Method and apparatus for cryogenic spray ablation of gastrointestinal mucosa
First Claim
1. A cryosurgical apparatus useful for cryogenic spray ablation comprising in combination an endoscope, a catheter and a source of liquified cryogenic gas attached to said catheter such that the endoscope aids in placing the cryogenic gas to be sprayed in proximity to the area to be cryogenically ablated and with the catheter being able to produce low pressure delivery of the cryogenic gas without perforating the esophagus,further comprising a fiber optic means for viewing the area to be ablated,wherein the fiber optic means is disposed together with an illuminating light source and imaging camera, andwherein the imaging camera has a lens, the apparatus further including a means for evacuating moist air to prevent fogging of the lens of said imaging camera.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to treat Barrett'"'"'s tissue, a pre-cancerous condition, by removing the epithelium above the lower esophageal sphincter through cryo-ablation. An endoscope with fiber optics is used to view the operation, and a catheter for supplying liquid nitrogen is passed through the lumen of the endoscope. Liquid nitrogen is sprayed directly onto the Barrett'"'"'s tissue through the catheter while the physician views the operation through the fiberoptics of the endoscope and controls the spray via a valve. Freezing is indicated by whiteness and shows that the epithelium has been cryoablated. The apparatus can also be used to treat various other gastrointestinal tract lesions. A most important and significant feature of this invention is the fact that the liquid nitrogen spray is applied in the esophagus at low pressure.
215 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A cryosurgical apparatus useful for cryogenic spray ablation comprising in combination an endoscope, a catheter and a source of liquified cryogenic gas attached to said catheter such that the endoscope aids in placing the cryogenic gas to be sprayed in proximity to the area to be cryogenically ablated and with the catheter being able to produce low pressure delivery of the cryogenic gas without perforating the esophagus,
further comprising a fiber optic means for viewing the area to be ablated, wherein the fiber optic means is disposed together with an illuminating light source and imaging camera, and wherein the imaging camera has a lens, the apparatus further including a means for evacuating moist air to prevent fogging of the lens of said imaging camera.
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2. A cryosurgical apparatus useful for cryogenic spray ablation comprising in combination an endoscope, a catheter and a source of liquified cryogenic gas attached to said catheter such that the endoscope aids in placing the cryogenic gas to be sprayed in proximity to the area to be cryogenically ablated and with the catheter being able to produce low pressure delivery of the cryogenic gas without perforating the esophagus, wherein the apparatus is provided with a means for purging moist air or gas from the esophagus.
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3. A cryosurgical apparatus useful for cryogenic spray ablation comprising in combination an endoscope, a catheter and a source of liquified gas attached to said catheter such that the endoscope aids in placing a cryogenic gas to be sprayed in proximity to the area to be cryogenically ablated and with the catheter being able to produce low pressure delivery of cryogen without perforating the esophagus and wherein the catheter is provided at its proximal end with a bleeder vent to reduce the pressure of gas supplied at the distal end of the catheter.
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4. An apparatus for cryogenic spray ablation of intralumenal mucosa, comprising:
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an endoscope having an imaging camera lens and illuminating light source at the distal end thereof and at least one additional lumen therethrough; a catheter extending through a lumen of said endoscope, said catheter extending from the proximal end of said endoscope and terminating at means for causing cooled fluid flowing therethrough to be sprayed in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said catheter; a source of cooled liquified gas connected to the portion of said catheter extending from the proximal end of said endoscope; and means for controlling the flow of liquified gas at a low pressure from said source to said catheter. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification