94 results about "Cryosurgery" patented technology

The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring tissue temperature during thermal treatment of a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermal probe comprising a plurality of thermal sensors operable to measure tissue temperatures during thermal treatments such as cryosurgery. Embodiments of the invention enable simultaneous measurements, using a single probe, of temperatures at a plurality of positions within body tissues. A preferred embodiment enables movement of sensors with respect to tissues while the probe is immobilized by being embedded in frozen tissue.

Systems and methods for planning a cryoablation procedure and for facilitating a cryoablation procedure utilize integrated images displaying, in a common virtual space, a three-dimensional model of a surgical intervention site based on digitized preparatory images of the site from first imaging modalities, simulation images of cryoprobes used according to an operator-planned cryoablation procedure at the site, and real-time images provided by second imaging modalities during cryoablation. The system supplies recommendations for and evaluations of the planned cryoablation procedure, feedback to an operator during cryoablation, and guidance and control signals for operating a cryosurgery tool during cryoablation. Methods are provided for generating a nearly-uniform cold field among a plurality of cryoprobes, for cryoablating a volume with smooth and well-defined borders, thereby minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

A cryoprobe system utilizing a monolithic, insulated, hand-held thermal mass having an exposed tip for cryosurgical applications and the like, as well as a heat extraction base configured to interface with the thermal mass to quickly and efficiently reduce the heat of the thermal mass to cryogenic temperatures. The heat extraction base of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to interface with the tip of the thermal mass, such that the tip plugs in securely to the base, to permit an efficient thermal transfer of heat from the thermal mass through the base via a heat exchange system communicating with the base which employs a low temperature cryo-refrigeration unit. The cryo-refrigeration unit may comprise a single low temperature cooling unit to reduce the temperature of the base to around minus one hundred degrees Centigrade utilizing off-the-shelf cryogenic refrigeration methods, or may utilize a series of more conventional refrigeration units in a primary and secondary heat extraction arrangement, which method may further utilize thermocouple or Peltier effect device assist to further reduce the temperature of the heat extraction base to the required temperature. Also claimed is the method of cryosurgery employing the device(s) of the present invention.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for cryosurgery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cryoprobe which does not form strong adhesive or mechanical bonds with body tissues when such tissues are frozen by cooling action of the probe. Embodiments of the present invention include a cryoprobe having a distal cooling module with an outer surface layer of non-polar molecules, a probe having a distal cooling module with a microscopically smooth outer surface, and a cryoprobe comprising a mechanism for coating a distal cooling module thereof with non-polar lubricant during movement of the cryoprobe within body tissues of a patient. Also presented are methods utilizing disclosed cryoprobes to facilitate cryosurgery and to enhance accuracy of cryoablation of user-selected cryoablation targets.

Novel compositions and methods and pharmaceutical compositions for altering skin coloration. The methods include administering a cytokine to a dermal region desired to be altered. The cytokine is formulated for local administration. The cytokine is preferably administered in conjunction with a therapeutic procedure. The therapeutic procedure is preferably selected from the group consisting of excision, dermabrasion, laser therapy, cryosurgery, grafting, camouflaging, scarification, and salabrasion.

A cryosurgery device includes an aerosol container holding a liquid refrigerant and having a valve and a stem extending out therefrom; an actuator seated on the stem and including an outlet tube for receiving released refrigerant from the container; a hub mounted on the container and including slots therein; and a base having a central opening for receiving the hub, the base including aligning projections that enter the slots in the hub to engage and apply pressure to the actuator to cause the actuator to depress the stem and release refrigerant into the base. The container may further contain an applicator tube mounted to the hub in fluid communication with the outlet tube with a porous tip mounted to a distal end of the applicator tube for receiving the refrigerant and, being chilled thereby, applied to a skin lesion to be treated.

A system and a method for its use are provided to cool a cryotip at the distal end of a probe for a cryosurgical procedure. In particular, the cryotip is cooled by a liquid refrigerant to cryogenic temperatures in order to perform a cryosurgical procedure on biological tissue. The system is closed-loop, and during transit of the liquid refrigerant through the entire system, the liquid refrigerant always remains in a liquid state at a relatively low pressure.

A cryosurgical system featuring both cooling and heating utilizing a single type of cryogen but from two different sources. The liquid cryogen cools the tip of a cryosurgical instrument in the cryosurgical system, such as a cryoprobe or cryocatheter. The gaseous cryogen is further heated by a heating element, preferably an electrical heating element, supplying the heating needed for the thaw and release parts of the cryo treatment procedure. Thus, the cryosurgical system supports the freeze / thaw cycle of the operation of the cryosurgical instrument.

Combination therapies for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on aged skin or non-precancerous, normal photodamaged section of skin, in a patient not being treated for viral infection or skin cancer comprising (i) topical application of an imidazoquinoline amine derivative in a dermatologically-acceptable carrier in further combination with one or more cosmetic treatments selected from the group consisting of: (i) Light Emitting Diode (L.E.D.) Light Therapy; (ii) Intense Pulsed Light (I.P.L.) Therapy; (iii) laser skin resurfacing; (iv) mechanical exfoliation; (v) superficial, medium depth or deep chemical peels; (vi) radiofrequency treatment; (vii) ultrasound treatment; (viii) intradermal and intraepidermal injections with hyaluronic acid and derivatives thereof; and (ix) cryosurgery.

The invention relates to a method, a cryosurgical probe, and a cryosurgical instrument for freezing a lesion on biological tissue. The method involves repeated cycles of freezing and thawing of the tissue to ensure maximum treatment effectiveness. The cryosurgical probe may be positioned on an end of a cryosurgical instrument, and facilitates the freezing of a lesion on biological tissue via the evaporation of a refrigerant. The cryosurgical probe includes a receiving end, a hollow portion, and a tissue contact end. The receiving end is adapted to receive the refrigerant. The tissue contact end includes an orifice adapted to expose the lesion to the refrigerant, and preferably includes a guard portion adapted to prevent excessive exposure of the biological tissue surrounding the lesion to the refrigerant. The hollow portion allows the flow of refrigerant from the receiving end to the tissue contact end, and includes at least one exhaust port.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for planning and supervising minimally invasive surgery. Included are enhancements to systems for planning, monitoring, and controlling cryosurgery.

A cryoprobe system utilizing a monolithic, insulated, hand-held thermal mass having an exposed tip for cryosurgical applications and the like, as well as a heat extraction base configured to interface with the thermal mass to quickly and efficiently reduce the heat of the thermal mass to cryogenic temperatures. The heat extraction base of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to interface with the tip of the thermal mass, such that the tip plugs in securely to the base, to permit an efficient thermal transfer of heat from the thermal mass through the base via a heat exchange system communicating with the base which employs a low temperature cryo-refrigeration unit. The cryo-refrigeration unit may comprise a single low temperature cooling unit to reduce the temperature of the base to around minus one hundred degrees Centigrade utilizing off-the-shelf cryogenic refrigeration methods, or may utilize a series of more conventional refrigeration units in a primary and secondary heat extraction arrangement, which method may further utilize thermocouple or Peltier effect device assist to further reduce the temperature of the heat extraction base to the required temperature. Also claimed is the method of cryosurgery employing the device(s) of the present invention, and a heat pipe appliance to engage a remote treatment area.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for rendering visible to a cryosurgeon an estimated border of a cryoablation volume, thereby facilitating accurately delimited cryoablation of pathological tissues. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for reading temperature and location information from images provided by imaging modalities and optionally from thermal sensors, inferring from that information the three-dimensional shape and position of a volume of tissue considered reliably cryoablated, and presenting this shape and position information to a cryosurgeon by integrating a visual model of that information with one or more images derived from standard imaging modalities, and displaying for a cryosurgeon that integrated image.

A cryosurgery device includes an aerosol container holding a liquid refrigerant and having a valve and a stem extending out therefrom; an actuator seated on the stem and including an outlet tube for receiving released refrigerant from the container; a hub mounted on the container and including slots therein; an applicator tube mounted to the hub in fluid communication with the outlet tube; a porous tip mounted to a distal end of the applicator tube for receiving the refrigerant; and a base having a central opening for receiving the hub and applicator tube therein, the base including aligning projections that enter the slots in the hub to engage and apply pressure to the actuator to cause the actuator to depress the stem and release refrigerant to the tip.

The present invention is of systems and methods for MI-guided cryosurgery. The systems enable a surgeon positioned next to a patient and within an MRI, magnetic environment both to monitor progress of a cryosurgical intervention by observing MRI images of the intervention in real time, and to fully control aspects of operation of a cryosurgery Apparatus by remotely controlling a fluid supply source positioned external to that magnetic environment, which fluid supplies cryogenic fluids to cryoprobes operable within that magnetic environment, thereby enabling real-time MRI-guided control of a cryoablation process. A preferred embodiment enables calculation and display of borders of an ablation volume surrounding a cooled cryoprobe in real time, and, further enables automatic control of elements of a cryoablation procedure, which elements are triggered when shape and position of that calculated ablation volume are found to bear a predefined relationship to the shape and position of a predefined treatment target.

A cryosurgical probe system includes a fluid supply line connectable at an inlet section to a source of cryogenic fluid; a fluid connector assembly securely connected to an outlet section of the fluid supply line for receiving fluid from the outlet section of the fluid supply line; and, a detachable cryosurgical probe detachably connectable to the fluid connector assembly. The cryosurgical probe system includes the capability of providing return fluid flow.

Systems and methods for planning a cryoablation procedure and for facilitating a cryoablation procedure utilize integrated images displaying, in a common virtual space, a three-dimensional model of a surgical intervention site based on digitized preparatory images of the site from first imaging modalities, simulation images of cryoprobes used according to an operator-planned cryoablation procedure at the site, and real-time images provided by second imaging modalities during cryoablation. The system supplies recommendations for and evaluations of the planned cryoablation procedure, feedback to an operator during cryoablation, and guidance and control signals for operating a cryosurgery tool during cryoablation. Methods are provided for generating a nearly-uniform cold field among a plurality of cryoprobes, for cryoablating a volume with smooth and well-defined borders, thereby minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

An improved cryosurgical system for application of medical-grade liquid nitrogen to a treatment area via a small, low pressure, open tipped catheter. The system includes a console, including a touch panel computer, a cryogen module, a suction module and an electronics module, all packaged in a mobile cart, and a disposable spray kit. Improved features include optional low cryogen flow setting to reduce the cryogen flow rate by 50%, improved cryogen flow consistency reducing pressure pulses and peaks (improved sensors, control systems, and control algorithms), an integrated suction pump for improved consistency and self-checks, specified vent tube areas and corresponding maximum expected pressures during cryospray procedure; optional pressure sensing capability to monitor pressure during a treatment, and improved catheter design.

A cryosurgery apparatus is disclosed. The cryosurgery apparatus an introducer having a hollow and a distal portion, the distal portion being sufficiently sharp so as to penetrate into a body, the hollow of the introducer being designed and constructed for containing a plurality of cryoprobes each of the cryoprobes being for effecting cryoablation, such that each of the plurality of cryoprobes is deployable through the distal portion of the introducer when the distal portion is positioned with respect to a tissue to be cryoablated.

A system for treating tissue in a patient includes a body having a cooling fluid supply path and a tissue piercing probe in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply path. The probe extends distally from the body and is insertable into the tissue through the patient's skin. A cooling fluid source is fluidly coupled with the probe such that when cooling is initiated, cooling fluid flows in the probe thereby cooling the probe and any adjacent tissue. A heater element is in thermal engagement with the cooling fluid source and a power source provides power to the heater element thereby heating the cooling fluid. The power source has sufficient power to heat the cooling fluid to at least a desired temperature but has insufficient power to heat the cooling fluid above a critical temperature which results in rupture of the cooling fluid source.

The invention relates to a novel intraluminal tumor cryosurgery ablation catheter and an operation method thereof. The novel intraluminal tumor cryosurgery ablation catheter comprises a balloon, an air inlet pipeline, an air return pipeline, a vacuum pipeline, and an air inlet connector, an air return connector and a vacuum connector, which are respectively connected with near ends of the air inlet pipeline, the air return pipeline and the vacuum pipeline in seal mode, wherein the vacuum pipeline is located on the exteriors of the air inlet pipeline and the air return pipeline. The novel intraluminal tumor cryosurgery ablation catheter further comprises a buffer unit, wherein the buffer unit is arranged at the far end of the air inlet pipeline, and arranged in the balloon, the buffer unit is provided with a buffer air outlet, the near end of the buffer unit is connected with the far end of the air inlet pipeline or the air return pipeline in seal mode, the far end face of the balloon is in a concave shape, the far end of the buffer unit is connected with the far end of the balloon in seal mode, and a connection point between the far end of the buffer unit and the balloon is arranged at the middle of the concave portion of the far end of the balloon or in the far end of the balloon. The novel intraluminal tumor cryosurgery ablation catheter cooperates with an endoscope so as to adapt to complex cavity environments, and the far end of the balloon is large in contact area, and thereby guarantees a large freezing range.

A cryosurgery system for application of medical-grade liquid nitrogen to a treatment area via a small, low pressure, open tipped catheter. The system includes a console, including a touch panel computer, a cryogen module, a suction module and an electronics module, and a disposable spray kit. Features include optional low cryogen flow setting to reduce the cryogen flow rate by 50%, improved cryogen flow consistency reducing pressure pulses and peaks, an integrated suction pump for improved consistency and self-checks, specified vent tube areas and corresponding maximum expected pressures during cryospray procedure; optional pressure sensing capability to monitor pressure during a treatment, and novel catheter designs of multilayer and flexible construction providing a variety of spray patterns.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring tissue temperature during thermal treatment of a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermal probe comprising a plurality of thermal sensors operable to measure tissue temperatures during thermal treatments such as cryosurgery. Embodiments of the invention enable simultaneous measurements, using a single probe, of temperatures at a plurality of positions within body tissues. A preferred embodiment enables movement of sensors with respect to tissues while the probe is immobilized by being embedded in frozen tissue.

A cryosurgery system for application of medical-grade liquid nitrogen to a treatment area via a small, low pressure, open tipped catheter. The system includes a console, including a touch panel computer, a cryogen module , a suction module and an electronics module, and a disposable spray kit. Features include optional low cryogen flow setting to reduce the cryogen flow rate by 50%, improved cryogen flow consistency reducing pressure pulses and peaks, an integrated suction pump for improved consistency and self-checks, specified vent tube areas and corresponding maximum expected pressures during cryospray procedure; optional pressure sensing capability to monitor pressure during a treatment, and novel catheter designs of multilayer and flexible construction providing a variety of spray patterns.

The present invention is of systems and methods for MRI-guided cryosurgery. The systems enable a surgeon positioned next to a patient and within an MRI magnetic environment both to monitor progress of a cryosurgical intervention by observing MRI images of the intervention in real time, and to fully control aspects of operation of a cryosurgery apparatus by remotely controlling a fluid supply source positioned external to that magnetic environment, which fluid supply source supplies cryogenic fluids to cryoprobes operable within that magnetic environment, thereby enabling real-time MRI-guided control of a cryoablation process. A preferred embodiment enables calculation and display of borders of an ablation volume surrounding a cooled cryoprobe in real time, and further enables automatic control of elements of a cryoablation procedure, which elements are triggered when shape and position of that calculated ablation volume are found to bear a predefined relationship to the shape and position of a predefined treatment target.