Patent FR2546409A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5403309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cryosurgical ablation
Assignee: Spembly Medical Ltd
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Filing: 1993-07-29
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2013-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A cryosurgical probe, insertable into a bodily cavity for performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of the cavity, comprises a channel for introducing a heat-conducting liquid into the cavity, and a cooling element for cooling the heat-conducting liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B. Coleman
- 👤 Rudiger U. J. Pittrof
- 👤 Simon R. Reeves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/02; A61B18/0218; A61B17/00; A61B17/42; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/4216; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00089; A61B2018/00095; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A cryosurgical probe insertable into the interior of a bodily cavity for performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of said cavity, said probe defining a channel for introducing a heat-conducting liquid into said cavity; and said probe comprising a cooling element for cooling said heat-conducting liquid in said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cryosurgical probe insertable into the interior of a bodily cavity for performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of said cavity, said probe defining a channel for introducing a heat-conducting liquid into said cavity; and said probe comprising a cooling element for cooling said heat-conducting liquid in said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A probe according to claim 1, in which said cooling element defines a hollow chamber connectable to an exhaust vent, and comprises a gas nozzle connectable to a supply of gas at greater than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 2, comprising a valve for selectively blocking said exhaust vent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A probe according to claim 1, in which said heat-conducting liquid comprises an aqueous isotonic solution, said cooling element being operable to freeze said aqueous isotonic solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A probe according to claim 1, comprising means for detecting a temperature of said cooling element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe according to claim 5, in which said means for detecting temperature comprises a thermocouple sensor in said cooling element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A probe according to claim 1, in which: said probe comprises a substantially cylindrical elongate body, and said cooling element comprises an elongate cooling tip attached to one end of said elongate body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A probe according to claim 7, in which: said elongate body has a principal axis; said cooling tip has a principal axis; said principal axes of said elongate body and said cooling tip are not parallel; and said cooling tip is joined to said elongate body by a smoothly curved transition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe according to claim 7, in which a distal end of said cooling tip has a rounded shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A probe according to claim 7, in which said cooling tip is tapered and has a flattened cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 7, in which said elongate body has a double-walled structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe according to claim 1, comprising a syringe, connected to said channel, for supplying said heat-conducting liquid to said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Cryosurgical ablation apparatus comprising: a probe according to claim 2; means for supplying gas to the probe at greater than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe according to claim 3, comprising a handle portion, said handle portion comprising said valve for selectively blocking said exhaust vent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A probe according to claim 14, comprising: an inlet gas tube for supplying gas at greater than atmospheric pressure to said gas nozzle; and an outlet gas tube for receiving gas from said exhaust vent; said inlet gas tube having a narrower bore than said outlet gas tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A probe according to claim 14, in which said valve is a pressure-balancing valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A probe according to claim 14, comprising a detent mechanism for maintaining said valve in a blocking position.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
34 words
A method of performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of a bodily cavity, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a heat-conducting liquid into said cavity; and cooling said heat-conducting liquid in said cavity.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
34 words
A method of performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of a bodily cavity, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a heat-conducting liquid into said cavity; and cooling said heat-conducting liquid in said cavity.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of a bodily cavity, said method comprising the steps of: (i) introducing a cryosurgical probe into said cavity, said probe comprising a cooling element and said probe defining a channel communicating with said cavity; (ii) introducing a heat conducting liquid into said cavity through said channel; and (iii) cooling said cooling element to cool said heat conducting liquid in said cavity.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of performing cryosurgical ablation on the interior of a bodily cavity, said method comprising the steps of: (i) introducing a cryosurgical probe into said cavity, said probe comprising a cooling element and said probe defining a channel communicating with said cavity; (ii) introducing a heat conducting liquid into said cavity through said channel; and (iii) cooling said cooling element to cool said heat conducting liquid in said cavity.
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