Cryocath Technologies Inc.

Medtronic Cryocath LP

Patrick Chauvet

Daniel Nahon

Leonilda Capuano

Willard W Hennemann

Claudia Lückge

Michael J Urick

Michael Urick

A method is disclosed for treating an aneurysm or vascular defect by cooling a target tissue region of the aneurysm or vascular defect to a temperature below body temperature for a preselected time period. The method entails thickening, strengthening, or increasing the density of a blood vessel wall by cooling the blood vessel wall with a cryogenically cooled device. The method also includes irradiating the inner wall of a blood vessel around an aneurysm or vascular defect with various forms of energy to delay or halt aneurysm or vascular defect formation. An energy-emitting element is disposed on the distal end portion of a catheter device to be disposed proximate the aneurysm. Various forms of energy, including visible light energy, laser light energy, ultrasound, microwave and radiofrequency sources may be used to irradiate and treat the aneurysm. In addition, the method may include irradiating a tissue site concomitantly with other treatments, including the delivery of vaso-occlusive compounds, mechanical intravascular devices, or an endovascular graft to the target tissue region.

Method for treatment of aneurysms

A method is disclosed for treating an aneurysm by cooling a target tissue region of the aneurysm to a temperature below temperature for a preselected time period. The method entails thickening, strengthening, or increasing the density of a blood vessel wall by cooling the blood vessel wall with a cryogenically cooled device. In particular, a device having a heat conductive cooling chamber is disposed proximate to the aneurysm site; and a cryogenic fluid coolant is directed to flow inside the chamber to create endothermic cooling relative to the aneurysm. The method also promotes the growth of collagen and elastin in vascular tissue. Tissue cooling temperatures range from &plus;20 to &minus;20 degrees Celsius. The duration of treatment by application of cooling ranges from 15 seconds to up to 20 minutes or more. The method includes treating the aneurysm both from inside and outside the blood vessel wall forming the aneurysm.

Method and device for treatment of aneurysms

A method is disclosed for treating brain tissue with cryotreatment. A surgical tool, such as a catheter is disposed proximate to a target region of brain tissue. The tool or catheter provided includes a cryotreatment element. The cryotreatment element may be a cryochamber for enclosing the flow of a fluid refrigerant therein. The cryotreatment element is disposed at the situs of brain tissue to be treated, either through endovascular insertion, or via an opening in the cranium. A refrigerant flow within the cryochamber creates endothermic cooling with respect to the surrounding brain tissue, inducing hypothermia and forming iceballs proximate said tissue. The cooling may be reversible and non-permanent, or may be permanent leading to cell death, necrosis, apoptosis and/or surgical excision or ablation of tissue. Mapping using conventional techniques may be used to measure and assess brain function before and after cryotreatment, and cryotreatment itself may be integrally and progressively used to map brain function and treat tissue.

Method of using cryotreatment to treat brain tissue

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St-Laurent, Canada

Patrick Chauvet