting of a tube within a tube with no intermediate supporting elements therebetween. The probe is capable of being passed through a blood vessel and into the heart without external guidance other than the blood vessel itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford E. Potocky
- 👤 Ronald M. Callanan
- 👤 Raymond L. Goudreau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/02; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00041; A61B2018/0212; A61B18/04; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for cryosurgically treating tissue within a living body which comprises: an elongated, thin, first tube adapted to be inserted through a blood vessel of the body being treated and highly flexible to follow the natural contours of the blood vessel, said first tube having a distal end defining a first orifice and a proximal end; a cooling tip carried by the distal end of said first tube, said tip being formed of a material having relatively high thermal conductivity and having an outer surface contactable with the tissue to be treated; an elongated, thin, second tube associated with and parallel to said first tube, said second tube being highly flexible to conform to and follow said first tube through said blood vessel and having a distal end defining a second orifice adjacent said cooling tip and a proximal end; means for selectively injecting a fluid refrigerating medium into the proximal end of one of said first and second tubes for passage out of its associated orifice to refrigerate said cooling tip; and means for exhausting said refrigerating medium from the other of said first and second tubes at a distance from said treated tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for cryosurgically treating tissue within a living body which comprises: an elongated, thin, first tube adapted to be inserted through a blood vessel of the body being treated and highly flexible to follow the natural contours of the blood vessel, said first tube having a distal end defining a first orifice and a proximal end; a cooling tip carried by the distal end of said first tube, said tip being formed of a material having relatively high thermal conductivity and having an outer surface contactable with the tissue to be treated; an elongated, thin, second tube associated with and parallel to said first tube, said second tube being highly flexible to conform to and follow said first tube through said blood vessel and having a distal end defining a second orifice adjacent said cooling tip and a proximal end; means for selectively injecting a fluid refrigerating medium into the proximal end of one of said first and second tubes for passage out of its associated orifice to refrigerate said cooling tip; and means for exhausting said refrigerating medium from the other of said first and second tubes at a distance from said treated tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second tubes has a length to diameter ratio of at least 100:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said refrigerating medium is a gas and wherein refrigeration is by Joule-Thompson cooling upon expansion from said orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said gas is N 2 O.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bas is CO 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second tube is contained within said first tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cooling tip is hollow and secured to the first orifice of said first tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second orifice is of smaller diameter than said second tube and is positioned within said hollow cooling tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said refrigerating medium is a gas and refrigeration is by Joule-Thompson cooling upon expansion from said second orifice.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said gas is N 2 O.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said gas is CO 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid refrigerating medium is a gas and wherein refrigeration is by Joule-Thompson cooling upon its expansion from said orifice.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said gas injecting means selectively injects gas at either of: a) a high pressure to initiate cooling of said cooling tip; or b) a low pressure to initiate warming of said cooling tip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said gas is N 2 O.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said gas is CO 2 .
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of cooling a selected region of tissue adjacent a blood vessel within a living body which comprises: inserting into said blood vessel an elongated, thin, highly flexible probe having a distal end comprising a cooling tip formed of a material having relatively high thermal conductivity and a proximal end, the proximal end remaining outside said body; continuing the insertion of said probe whereby it is guided through said blood vessel substantially solely by the blood vessel itself to position its cooling tip in contact with the selected tissue region; cooling substantially only the cooling tip of the probe to cool the selected tissue region to a desired temperature; terminating the cooling of the cooling tip of the probe; and withdrawing the probe from said blood vessel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of cooling a selected region of tissue adjacent a blood vessel within a living body which comprises: inserting into said blood vessel an elongated, thin, highly flexible probe having a distal end comprising a cooling tip formed of a material having relatively high thermal conductivity and a proximal end, the proximal end remaining outside said body; continuing the insertion of said probe whereby it is guided through said blood vessel substantially solely by the blood vessel itself to position its cooling tip in contact with the selected tissue region; cooling substantially only the cooling tip of the probe to cool the selected tissue region to a desired temperature; terminating the cooling of the cooling tip of the probe; and withdrawing the probe from said blood vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said elongated probe comprises an outer exhaust tube and an inner delivery tube terminating at an orifice within said hollow cooling tip and wherein cooling is achieved by the step of injecting a refrigerating medium through said delivery tube orifice into said cooling tip and exhausting said refrigerating medium from said cooing tip through said exhaust tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said refrigerating medium is a gas and wherein cooling results from Joule-Thompson expansion of said gas within said hollow cooling tip.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 wherein cooling is terminated by lowering the pressure of the gas to minimize the Joule-Thompson expansion and flood the hollow cooling tip with relatively warm gas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said gas is N 2 O.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said gas is CO 2 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |