Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100168725 | ISOTHERM-BASED TISSUE ABLATION CONTROL SYSTEM - A system and method for use with at least one cryoprobe for the treatment of biological tissue controls the energy applied to the tissue. The invention receives live procedure data such as temperature information from locations along the pathway of the cryogenic liquids, and calculates a procedure signature or profile based on the procedure data. In one embodiment, volumetric isotherms are calculated. The procedure signature is compared to a planning signature based on previously acquired image data and estimates of the thermal gradients from models. The system and method are further configured to automatically regulate the application of power based on analysis of the planning data to the procedure data. | 07-01-2010 |
20100280507 | CRYOABLATION SYSTEM HAVING DOCKING STATION FOR CHARGING CRYOGEN CONTAINERS AND RELATED METHOD - A cryoablation system includes thermally insulated containers for holding liquid refrigerant. The containers are placed in a docking station that charges the containers with a liquid refrigerant at a cryogenic temperature suitable for carrying out a surgical procedure. The charged containers are detachably connectable with an inlet line of a cryoablation probe. When the cryoprobe is activated, the chilled liquid refrigerant is transported from a delivery container, through the cryoprobe, and to a recovery container. The recovery container is preferably identical in design to the delivery container. The refilled recovery container is then placed in the docking station to charge. In another embodiment, a cartridge includes a delivery container and recovery container combined as a single unit. Methods are also described. | 11-04-2010 |
20120253336 | CRYO-INDUCED RENAL NEUROMODULATION DEVICES AND METHODS - A method for cryo-induced renal neuromodulation includes applying cryoenergy to neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or to vascular structures that contact, feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In one embodiment, cryoenergy is applied via a distal energy-delivering section of a flexible catheter. The distal section may include a plurality of microtubes for transporting a cryogen to the distal tip. The energy-delivering section contacts and extracts heat from the wall of the renal artery. In one embodiment, the distal energy-delivering section is radially expandable. The renal nerve is cooled to a degree such that nerve function is disrupted. | 10-04-2012 |
20130041358 | CRYOABLATION SYSTEM HAVING DOCKING STATION FOR CHARGING CRYOGEN CONTAINERS AND RELATED METHOD - A cryoablation system includes thermally insulated containers for holding liquid refrigerant. The containers are placed in a docking station that charges the containers with a liquid refrigerant at a cryogenic temperature suitable for carrying out a surgical procedure. The charged containers are detachably connectable with an inlet line of a cryoablation probe. When the cryoprobe is activated, the chilled liquid refrigerant is transported from a delivery container, through the cryoprobe, and to a recovery container. The recovery container is preferably identical in design to the delivery container. The refilled recovery container is then placed in the docking station to charge. In another embodiment, a cartridge includes a delivery container and recovery container combined as a single unit. Methods are also described. | 02-14-2013 |
20130060242 | ISOTHERM-BASED TISSUE ABLATION CONTROL METHOD - A system and method for use with at least one cryoprobe for the treatment of biological tissue controls the energy applied to the tissue. The invention receives live procedure data such as temperature information from locations along the pathway of the cryogenic liquids, and calculates a procedure signature or profile based on the procedure data. In one embodiment, volumetric isotherms are calculated. The procedure signature is compared to a planning signature based on previously acquired image data and estimates of the thermal gradients from models. The system and method are further configured to automatically regulate the application of power based on analysis of the planning data to the procedure data. | 03-07-2013 |
20130331829 | CRYOABLATION APPARATUS WITH ENHANCED HEAT EXCHANGE AREA AND RELATED METHOD - A cryoablation apparatus includes a distal energy delivery section to facilitate energy transfer to the tissue, resulting in faster achievement of tissue target temperatures. The energy delivery section includes a first heat exchange region and a second heat exchange region having a different heat exchange efficiency than the first heat exchange region. The first heat exchange region may comprise an increased surface area along a radial portion or length of the cryoprobe in contact with surrounding tissue. The heat exchange region may include ridges, texture, threads, and microtubes which serve to increase the thermal-contacting surface area and provide enhanced cryoenergy to the tissue. | 12-12-2013 |
