초록 ▼

A cryosurgical probe incorporating various forms of auxiliary instrumentation mounted on the catheter or conductive tip, such as a temperature sensor, a heater, an ultrasonic transducer, or an optical element of a viewing, illumination, or laser system, and a method for employing such a probe for ab

A cryosurgical probe incorporating various forms of auxiliary instrumentation mounted on the catheter or conductive tip, such as a temperature sensor, a heater, an ultrasonic transducer, or an optical element of a viewing, illumination, or laser system, and a method for employing such a probe for ablation of uterine tissue.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for cryogenic ablation of endometrial tissue in the uterus of a patient, said method comprising:providing a probe having a cannula with a heat transfer element and an irrigation fluid flow path;inserting said probe cannula into a uterus of a patient to position said heat tr

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for cryogenic ablation of endometrial tissue in the uterus of a patient, said method comprising:providing a probe having a cannula with a heat transfer element and an irrigation fluid flow path;inserting said probe cannula into a uterus of a patient to position said heat transfer element adjacent to a selected area of endometrial tissue within the uterus;providing a cryogenic refrigerant via said cannula to cool said heat transfer element to a sufficiently low temperature to cryogenically ablate said selected area of endometrial tissue;heating said heat transfer element to a temperature sufficient to release said heat transfer element from frozen endometrial tissue; andproviding irrigation fluid via said fluid flow path to said area of endometrial tissue, subsequent to heating of said heat transfer element, to assist in release of said heat transfer element from frozen tissue.