Cryosurgical devices for endometrial ablation

1. A cryoablation system for performing endometrial ablation, comprising:

an elongated tubular cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, an internal fluid path, and a central longitudinal axis;

a probe tip at the distal end of the cannula;

a probe handle extending from the proximal end of the cannula;

a heat exchanger comprising a tubular wall having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of extensions within the fluid path, wherein the plurality of extensions extend from the inner surface of the tubular wall toward the central longitudinal axis of the cannula; and

a source of compressed refrigerant fluidly connected to the probe handle.

2. The cryoablation system of claim 1 , wherein the probe tip comprises an expandable member.

3. The cryoablation system of claim 1 , wherein the each of the plurality of extensions is spaced from each adjacent extension by a gap distance.

4. The cryoablation system of claim 3 , wherein the gap distance is identical between each of the plurality of extensions.

5. The cryoablation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extensions are continuous along the length of the heat exchanger.

6. The cryoablation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extensions are discontinuous along the length of the heat exchanger.

7. A cryoablation system for performing endometrial ablation, comprising:

an elongated tubular cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;

an expandable balloon extending from the distal end of the cannula and fluidly connected to a source of heat transfer fluid by at least one fluid path;

a pump for circulating the heat transfer fluid into and out of the balloon;

a probe handle coupled to the proximal end of the cannula and in fluidic communication with the balloon through the cannula; and

a heat exchanger for varying the temperature of the heat transfer fluid, wherein the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to a secondary refrigerant source, and wherein the heat exchanger cornprises a central longitudinal axis, a tubular wall an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of fins extending from the inner surface of the tubular wall toward the central longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger.

8. The cryoablation system of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the probe handle so that the secondary refrigerant can cool the heat transfer fluid to a treatment temperature before the heat transfer fluid is provided to the balloon.

9. The cryoablation system of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the cannula so that the secondary refrigerant can cool the heat transfer fluid to a treatment temperature before the heat transfer fluid is provided to the balloon.

10. The cryoablation system of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within a console of the system so that the secondary refrigerant can cool the heat transfer fluid to a treatment temperature before the fluid is provided to the probe handle.

11. The cryoablation system of claim 7 , wherein the each of the plurality of extensions is spaced from each adjacent extension by a gap distance.

12. The cryoablation system of claim 11 , wherein the gap distance is identical between each of the plurality of extensions.

13. The cryoablation system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of extensions are continuous along the length of the heat exchanger.

14. The cryoablation system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of extensions are discontinuous along the length of the heat exchanger.