Recovery Device and Method of Cryoablation Refrigerant and Cryoablation System

Abstract

The present invention provides a recovery device, a method and a cryoablation system for a cryoablation refrigerant. The recovery device for the cryoablation refrigerant includes: a container, a return gas utilization component, an intermediate pipeline and a compression and condensation component; the inlet end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the consumable end of the cryoablation through the return gas utilization component, and the outlet end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the compression and condensation component through the return gas utilization component; the compression and condensation component is connected to the container; a vacuum pump is provided on the intermediate pipeline; the return gas utilization component is used to pre-cool the gaseous refrigerant to be sent to the compression and condensation component by using the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end. The present invention can pre-cool the refrigerant sent to the compression and condensation component through the return gas utilization component, reduce the energy required for the compression and condensation component to achieve state conversion, and improve the conversion efficiency of gas-liquid conversion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, and in particular to a cryoablation refrigerant recovery device, method and cryoablation system. Background Art

[0002] In cryoablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, gases such as nitrous oxide (N2O) may be used as refrigerants. After completing a single refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant is usually directly connected to the hospital waste pipeline in gas form and discharged into the atmosphere, causing environmental pollution.

[0003] In the existing related technology, a recovery device can be used to process it, wherein the refrigerant can be recovered after gas-liquid conversion using a compression condensation component. However, during the recovery process, high-power refrigeration is required to complete the gas-liquid conversion of the refrigerant state. When only a compression condensation component is used, the conversion efficiency can only rely on the air compression capacity and condensation and cooling capacity of the compression condensation component, which is prone to cause the problem of low conversion efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a cryoablation refrigerant recovery device, method and cryoablation system to solve the problem of low conversion efficiency.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cryoablation refrigerant recovery device, comprising: a container, a return gas utilization component, an intermediate pipeline and a compression condensation component;

[0006] The inlet end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the consumable end of cryoablation through the return gas utilization component, and the outlet end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the compression condensation component through the return gas utilization component; the compression condensation component is connected to the container; the intermediate pipeline is provided with a vacuum pump;

[0007] The return gas utilization component is used to utilize the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end to pre-cool the gaseous refrigerant to be sent to the compression condensation component.

[0008] Optionally, the return air utilization component includes a first heat exchanger; wherein:

[0009] The first inlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the consumable end, the first outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the first end of the intermediate pipeline, the second end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the second inlet of the first heat exchanger, and the second outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the compression condensation component.

[0010] Optionally, the intermediate pipeline is further provided with a pipeline flow and / or pipeline pressure detection component and a flow regulating component, and the flow regulating component can adjust the flow of the intermediate pipeline according to the detection result of the detection component.

[0011] Optionally, the container contains an inert gas whose gas pressure is higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant.

[0012] Optionally, the refrigerant is nitrous oxide.

[0013] Optionally, the compression and condensation assembly includes an air compressor and a condenser;

[0014] The inlet of the air compressor is connected to the intermediate pipeline through the return air utilization component, the outlet of the air compressor is connected to the inlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the condenser is connected to the container.

[0015] Optionally, the compression condensing assembly further includes a heat dissipation component for dissipating heat for the condenser.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the present invention, a method for recovering cryoablation refrigerant is provided, comprising: utilizing the cryoablation refrigerant recovery device involved in the first aspect and its optional scheme to recover the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end; at the same time, filling the container with an inert gas, and controlling the gas pressure of the filled inert gas to be higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cryoablation system, comprising the cryoablation refrigerant recovery device involved in the first aspect and optional solutions thereof.

[0018] Optionally, the system further includes a second heat exchanger, wherein the inlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to the container, and the outlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to the consumable end.

[0019] Optionally, the inlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to a position near the bottom of the container through a port at the top of the container and a long tube connected to the port, and the compression condensation component is connected to a position near the top of the container through the port and a short tube connected to the port.

[0020] In the cryoablation refrigerant recovery device, method and cryoablation system provided by the present invention, a return gas utilization component is provided between the compression condensation component and the intermediate pipeline with a vacuum pump, and between the consumable end and the intermediate pipeline. Therefore, the refrigerant delivered to the compression condensation component can be pre-cooled by the return gas utilization component, thereby reducing the energy required for the compression condensation component to achieve state conversion and improving the conversion efficiency of gas-liquid conversion.

