Cardiac surgery cryoprobe

Abstract

A freezing probe has a working tip (1) formed by two coaxial flexible tubular inner wires (2) and outer wires (3), wherein the cross section diameter and length of the inner wire (2) are less than thelength of the cross section diameter of the outer wire (3). The end of the outer line (3) has a top (4) closing the working tip (1), while the end of the inner line (2) is open, and at least half ofthe part of the inner line (2) is evenly distributed with an opening (6) penetrating the circumference. The resistance wire (7) is spirally wound on the inner wire (2). A temperature sensor (8) is arranged on the external line (3). The external line (3 ') and the internal line (2') are led out from the working tip (1) to the outside of the handle, wherein the external line (3 ') and the internal line (2'), which are insulated by the insulating hose (12), are connected from the handle (5) to the unit (15) together with the wiring harness of the power lines (9) and (11), and the low pressure airand liquid nitrogen are supplied by the pump system to 0.5 bar.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a low pressure flexible cardiac surgery cryoprobe with active thawing and conductivity measurement system for partial freezing of tissue, especially cardiac tissue, during cardiac surgery. Background technique [0002] The present invention is used to perform cryoablation of the atrium of the heart as part of the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, mainly atrial fibrillation. The present invention is mainly used for endocardial and epicardial ablation through small incision surgery. [0003] Surgical ablation of so-called concomitant AF is considered the treatment of choice when other cardiac procedures are performed, most commonly mitral valve repair or replacement. This approach is recommended in guidelines for treatment procedures developed by officially recognized societies of cardiac surgery and cardiology in Poland, Europe and the United States. [0004] Cryothermy, the oldest and most widely studied method of exp...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] Commercially available cryotherapy units are mainly based on compressed argon, which is very expensive and not readily available in many countries, including Poland

The second most commonly used gas is nitrous oxide, also expensive, but not guaranteed to reach as low temperatures as argon

The operation of most (if not all) currently used flexible cryoprobes is based on the Joule-Thomson effect, i.e. the sudden expansion of gas at an initial pressure of up to 300 bar in the enclosed space of the probe, which is definitely not as safe as using low pressure gas

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