Cryoablation structure

US6270493A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• CryoCath Technologies Inc. · CA

Inventors

• Jean-Pierre Lalonde · Westmount, CA
• Cristian Petre · Laval, CA
• Robert Martin · Two Rivers, US
• Claudia Lueckge · Brossard, CA
• Sean Carroll · Rancho Cucamonga, US
• Dan Wittenberger · Brossard, CA
• George Klein · London, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 1999
• Grant date: Aug 7, 2001
• Expiry date: Jul 19, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/0268
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A cryocatheter for treatment of tissue includes a coolant line communicating with a cryochamber having a coolant receiving interior and a thermally conductive wall for contacting and conductively treating tissue. A return line returns spent coolant, and an insert or partition in the cryochamber conditions flow or channels fluid from the coolant line to the return line to enhance the rate or uniformity of cooling. The partition may extend axially to define an elongated sub-chamber which is preferentially cooled, or it may isolate one side to define an uncooled side of the cryochamber. The partition may extend axially to define a sub-chamber extending along a segmented length around a partial circumference of the catheter tip, or may channel the coolant from a central region outwardly against the peripheral wall of the cryochamber. The return line may be a vacuum return line. The catheter may include a means for warming the catheter tip to warm up or accelerate thawing of treated tissue, and the heating may be implemented by a heater in thermal contact with a fluid supply line, which may, moreover, be the coolant supply line. Alternatively, the warming fluid supply line may be distin…