초록 ▼

A method for creating a surface having a fast changing temperature, comprises providing a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice opening into a jacket which is in contact with the surface to be heated and cooled, the said jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surfac

A method for creating a surface having a fast changing temperature, comprises providing a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice opening into a jacket which is in contact with the surface to be heated and cooled, the said jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surface to be heated and cooled, and providing two gas sources, each gas source being independently connected to the said heat exchanger, one source providing a first gas, which liquefies when it expands through the said orifice, and the other gas source providing a second gas, having an inversion temperature lower than the temperature obtained by the liquefaction of the first gas, and causing the exhaust gas flowing out from the said jacket, to flow through the said heat-exchanger to preheat or precool the inflowing gas, as the case may be, and further causing the said first and the said second gas alternately to flow through the said heat exchanger and orifice, to cool or to heat the said surface; means being provided for allowing and stopping the flow of each gas through the said orifice.

대표청구항 ▼

A surgical probe having a surface to be brought into contact with cells and/or tissue of a living organism, said surface being capable of being cooled and/or heated and being capable of undergoing fast temperature changes, the fast-changing temperature changing from above room temperature to below a

A surgical probe having a surface to be brought into contact with cells and/or tissue of a living organism, said surface being capable of being cooled and/or heated and being capable of undergoing fast temperature changes, the fast-changing temperature changing from above room temperature to below about -50°C. and vice versa, and the fast-changing temperature changing from above to below about 0°C. and vice versa at a sub-minute speed, said probe comprising: a heat exchanger coupled to an orifice, the orifice opening into a jacket; the jacket being in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled, the jacket forming a reservoir capable of housing a fluid in contact with the surface that is heated and/or cooled; two gas sources providing two gases, a first and a second gas, each of the two gas sources being independently connected to the heat exchanger, the first gas liquifying when expanding through the orifice, the second gas having an inversion temperature lower than a temperature obtained by liquification of the first gas; and means for allowing and stopping a flow of each of the two gases through the orifice.