US3782386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryosurgical apparatus
Assignee: Dynatech Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract Cryosurgical apparatus feeds liquid refrigerant to the hollow tip of a cryosurgical probe through a first conduit to freeze the tip, the refrigerant exhausting from the tip through a second conduit. To defrost the tip, refrigerant in the second conduit is heated and then back-flushed through the tip so that it exhausts therefrom through the first conduit. To maintain proper fluid flow through the probe during the defrost mode of operation, the probe contains a third conduit which bleeds fluid from the tip during both modes of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 J Barger
- 👤 W Crandell
- 👤 T Gardner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Cryosurgical apparatus comprising A. a probe having a hollow probe tip, B. a first tube extending to a point inside the probe tip, C. a second tube extending to a point inside the probe tip, D. means for conducting a fluid refrigerant to the first tube so that it flows into the probe tip and exhausts therefrom through the second tube thereby rapidly cooling the tip, E. means for conducting the refrigerant to the second tube so that it flows to the probe tip through the second tube and exhausts therefrom through the fiRst tube, and F. means adjacent the second conducting means for heating the refrigerant prior to its introduction into the second tube so that the fluid entering the probe tip through the second tube and exhausting therefrom through the first tube rapidly heats the probe tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Cryosurgical apparatus comprising A. a probe having a hollow probe tip, B. a first tube extending to a point inside the probe tip, C. a second tube extending to a point inside the probe tip, D. means for conducting a fluid refrigerant to the first tube so that it flows into the probe tip and exhausts therefrom through the second tube thereby rapidly cooling the tip, E. means for conducting the refrigerant to the second tube so that it flows to the probe tip through the second tube and exhausts therefrom through the fiRst tube, and F. means adjacent the second conducting means for heating the refrigerant prior to its introduction into the second tube so that the fluid entering the probe tip through the second tube and exhausting therefrom through the first tube rapidly heats the probe tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
being (lifted) shifted toward the vent passage only slightly in response to gas entering the housing from the first conducting means so as to allow passage thereof of the vent passage, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
being (lifted) shifted toward the vent passage only slightly in response to gas entering the housing from the first conducting means so as to allow passage thereof of the vent passage, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
Cryosurgical apparatus defined in claim 1 further including a source of liquid refrigerant for connection alternately to the first and second conducting means so that the refrigerant is conducted to the probe tip through the first tube as an unheated liquid and is conducted to the probe tip through the second tube after being heated by the heating means as a relatively warm fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
a first small diameter tube extending through the probe and terminating at a point inside the tip,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
a first small diameter tube extending through the probe and terminating at a point inside the tip,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
when the second tube is connected to receive refrigerant through the second valve, the first tube is connected to exhaust to the atmosphere through the first valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
when the second tube is connected to receive refrigerant through the second valve, the first tube is connected to exhaust to the atmosphere through the first valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
a second port for connection to a refrigerant source, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
a second port for connection to a refrigerant source, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
a third port venting to the atmosphere, and B. means for operating the two valves out of phase with each other so that
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
a third port venting to the atmosphere, and B. means for operating the two valves out of phase with each other so that
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
a second small diameter tube extending through the probe and terminating at a point inside the tip, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
a second small diameter tube extending through the probe and terminating at a point inside the tip, and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
being moved (up) against the (top of the housing) vent passage when liquid enters the housing from the first conducting means so as to block the vent passage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
being moved (up) against the (top of the housing) vent passage when liquid enters the housing from the first conducting means so as to block the vent passage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further including means connected to said first conducting means for purging the first conducting means of gas without permitting appreciable leakage of fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said purging means is comprised of A. a housing extending (up) from the conducting means and communicating therewith, B. a vent passage (at the top of) in the housing, and C. a valve member movable within the housing, said valve member
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
a third tube extending through the probe and communicating with the interior of the probe tip, B. means for supplying refrigerant to the first tube so that the refrigerant flows to the probe tip and exhausts through both the second and third tubes, thereby rapidly cooling the probe tip, and C. means for conducting any refrigerant exhausting from the tip through the second and third tubes away from the probe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
a third tube extending through the probe and communicating with the interior of the probe tip, B. means for supplying refrigerant to the first tube so that the refrigerant flows to the probe tip and exhausts through both the second and third tubes, thereby rapidly cooling the probe tip, and C. means for conducting any refrigerant exhausting from the tip through the second and third tubes away from the probe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the refrigerant source contains liquid nitrous oxide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating means include means for maintaining the refrigerant flowing through the second conducting means at a substantially constant temperature above 0*C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including a third tube inside the probe, said third tube having its one end communicating with the inside of the probe tip and its other end venting to the atmosphere, said third tube conducting fluid inside the probe tip of the atmosphere.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein A. the first tube has a first internal diameter, and B. the second tube has a second larger internal diameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the internal diameter of the third tube is smaller than that of the first tube.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the heating means is comprised of A. a heater in intimate thermal exchange relation with the second conducting means so that the conducting means and any fluid flowing therein is heated by the heater, and B. a temperature responsive switch for controlling the energizing of the heater so as to maintain the heater at a substantially constant temperature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 1 A. wherein the first and second conducting means include first and second three-way solenoid valves, respectively, each said valve having
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the actuating means includes timing means foR controlling the length of time the three-way valves are in at least one of their two operative positions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
7 words
Cryosurgical apparatus comprising A. a probe having
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
7 words
Cryosurgical apparatus comprising A. a probe having
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the third tube is smaller in internal diameter than the first tube and the second tube is larger in internal diameter than the first tube.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the first tube is 0.028 inch in diameter, the second tube is 0.064 inch in diameter and the third tube is similar to bore size to the first tube.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 13 and further including means for conducting a relatively warm fluid into the probe tip through the second tube and exhausting it from the tip through the first and third tubes, thereby rapidly warming the tip.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the warm fluid conducting means includes A. a conduit for supplying refrigerant to the second tube, B. means for heating the conduit, and C. means for controlling the heating means so as to maintain the conduit at a selected temperature.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
67 words
Cryosurgical apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the bore size of the second tube is larger than the combined bore sizes of the first and third tubes so that in the defrost mode, the fluid conducted to the tip through the second tube is maintained at a pressure inside the tip greater than the saturation pressure corresponding to 0*C for the particular working fluid being circulated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |