US5800488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryoprobe with warming feature
Assignee: Endocare Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-23
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Granted: 1998-09-01
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Expires: 2016-07-23
Abstract
Abstract Cryocoolers for use in cryosurgery and other applications comprising finned tube helical coil heat exchangers and warming gas flow through a warming gas supply line fitted Joule-Thomson nozzle. The cryocoolers use helium, hydrogen or neon as a warming gas which is expanded from the Joule-Thomson nozzle to heat the probes.
Inventors
- 👤 K. David Crockett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:33
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/02; A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/02; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00041; A61B2018/0293; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/02; F25B2309/021; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a first high pressure gas supply line extending into the outer sheath, said first high pressure gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the first high pressure gas supply line; a second high pressure gas supply line extending into the outer sheath, said second high pressure gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the second high pressure gas supply line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a first high pressure gas supply line extending into the outer sheath, said first high pressure gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the first high pressure gas supply line; a second high pressure gas supply line extending into the outer sheath, said second high pressure gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the second high pressure gas supply line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the high pressure cooling gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger, and the high pressure warming gas supply line passes longitudinally through the helical coil heat exchanger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the high pressure warming gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: the high pressure cooling gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; the high pressure warming gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; the coil of the high pressure cooling gas supply line and the coil of the high pressure warming gas supply line are longitudinally offset.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a high pressure cooling gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber, said high pressure cooling gas supply line including a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the high pressure cooling gas supply line; a high pressure warming gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber, wherein said high pressure warming gas supply line passes longitudinally through the helical coil heat exchanger; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the high pressure warming gas supply line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a high pressure cooling gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber, said high pressure cooling gas supply line including a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the high pressure cooling gas supply line; a high pressure warming gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber, wherein said high pressure warming gas supply line passes longitudinally through the helical coil heat exchanger; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the high pressure warming gas supply line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a high pressure cooling gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the high pressure cooling gas supply line; a high pressure warming gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the high pressure warming gas supply line; said high pressure warming gas supply line including a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a high pressure cooling gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the high pressure cooling gas supply line; a high pressure warming gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the high pressure warming gas supply line; said high pressure warming gas supply line including a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a high pressure cooling gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the high pressure cooling gas supply line; a high pressure warming gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the high pressure warming gas supply line: wherein the high pressure cooling gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; and the high pressure warming gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; and the coil of the high pressure cooling gas supply line and the coil of the high pressure warming gas supply line are longitudinally offset.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
A cryocooler comprising: An outer sheath comprising a tube having a closed distal end defining an expansion chamber; a high pressure cooling gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure cooling gas operably connected to the high pressure cooling gas supply line; a high pressure warming gas supply line having a distal end with a Joule-Thomson expansion nozzle thereon, said Joule-Thomson nozzle communicating with the expansion chamber; a supply of high pressure warming gas operably connected to the high pressure warming gas supply line: wherein the high pressure cooling gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; and the high pressure warming gas supply line includes a finned tube helical coil heat exchanger; and the coil of the high pressure cooling gas supply line and the coil of the high pressure warming gas supply line are longitudinally offset.
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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) | 2001-08-31 | 2002-03-02 | 2002-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-31 | 2006-03-02 | 2006-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-31 | 2010-03-02 | 2010-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |