A cryotherapy system is provided with multiple cryoprobes, each of which has a shaft with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body and conduits for flowing a cryogenic fluid through the shaft to reduce a temperature of the distal end. A source is provided for the cryogenic fluid, and flow-control metering valves are provided in fluid communication with the conduits and source of the cryogenic fluid. A compressor is provided in fluid communication with the conduits of the cryoprobes to define a self-contained fluid system. The flow-control metering valves and the compressor are controlled by a computer processor to provide the desired flows of the cryogenic fluid through the conduits of the self-contained fluid system.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a nonprovisional application of, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, U.S. Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 60/440,662, entitled "CRYOSURGICAL SYSTEM," filed Jan. 15, 2003 by Peter Littrup et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, including the appendices.
This application is related to concurrently filed, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/757,768, entitled "CRYOTHERAPY PROBE," by Peter Littrup et al. which is a nonprovisional application of U.S. Prov. Pat. AppI. No. 60/440,541, entitled "CRYOSURGICAL PROBE," filed Jan. 15, 2003 by Peter Littrup et al., the entire disclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, including the appendices.
Methods, compositions, and systems useful to enhance a thermal surgical procedure are described. Compositions include at least one compound effective to induce an inflammatory response in biological material identified to undergo a thermal surgical procedure. Methods and systems include providing compositions of the invention to biological materials and treating biological materials with an inflammation inducing composition for a time, amount, and type effective to induce inflammation in at least a portion of the biological material.
Methods, compositions, and systems useful to enhance a thermal surgical procedure are described. Compositions include at least one compound effective to induce an inflammatory response in biological material identified to undergo a thermal surgical procedure. Methods and systems include providing compositions of the invention to biological materials and treating biological materials with an inflammation inducing composition for a time, amount, and type effective to induce inflammation in at least a portion of the biological material.
This invention relates to the working end of a medical instrument that applies energy to tissue. In one embodiment, the instrument has a microfluidic tissue-engaging surface fabricated by soft lithography means together with optional superlattice cooling means that allows for very precise control of energy application, for example in neurosurgery applications. The tissue-engaging surface can eject a high-heat content vapor into the engaged tissue for treating tissue, while the superlattice cooling structure can prevent collateral thermal damage. Also, the superlattice cooling structure can be used to localize heat at a selected depth in tissue and prevent surface ablation. Also, the superlattice cooling structure can be used to prevent tissue sticking to a thermal energy delivery surface. In another embodiment, the tissue-engaging surface can be used in a jaw structure for sealing tissue together with hydrojet means for transecting the tissue.