20130345688 | CRYOABLATION BALLOON CATHETER AND RELATED METHOD - Cryoablation balloon catheters and methods are described herein. The cryoablation balloon catheter comprises a distal end section and an inflatable balloon member disposed along the distal end section for contacting a target tissue. The balloon member may be inflated with a thermally conductive liquid. One or more cooling microtubes are positioned within the balloon and a single phase liquid coolant is transported from a liquid source, through the microtubes to the distal section, and returned to a reservoir. Cryogenic energy is transferred from the microtubes, through the conductive liquid filling the balloon, through the wall of the balloon, and to the tissue. In a cryoablation balloon catheter, a plurality of flexible microtubes are adhered to a surface of the expandable balloon. Cryoenergy from the microtubes is directly transferred to the tissue. | 12-26-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090113903 | Cooling methods and systems using supercritical fluids - The methods and systems using supercritical fluids for cooling of objects with high thermal emissions are disclosed. The unique thermodynamic properties of supercritical fluids combined with microchannel cooling technology allow effective absorption of the waste heat and exclude “vapor lock”, “boiling crisis”, and other deficiencies of conventional two-phase liquid cooling. | 05-07-2009 |
20090270851 | Method and System for Cryoablation Treatment - A system and a method for its use are provided to cool a cryotip at the distal end of a probe for a cryosurgical procedure. In particular, the cryotip is cooled by a liquid refrigerant to cryogenic temperatures in order to perform a cryosurgical procedure on biological tissue. The system is closed-loop, and during transit of the liquid refrigerant through the entire system, the liquid refrigerant always remains in a liquid state at a relatively low pressure. | 10-29-2009 |
20110009854 | EXPANDABLE MULTI-TUBULAR CRYOPROBE - An expandable, flexible multi-tubular cryoprobe operational with a near critical cryogenic working fluid. The inlet fluid transfer micro-tubes utilized are formed of material that maintains flexibility in a full range of temperatures from −200° C. to ambient temperature. During operation, the cryoprobe is mechanically actuated to provide radial expansion of the inlet fluid transfer micro-tubes. Thus, enhanced thermal contact with target biological tissue to be treated is provided. | 01-13-2011 |
20110040297 | FLEXIBLE MULTI-TUBULAR CRYOPROBE - A flexible multi-tubular cryoprobe, including a housing for receiving an inlet flow of near critical cryogenic fluid from a fluid source and for discharging an outlet flow of the cryogenic fluid. A plurality of fluid transfer tubes are securely attached to the housing. This includes a set of inlet fluid transfer tubes for receiving the inlet flow from the housing; and, a set of outlet fluid transfer tubes for discharging the outlet flow to the housing. Each of the fluid transfer tubes is formed of material that maintains flexibility in a full range of temperatures from −200° C. to ambient temperature. Each fluid transfer tube has an inside diameter in a range of between about 0.10 mm and 1.0 mm and a wall thickness in a range of between about 0.01 mm and 0.30 mm. An end cap is positioned at the ends of the plurality of fluid transfer tubes to provide fluid transfer from the inlet fluid transfer tubes to the outlet fluid transfer tubes. | 02-17-2011 |
20110162390 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CRYOGENIC COOLING - 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. | 07-07-2011 |
20140221991 | CRYOTHERAPY PROBE - A method of cooling a material including the steps of (i) providing a cryotherapy instrument, (ii) positioning a portion of the cryotherapy instrument adjacent the material to be cooled, and (iii) circulating a cryogenic fluid through the cryotherapy instrument under physical conditions near a critical point of a liquid-vapor system for the cryogenic fluid. The critical point defines a point in a phase diagram of the liquid-vapor system where molar volumes are substantially equivalent for liquid and gas, whereby vapor lock associated with cooling of the cryotherapy instrument is avoided. | 08-07-2014 |