The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 1994
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1992
Boris Rubinsky, Albany, CA (US);
Gary Onik, Wexford, PA (US);
J J Finkelstein, Washington, DC (US);
Dan Neu, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Steve Jones, Monroeville, PA (US);
Cryomedical Sciences, Inc., Rockville, MD (US);
Abstract
An improved cryosurgical system includes means for cooling the cryoprobe instrument to temperatures below the normal boiling point of liquid nitrogen as well as means for recovering the sub-cooled liquid coolant. A unique cryoprobe instrument of simplified construction uses an active vacuum for thermal insulation. Means are provided for controllably adjusting the length of the freezing zone of the cryoprobe to allow the freezing zone to be adjusted for different sizes and shapes of tumors which may be 'observed' before surgery by ultrasound imaging. Multiple, disposable cryoprobe instruments can be individually controlled for both operating temperature and freeze zone length. A preferred refrigeration system for sub-cooling liquid nitrogen refrigerant or other cryogenic liquid refrigerant is based on the principles of evaporative cooling.