[0021] At the same time, when the container is not filled with inert gas, pressure fluctuations are likely to occur in the container, and the size of the back pressure after gas compression will affect the refrigeration state. Specifically, after compression, the pressure is affected and there is a two-phase state, which will result in a large loss of energy and reduce the recovery efficiency. In view of this, the method involved in the present invention and the device and system involved in the optional scheme can also control the gas pressure of the inert gas filled into the container to always be higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant. By ensuring the pressure in the container, the state of the substance is prevented from changing when the refrigerant is recovered, and the loss of heat is avoided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0023] Figure 1 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 2 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 3 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 3 ;

[0026] Figure 4 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 4 ;

[0027] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cryoablation system in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cryoablation system in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0029] Description of reference numerals:

[0030] 1-Container;

[0031] 11- short tube;

[0032] 12-Long tube;

[0033] 2- Consumables end;

[0034] 3-Compression condensation assembly;

[0035] 31- Air compressor;

[0036] 32-condenser;

[0037] 33- heat dissipation component;

[0038] 4-Return air utilization components;

[0039] 41- first heat exchanger;

[0040] 5-Intermediate pipeline;

[0041] 51-vacuum pump;

[0042] 52- flow regulating component;

[0043] 53- detection components;

[0044] 54-Release valve;

[0045] 55-control valve;

[0046] 6- second heat exchanger;

[0047] 7-Refrigeration equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0049] The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc. (if any) in the specification and claims of the present invention and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present invention described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0050] The technical solution of the present invention is described in detail with specific embodiments below. The following specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described in detail in some embodiments.

[0051] Figure 1 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 1 .

[0052] Please refer to Figure 1 The device for recovering cryoablation refrigerant includes: a container 1, a return gas utilization component 4, an intermediate pipeline 5 and a compression condensation component 3.

[0053] The container 1 can be understood as any structure capable of storing the refrigerant, and further, can be provided with components for delivering the refrigerant. The container 1 can be, for example, a gas storage tank. Meanwhile, the refrigerant stored therein can be in a liquid state, for example, in a liquid state at room temperature and high pressure.

[0054] In this embodiment, the inlet end of the intermediate pipeline 5 is connected to the consumable end 2 of cryoablation via the return air utilization component 4, and the outlet end of the intermediate pipeline 5 is connected to the compression condensation component 3 via the return air utilization component 4; the compression condensation component 3 is connected to the container 1; the intermediate pipeline 5 is provided with a vacuum pump 51.

[0055] The intermediate pipeline 5 can be understood as a pipeline connected between the consumable end 2 and the compression and condensation component 3, which can be configured with components that can perform corresponding treatment on the refrigerant, such as the vacuum pump 51 mentioned above, and can also be, for example, a component for regulating the flow rate, a detection component for detecting the pressure and flow rate of the pipeline, and can also be, for example, a component that can achieve pressure relief.

[0056] The consumable end 2 can be understood as the consumable part of the device used for cryoablation. Taking nitrous oxide as a refrigerant as an example, in the consumable end 2, high-pressure and low-temperature liquid nitrous oxide (N 2 O) can perform throttling-evaporation heat exchange (boiling point - 88.5°C), and after passing through the pipeline heat exchange at the consumable end 2, it can be sent out in the form of low-temperature gas (-50°C) and then enter the return gas utilization component 4.

[0057] In this embodiment, the return gas utilization component 4 is used to use the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end to precool the gaseous refrigerant to be sent to the compression condensation component. Precooling can be achieved by heat exchange, which can be a direct heat exchange method, and an indirect heat exchange method is not excluded.

[0058] In the above embodiments, the refrigerant sent to the compression condensation component can be precooled by the return gas utilization component, which reduces the energy required for the compression condensation component to achieve state conversion and improves the conversion efficiency of gas-liquid conversion. It can be seen that this embodiment changes the state of the refrigerant through multi-stage compression and heat dissipation.

[0059] In a specific example, the refrigerant is nitrous oxide (N 2 O), after one cycle of refrigeration, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) The residual cold capacity when the gas refluxes after evaporative refrigeration at the consumable end can be used to pre-cool the recovered gas and then compress it, thereby reducing the energy required for state conversion, improving conversion efficiency, and further realizing the recovery and reuse of cold air.

[0060] Figure 2 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 2 .

[0061] Please refer to Figure 2 , the return air utilization component 4 includes a first heat exchanger 41; wherein:

[0062] The first inlet of the first heat exchanger 41 is connected to the consumable end 2, the first outlet of the first heat exchanger 41 is connected to the first end of the intermediate pipeline 5, the second end of the intermediate pipeline 5 is connected to the second inlet of the first heat exchanger 41, and the second outlet of the first heat exchanger 41 is connected to the compression condensation component 3.

[0063] In the first heat exchanger 41, the medium flowing between the first inlet and the first outlet can exchange heat with the medium flowing between the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the medium flowing between the first inlet and the first outlet is the other refrigerant sent from the consumable end 2, and the medium flowing between the second inlet and the second outlet is the gaseous refrigerant to be sent to the compression and condensation component.

[0064] It can be seen that the above embodiment realizes precooling of the refrigerant sent to the compression condensation component by means of a heat exchanger.

