Cryosurgical system and method

• US 6,306,129 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: FemRx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Thompson, Todd, Little, William A., Sapozhnikov, Igor, Savage, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kearney, R.
• Application Number:
  US09/377,377
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 606/20-26, 607/105, 607/113, 128/DIG.27
• 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 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/00 Subcoolers, desuperheaters or superheaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/022 hot gas defrosting
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/006 the refrigerant containing more than one component F25B9/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/27 Cryogenic

Abstract

A cryosurgical system comprises a compressor unit and a probe assembly. A secondary refrigerant stream from the compressor unit pre-cools a heat exchanger within the probe assembly in a standby mode of operation. After the heat exchange is pre-cooled, a primary refrigerant stream can be passed through the cooled heat exchanger and thereafter expanded within a tissue-contacting portion of the probe assembly to achieve very low temperatures, typically minus 100° C. or lower. After cooling, the refrigerant stream may be passed through the probe assembly with no or partial expansion to warm the tissue-contacting surface of the probe. A probe sheath can be used to provide sterility.

Claims

1. A cryosurgical instrument comprising:

a) a vacuum enclosure comprising a helical coil heat exchanger;

b) a probe of smaller diameter than the vacuum enclosure extending from the heat exchanger and terminating at its distal end with a closed tip providing a freezing zone effective during operation of the instrument to freeze living tissue when in contact therewith;

c) a vacuum enclosure extension enclosing a portion of the probe; and

d) a compressor for supplying a refrigerant to the heat exchanger.

2. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the vacuum enclosure and probe are present in a hand-held assembly.

3. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a sheath adapted for removal placement over the probe and vacuum enclosure extension.

4. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the sheath is composed of metal.

5. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 4, further comprising a heat conductive material between an exterior surface of the probe and an interior surface of the sheath.

6. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the heat conductive material comprises a heat conductive powder suspended in a liquid carrier.

7. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the vacuum enclosure connects to the compressor through a flexible connector.

8. The cryosurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger comprises an outer coiled tube with at least one coiled tube disposed within the outer coiled tube.

9. A cryosurgical instrument for ablating the endometrial lining of the uterus comprising:

a) A hand-held assembly comprising a vacuum enclosure and a helical coil heat exchanger disposed within the vacuum enclosure;

b) a probe of smaller diameter than the vacuum enclosure extending from the heat exchanger and terminating at its distal end with a closed tip providing a freezing zone effective during operation of the instrument to freeze living tissue when in contact therewith;

c) a vacuum enclosure extension enclosing a portion of the probe; and

d) a compressor for supplying a refrigerant to the heat exchanger.

10. A method of ablating the endometrial lining of the uterus comprising:

a) providing a hand-held assembly comprising a vacuum enclosure and a helical coil heat exchanger disposed within the vacuum enclosure and a probe of smaller diameter than the vacuum enclosure and extending from the heat exchanger and terminating at the distal end of the probe a closed tip providing a freezing zone;

b) providing a vacuum enclosure extension enclosing a portion of the probe;

c) inserting a portion of the probe within the uterus; and

d) compressing a refrigerant and supplying the refrigerant to the freezing zone.