Cryoprobe and flexible connector therefor

• US 3,910,277 A
• Filed: 04/24/1974
• Issued: 10/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hildebrand Zimmer
• Original Assignee: Hildebrand Zimmer
• Inventors: Zimmer, Hildebrand
• Primary Examiner(s): Pace, Channing L.
• Application Number:
  US05/463,773
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 62/293 128/303.1 138/120,137,149
• US Class Current: 606/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/153 for flexible pipes

Abstract

A heat insulated flexible connection for a cryoprobe comprises an inner tube for the passage of a cooling medium which is advantageously flexible and arranged within an outer tube portion defining a return flow space for the cooling medium and held in position by axially arranged spacers. The outer tubular portion is surrounded by a plurality of axially arranged insulation rings which have ends which may be loosely interengaged to permit flexible movement of the tube and which are shaped so as to space an outer cover from the outer tube which surrounds the inner cooling tube. The flexible tube is connectable to a probe which includes a tubular probe housing having an end which is closed and defines a probe contact surface. The inner tube of the flexible tube extends into the housing and terminates short of the surface in a space which defines an evaporation chamber adjacent the probe contact surface. A surrounding intermediate tube arranged within the housing around the inner tube defines a return flow space and also an insulation space between it and the outer housing. Heater means are contained in the housing which advantageously are located in the housing wall or in the tube surrounding the inner coolant supply tube.

Claims

1. A heat insulated flexible line particularly a coaxial double line for connecting a cryoprobe with an operating unit to supply a cooling medium, comprising a flexible inner medium supply tube for supplying low boiling point medium to the probe, an outer tube surrounding said inner tube and defining an annular medium return flow space between said outer and inner tubes for the return of the medium, spacers surrounding said inner tube at spaced axial locations supporting said inner tube within said outer tube and permitting free flow of the return medium therethrough, and a plurality of axially arranged heat insulation rings arranged in end to end articulated interengagement around said outer tube whereby to provide deformation-free flexibility for the flexible connecting line.

2. A flexible connecting line according to claim 1, wherein said heat insulation elements comprise rings having a tubular socket end at one end and an opposite tubular projecting end engageable in the socket of a next adjacent ring, said tubular socket being of a larger interior diameter than said tubular projecting end so that there is a loose interengagement of said tubular projecting end in the receiving tubular socket of the next adjacent ring whereby to effect flexibility of said flexible line.

3. A flexible connecting line according to claim 1, wherein said heat insulation rings comprise a cellular plastic material.

4. A flexible connecting line according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said rings include an exterior vaulted wall formation providing a portion of said rings which are of much greater diameter than the remaining portion.

5. A flexible connecting line according to claim 1, including a cover surrounding said rings and engaged over said larger diameter portion.

6. A flexible conecting line according to claim 1, wherein said line includes a tubular extension portion adapted to extend outwardly from the end of the flexible connecting line and into a probe housing surrounding said inner conduit and being spaced therefrom to define a return flow conduit communicating with the return flow conduit between said inner tube and said outer tube.

7. A flexible connection according to claim 6, inCluding a plug portion at an end of said flexible conduit containing said tubular extension and having connecting elements therein for interconnecting said flexible conduit electrically with a probe.

8. A flexible connecting conduit according to claim 7, including a probe housing engaged over said plug extension and having a closed end forming a contact probe surface and an interior evaporation chamber adjacent said closed end, said inner tube extending into said evaporation chamber and terminating in an opening at a spaced location from the closed end of said probe.

9. A flexible connection according to claim 8, wherein said tubular extension is spaced from the probe housing and defines an insulation space therebetween.

10. A cryoprobe comprising an outer tubular closed housing having a closed end defining a probe contact surface, an inner tube for the supply of cooling medium extending through said housing and terminating in an inner end with a discharge opening located at a spaced location from said probe contact surface, the space surrounding said inner end in said housing defining an evacuation chamber, and outer tube between said inner tube and said outer tubular housing defining a return flow passage for the cooling medium between said inner and outer tubes, said outer tube also being spaced radially inwardly from said outer tubular housing and defining an insulation space between said outer tube and said housing, and heater means in said housing for the controlled heating of the interior thereof.

11. A cryoprobe according to claim 10, wherein said heater means are located within the wall of said housing.

12. A cryoprobe according to claim 11, including temperature control means in said housing connected to said heater means for regulating said heater means.

13. A cryoprobe according to claim 10, wherein said heater means includes a heater located within said housing adjacent the contact probe surface and control means in said housing adjacent said heater for controlling the temperature thereof.

14. A cryoprobe according to claim 10, wherein said heater means are located along the length of said housing surrounding said outer tube.

15. A cryoprobe according to claim 10, including a flexible connection connected to said tubular housing adjacent the end thereof opposite to said contact probe surface, said flexible connection containing said inner tube for cooling medium and having a flexible conduit outer tube communicating with the space between said inner tube and outer tube of said probe.

16. A cryoprobe according to claim 15, wherein there is a space between said outer tube and said ring elements for the passage of supply lines.

17. A cryoprobe according to claim 15, wherein said flexible tubular connection has an end with a plug formation which is interconnected with said cryoprobe housing and includes an electrically projecting coneecting part on said plug which are interengageable with electrical connecting parts on said housing.

18. A cryoprobe according to claim 17, wherein said plug includes a tubular extension forming said outer tube of said probe surrounding said inner tube.

19. A cryoprobe according to claim 18, including a protective tube around said outer tube and spaced inwardly from the wall of said cryoprobe housing.

20. A cryoprobe according to claim 15, wherein said cryoprobe housing includes an end opposite said closed end having a flange containing a receiving recess for a connecting element, said flexible connecting line having an electrical connecting element engageable in said recess of said flange of said cryoprobe housing.

21. A cryoprobe according to claim 15, including ring elements in said insulation space with recesses extending axially therealong for accommodating supply lines.