[0065] At the same time, low temperature gaseous (-50°C) gaseous refrigerants (such as N 2O) After flowing into the first heat exchanger 41 from the consumable end 2, after heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 41, it can enter the intermediate pipeline 5 in a normal temperature gas state, and then enter the compression refrigeration component 3 in a low temperature gas state; wherein, if there is no first heat exchanger 41, after the low temperature gas passes through the vacuum pump 51, the gas temperature rises and it will directly flow into the compression condensation component 3. At this time, a higher pressure and a larger heat dissipation system are required to convert the gaseous high pressure refrigerant into a liquid state after completing the heat exchange, which will cause energy waste and increase the power consumption of the recovery device. In comparison, this embodiment can effectively improve the conversion efficiency, avoid energy waste, and reduce the power consumption of the recovery device.

[0066] Figure 3 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 3 .

[0067] Please refer to Figure 3 The intermediate pipeline 5 is also provided with a pipeline flow rate and / or pipeline pressure detection component 53, and a flow rate regulating component 52, and the flow rate regulating component 52 can adjust the flow rate of the intermediate pipeline 5 according to the detection result of the detection component 53. Through the above implementation, the flow rate can be automatically adjusted according to the demand.

[0068] Figure 4 The structure of the recovery device of cryoablation refrigerant in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Figure 4 .

[0069] Please refer to Figure 4 , the compression condensation component 3 includes an air compressor 31 and a condenser 32;

[0070] The inlet of the air compressor 31 is connected to the intermediate pipeline 5 through the return air utilization component 4, the outlet of the air compressor 31 is connected to the inlet of the condenser 32, and the outlet of the condenser 32 is connected to the container 1. Figure 4 For example, the compression condensation assembly 3 further includes a heat dissipation component 33 for dissipating heat for the condenser 32 , and the heat dissipation component 33 may be, for example, a heat dissipation fan.

[0071] Taking nitrous oxide as the refrigerant as an example, the high-pressure gaseous nitrous oxide output by the air compressor 31 can enter the container 1 in the form of liquid at room temperature after passing through the condenser 32 and the radiator 33 .

[0072] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cryoablation system in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cryoablation system in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0073] Please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 This embodiment also provides a cryoablation system, including a cryoablation refrigerant recovery device involved in the above optional scheme.

[0074] In one implementation, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The system further includes a second heat exchanger 6 , the inlet of the second heat exchanger 6 is connected to the container 1 , and the outlet of the second heat exchanger 6 is connected to the consumable end 2 .

[0075] Furthermore, in an ablation procedure, if the refrigerant is nitrous oxide (N 2 O), the critical nitrous oxide can flow out from the bottom of the container 1 in the form of high-pressure liquid at room temperature, enter the second heat exchanger 6, and then enter the consumable end 2 of the device in the form of supercooled liquid.

[0076] In one embodiment, the container may contain an inert gas having a gas pressure higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant. 2 O), the pressure of the inert gas may be higher than the critical pressure of nitrous oxide. The inert gas may be, for example, nitrogen (N 2 ), and at the same time, it does not exclude the use of argon, helium and other implementation methods.

[0077] The above inert gas can ensure the pressure in the container and prevent the state of the substance from changing when recovering refrigerants such as nitrous oxide, which leads to heat loss. Specifically, the transmission of gaseous refrigerant is greatly affected by the pressure fluctuation in the recovery tank. The back pressure after gas compression will affect the state of the refrigerant. After compression, it is affected by the pressure and there is a two-phase state. A lot of energy is lost after recovery, and the recovery efficiency is low. Therefore, it is necessary to use the high-pressure inert gas mentioned above.

[0078] The high-pressure inert gas mentioned above ensures that the liquid nitrous oxide flowing into the container 1 such as a gas tank is in a high-pressure supercooled liquid state at room temperature, thereby avoiding energy loss caused by phase change due to fluctuation of pressure reduction after flowing into the gas tank; the high-pressure inert gas stored in the container 1 ensures that the liquid nitrous oxide flowing into the container 1 is in a high-pressure supercooled liquid state at room temperature, thereby avoiding energy loss caused by phase change of the refrigerant such as nitrous oxide due to pressure drop caused by resistance along the fluid pipeline before flowing into the second heat exchanger 6, thereby effectively reducing the load power of the refrigeration equipment 7 of the second heat exchanger 6.

[0079] The refrigeration equipment 7 can be understood as a device that can provide a cold source medium for the heat exchange of the second heat exchanger 6 .

[0080] In addition, a flow regulating component and a pipeline flow or pipeline pressure detection component may be provided between the second heat exchanger 6 and the container 1. The flow regulating component may adjust the flow according to the detection result of the detection component.

[0081] In one implementation, please refer to Figure 6 The inlet of the second heat exchanger 6 is connected to a position near the bottom of the container 1 through the through port at the top of the container 1 and a long tube 12 connected to the through port, and the compression condensation component 3 is connected to a position near the top of the container 1 through the through port and a short tube 11 connected to the through port.

