Cryoprobe with reduced adhesion to frozen tissue, and cryosurgical methods utilizing same
First Claim
1. A cryoprobe with reduced tendency to adhere to frozen tissues, comprising one of a group consisting of:
- (a) a cooling module having a microscopically smooth external surface;
(b) a cooling module having an external surface comprising non-polar material;
(c) a cooling module coated with a substantially non-polar substance having lubricating qualities at room temperature and when cooled to below-freezing temperatures;
(d) an external orifice through which a biocompatible non-polar substance, delivered to said orifice through communicating with said orifice, may be extruded during movement of said cryoprobe within a body of a patient; and
(e) a mechanical attachment operable to impart small repetitive motions to an inserted cryoprobe while said inserted cryoprobe is cooled to below-freezing temperatures.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to devices and methods for cryosurgery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cryoprobe which does not form strong adhesive or mechanical bonds with body tissues when such tissues are frozen by cooling action of the probe. Embodiments of the present invention include a cryoprobe having a distal cooling module with an outer surface layer of non-polar molecules, a probe having a distal cooling module with a microscopically smooth outer surface, and a cryoprobe comprising a mechanism for coating a distal cooling module thereof with non-polar lubricant during movement of the cryoprobe within body tissues of a patient. Also presented are methods utilizing disclosed cryoprobes to facilitate cryosurgery and to enhance accuracy of cryoablation of user-selected cryoablation targets.
88 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A cryoprobe with reduced tendency to adhere to frozen tissues, comprising one of a group consisting of:
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(a) a cooling module having a microscopically smooth external surface;
(b) a cooling module having an external surface comprising non-polar material;
(c) a cooling module coated with a substantially non-polar substance having lubricating qualities at room temperature and when cooled to below-freezing temperatures;
(d) an external orifice through which a biocompatible non-polar substance, delivered to said orifice through communicating with said orifice, may be extruded during movement of said cryoprobe within a body of a patient; and
(e) a mechanical attachment operable to impart small repetitive motions to an inserted cryoprobe while said inserted cryoprobe is cooled to below-freezing temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A cryoprobe with reduced tendency to adhere to frozen tissues, comprising an external surface designed and constructed to form at most weak chemical and mechanical bonding with ice crystals that form in proximity to said cryoprobe when a cooling module of said cryoprobe is cooled to below-freezing temperatures.
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13. A system for cryoablation of a user-selected cryoablation target, comprising:
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(a) a cryoprobe navigable within tissues of a body while being cooled to below-freezing temperatures;
(b) a first data source providing real-time data relating to positioning of said cryoprobe with respect to said user-selected cryoablation target;
(c) a second data source providing real-time data relating to temperature of said cryoprobe; and
(d) a controller operable to calculate preferred operating parameters for said cryoprobe as a function of data from said first and second data sources. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for cryotreatment of a patient, comprising:
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(a) inserting into tissues of a body of said patient a cryoprobe which comprises an external surface designed and constructed to form at most weak bonds with ice crystals that form in proximity to said cryoprobe when a cooling module of said cryoprobe is cooled to below-freezing temperatures; and
(b) displacing said cryoprobe within said tissues while cooling said cryoprobe to below freezing temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A balloon catheter sized for insertion into a body conduit and operable to cool a wall of said body conduit, comprising one of a group consisting of:
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(a) a cooling module having a microscopically smooth external surface;
(b) a cooling module having an external surface comprising non-polar material;
(c) a cooling module coated with a substantially non-polar substance having lubricating qualities at room temperature and when cooled to below-freezing temperatures;
(d) an external orifice through which a biocompatible non-polar substance, delivered to said orifice through communicating with said orifice, may be extruded during movement of said cryoprobe within a body of a patient; and
(e) a mechanical attachment operable to impart small repetitive motions to an inserted cryoprobe while said inserted cryoprobe is cooled to below-freezing temperatures.
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Specification