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:
Nov. 28, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 12, 1995
John D Dobak, III, San Diego, CA (US);
Ray Radebaugh, Louisville, CO (US);
Marcia L Huber, Louisville, CO (US);
Eric D Marquardt, Lakewood, CO (US);
CryoGen, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A miniature mixed gas refrigeration system is disclosed, having a coaxial catheter with an inner high pressure supply lumen and an outer low pressure return lumen. The gas mixture is pressurized by a compressor to a pressure less than 420 psia, for safety reasons. The distal portion of the outer lumen contains a micro-miniature heat exchanger constructed of laminated plates or sheets. The plates or sheets establish high pressure and low pressure passageways, with high surface area, having a tortuous path for the gas flow to maximize heat exchange. The high pressure outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a Joule-Thomson expansion element where the high pressure gas is expanded isenthalpically to a lower temperature at least as low as 180K. This low temperature gas cools a heat transfer element mounted in the outer wall of the catheter, to cool an external object. Return gas flows back through the heat exchanger to pre-cool the incoming high pressure gas mixture.