Cryosurgical catheter
View Patent ↗A cryogenic catheter includes an outer flexible member having at least one cryogenic fluid path through the flexible member. The at least one fluid path is defined by a plurality of flexible members disposed within the outer flexible member.
1. A method for treating tissue, comprising:
positioning a cryogenic cooling structure proximate to a tissue region, the cooling structure including a tip element having at least two thermally-transmissive segments that are generally cylindrical in shape;
delivering a cryogenic fluid to the tip element; and
sensing at least one of a pressure or temperature at the tip element.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising deforming at least a portion of the tip element.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising increasing a pressure of the fluid delivered to the tip based at least in part on the sensed pressure or temperature.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the pressure is increased by predetermined pressure increments over predetermined time intervals.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising decreasing a pressure of the fluid delivered to the tip based at least in part on the sensed pressure or temperature.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the pressure is decreased by predetermined pressure increments over predetermined time intervals.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising defining a predetermined target temperature; and regulating the delivery of the cryogenic fluid to substantially maintain the target temperature at the tip element.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising terminating delivery of cryogenic fluid based at least in part on the sensed pressure or temperature.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue region includes cardiac tissue.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising ablating tissue with the tip element.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic fluid is in a liquid state.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic fluid is in a gas state.
13. A method for treating tissue, comprising:
positioning an elongate member having a distal portion including a bellows-shaped, thermally-transmissive region adjacent to a tissue site;
deforming at least a segment of the distal portion; and
circulating a refrigerant through the elongate member to the bellows-shaped, thermally-transmissive region; and
cooling tissue with the distal portion.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising sensing a pressure at the distal portion; and
regulating the circulation of the refrigerant based at least in part on the sensed pressure.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising sensing a temperature at the distal portion; and
regulating the circulation of the refrigerant based at least in part on the sensed temperature.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein deforming at least a segment of the distal portion includes deforming a substantially linear segment of the distal portion into an arcuate configuration.
17. A method of treating cardiac tissue, comprising:
positioning a medical device having a bellows-shaped, thermally-transmissive region adjacent to cardiac tissue; and
circulating a refrigerant through the elongate member to the bellows-shaped, thermally-transmissive region to ablate the cardiac tissue.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising deforming a substantially linear segment of the thermally-transmissive region into an arcuate configuration.
19. The method of claim 17 , further sensing a pressure at the thermally-transmissive region; and
regulating the circulation of the refrigerant based at least in part on the sensed pressure.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising sensing a temperature at the thermally-transmissive region; and regulating the circulation of the refrigerant based at least in part on the sensed temperature.