[0082] Through the above implementation method, the pipeline can be directly immersed in the liquid refrigerant to ensure that there is no pressure fluctuation and gas state interference; at the same time, the use of long tubes for gas outlet can also effectively reduce the power consumption of heat exchange.

[0083] Please refer to Figure 6 In a specific example, the refrigerant is nitrous oxide (N 2 O), for example (N 2 The refrigerant of the nitrogen oxide (N2O) flows through the second heat exchanger 6, which can turn it into supercooled nitrous oxide (N2O). After the intake air heat exchange at the consumable end 2, the low-temperature gaseous nitrous oxide (N2O) enters the return air utilization device 4, and pre-cools the gaseous room-temperature nitrous oxide (N2O) before entering the air compressor 31. Then, it passes through the microchannel condenser 32 and the heat dissipation component 33 for heat exchange, and obtains room-temperature and high-pressure liquid nitrous oxide (N2O), which flows into the container 1 filled with inert gas to complete recycling and reuse.

[0084] In addition, Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, a release valve 54 and a control valve 55 may also be provided in the intermediate pipeline 5 .

[0085] This embodiment also provides a cryoablation recovery method, including: the cryoablation refrigerant recovery device involved in the above optional scheme recovers the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end; at the same time, an inert gas is filled into the container, and the gas pressure of the filled inert gas is controlled to be higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant.

[0086] In the case where the container is not filled with inert gas, pressure fluctuations are likely to occur in the container. The size of the back pressure after gas compression affects the refrigeration state. Specifically, after compression, the pressure is affected and a two-phase state exists, which in turn causes a large amount of energy loss and reduces the recovery efficiency. In view of this, the method involved in the above embodiment and the device and system involved in the optional scheme can also control the gas pressure of the inert gas filled into the container to always be higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant. By ensuring the pressure in the container, the state of the substance is prevented from changing when the refrigerant is recovered, thereby avoiding heat loss.

[0087] In summary, in the cryoablation refrigerant recovery device, method and cryoablation system provided by the present embodiment, a return gas utilization component is provided between the compression condensation component and the intermediate pipeline with a vacuum pump, and between the consumable end and the intermediate pipeline. Therefore, the return gas utilization component can be used to pre-cool the refrigerant delivered to the compression condensation component, thereby reducing the energy required for the compression condensation component to achieve state conversion and improving the conversion efficiency of gas-liquid conversion.

[0088] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A recovery device for cryoablation refrigerant, characterized in that, it includes: a container, a return gas utilization component, an intermediate pipeline and a compression condensation component; The inlet end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the consumable end of cryoablation through the return gas utilization component, and the outlet end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the compression condensation component through the return gas utilization component; the compression condensation component is connected to the container; a vacuum pump is provided on the intermediate pipeline; The return gas utilization component is used to pre-cool the gaseous refrigerant to be sent to the compression condensation component with the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end; The return gas utilization component includes a first heat exchanger. Among them, the first inlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the consumable end, the first outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the first end of the intermediate pipeline, the second end of the intermediate pipeline is connected to the second inlet of the first heat exchanger, and the second outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to the compression condensation component; after the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant flows into the first heat exchanger from the consumable end, it exchanges heat through the first heat exchanger and enters the intermediate pipeline in a normal-temperature gaseous state, and then enters the compression condensation component in a low-temperature gaseous state; A release valve is also provided in the intermediate pipeline.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, a detection component for pipeline flow rate and / or pipeline pressure, and a flow rate adjustment component are also provided in the intermediate pipeline, and the flow rate adjustment component can adjust the flow rate of the intermediate pipeline according to the detection result of the detection component.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the compression condensation component includes an air compressor and a condenser; The inlet of the air compressor is connected to the intermediate pipeline through the return gas utilization component, the outlet of the air compressor is connected to the inlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the condenser is connected to the container.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that, the compression condensation component further includes a heat dissipation component for dissipating heat from the condenser.

5. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, an inert gas with a gas pressure higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant is stored in the container.

6. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the refrigerant is nitrous oxide.

7. A method for recovering cryoablation refrigerant, characterized in that, it includes: using the recovery device for cryoablation refrigerant according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to recover the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the consumable end; at the same time, filling an inert gas into the container and controlling the gas pressure of the filled inert gas to be higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant.

8. A cryoablation system, characterized in that, it includes the recovery device for cryoablation refrigerant according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, it further includes a second heat exchanger, the inlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to the container, and the outlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to the consumable end.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The inlet of the second heat exchanger communicates through the through-port at the top of the container and a long pipe connecting the through-port to a position near the bottom of the container, and the compression and condensation assembly communicates through the through-port and a short pipe connecting the through-port to a position near the top of the container.

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