초록 ▼

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 t

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cryogenic apparatus, comprising:an applicator, comprising: a thermal mass having first and second ends, said thermal mass at least partially insulated to form a probe which may be held by a user; a thermal cooling unit, comprising: a charging station having a socket configured to removably enga

1. A cryogenic apparatus, comprising:an applicator, comprising: a thermal mass having first and second ends, said thermal mass at least partially insulated to form a probe which may be held by a user; a thermal cooling unit, comprising: a charging station having a socket configured to removably engage said thermal mass of said applicator; a quantity of thermally conductive fluid situated in said socket; and cooling means for cooling said socket; said applicator formed to engage said socket of said charging station in conjunction with said thermally conductive fluid situated in said socket so as to allow said cooling means to remove heat from said thermal mass to cryogenically cool same, said applicator further being separable from said socket, such that said chilled thermal mass may be utilized to extract heat from an application area.