Cryogenic System and Method of Use

Abstract

A cryogenic medical device for delivery of subcooled liquid cryogen to various configurations of cryoprobes is designed for the treatment of damaged, diseased, cancerous or other unwanted tissues. The device is a closed or semi-closed system in which the liquid cryogen is contained in both the supply and return stages. The device is capable of generating cryogen to a supercritical state and may be utilized in any rapid cooling systems. As designed, the device comprises a number of parts including a vacuum insulated outer dewar, submersible cryogen pump, baffled linear heat exchanger, multiple pressurization cartridges, a return chamber, and a series of valves to control the flow of the liquid cryogen interconnected with cryotreatment devices including cryoprobes and catheters. The cryogenic medical device promotes subcooling to the tips of various external cryogenic instrument configurations.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A cryoengine comprising:
 a container capable of being filled with a cryogen;   a pressurization apparatus having one or more heaters arranged therein to generate a pressurized cryogen, the pressurization apparatus having at least one port, wherein when the container is filled with the cryogen,
 (i) at least a first portion of the pressurization apparatus is positioned in the cryogen and is at a first temperature, and 
 (ii) at least a second portion of the pressurization apparatus is positioned outside the cryogen and is at a second temperature greater than the first temperature; and 
   a pump disposed in the container for delivering cryogen to the at least one port, wherein the pump is positioned in the cryogen when the container is filled with cryogen;   wherein the pressurization apparatus is configured to provide controlled continuous delivery of the pressurized cryogen to at least one cryoprobe.