METHOD OF MONITORING GAS SUPPLY DURING A CRYOSURGICAL PROCEDURE

1 . A method for monitoring an amount of gas available in a cryosurgical system used for conducting a cryosurgical procedure, the method comprising:

receiving a volumetric capacity of a tank containing the gas;

receiving performance characteristics of a plurality of cryoprobes, wherein the performance characteristic includes at least a rated mass flow rate for the gas flowing through each cryoprobe;

receiving operating parameters for the cryosurgical system;

operating the cryosurgical system responsive to said operating parameters;

measuring a pressure of the gas in the tank;

computing a mass of the gas in the tank;

computing a mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes;

computing a total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system;

computing an amount of time available for completing the cryosurgical procedure; and

enunciating the amount of time available.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

changing said operating parameters during said cryosurgical procedure;

receiving said changed operating parameters; and

operating the cryosurgical system responsive to said changed operating parameters.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the operating parameters comprise a plurality of cryoprobe duty cycles for operating a valve associated with each one of the plurality of cryoprobes, and the method comprises operating the valve to regulate a flow of the gas flowing through the cryoprobe associated therewith.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes is the arithmetic product of the cryoprobe's duty cycle and the rated mass flow rate for the gas flowing through the cryoprobe.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system is the arithmetic sum of the mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the mass of the gas in the tank is computed at standard atmospheric conditions using the volumetric capacity of the tank and the measured pressure of the gas in the tank.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the amount of time available for completing the cryosurgical procedure is computed as an arithmetic ratio of the mass of the gas in the tank to the total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the steps of receiving and the steps of enunciating comprise one or more communications module, the communications module selected from the group consisting of: a data card reader, a data source, a network, a server, the Internet, a user interface device, a smart card, a device for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of enunciating comprises operating one or more audio and/or visual alarm.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising enunciating a low pressure condition when the measured pressure of the gas in the tank is less than a specified threshold, wherein the step of enunciating comprises operating one or more audio and/or visual alarm.

11 . A means for monitoring an amount of gas available in a cryosurgical system used for conducting a cryosurgical procedure, the means comprising:

means for receiving a volumetric capacity of a tank containing the gas;

means for receiving performance characteristics of a plurality of cryoprobes, wherein the performance characteristic includes at least a rated mass flow rate for the gas flowing through each cryoprobe;

means for specifying operating parameters for the cryosurgical system;

means for receiving said operating parameters for the cryosurgical system;

means for operating the cryosurgical system responsive to said operating parameters;

means for measuring a pressure of the gas in the tank;

means for computing

a mass of the gas in the tank;

a mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes;

a total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system; and

an amount of time available for completing the cryosurgical procedure; and

means for enunciating the amount of time available.

12 . The means of claim 11 , further comprising

means for changing said operating parameters during said cryosurgical procedure;

means for receiving said changed operating parameters; and

means for operating the cryosurgical system responsive to said changed operating parameters.

13 . The means of claim 12 , wherein the means for operating the cryosurgical system comprises

means for receiving a plurality of cryoprobe duty cycles for operating a valve associated with each one of the plurality of cryoprobes; and

means for operating the valve operating to regulate a flow of the gas flowing through the cryoprobe associated with said valve.

14 . The means of claim 13 , wherein the means for receiving and the means for enunciating comprise one or more communications module, the communications module selected from the group consisting of: a data card reader, a data source, a network, a server, the Internet, a user interface device, a smart card, a device for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals.

15 . The means of claim 14 , further comprising means for operating one or more audio and/or visual alarm.

16 . The means of claim 15 , further comprising means for enunciating a low pressure condition when the measured pressure of the gas in the tank is less than a specified threshold, wherein the means for enunciating comprises means for operating one or more audio and/or visual alarm.

17 . A system for monitoring an amount of gas available in a cryosurgical system used for conducting a cryosurgical procedure, the system comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of cryoprobes in operational communication with the controller;

a plurality of valves in operational communication with the controller, wherein each valve is operated by the controller to regulate a flow of gas through the cryoprobe associated with said valve;

a user interface in operational communication with the controller for providing a volumetric capacity of a tank containing the gas;

a plurality of communications modules in operational communication with the controller, wherein the plurality of communications modules

facilitate providing performance characteristics of a plurality of cryoprobes, wherein the performance characteristic includes at least a rated mass flow rate for the gas flowing through each cryoprobe;

operate the cryosurgical system responsive to specified operating parameters; and

enunciate an amount of time available for completing the cryosurgical procedure;

a pressure measuring device for measuring a pressure of the gas in the tank, said pressure measuring device in operational communication with the controller; and

a computing device for

computing a mass of the gas in the tank;

computing a mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes;

computing a total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system; and

computing an amount of time available for completing the cryosurgical procedure.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of communications modules further facilitate

changing said performance characteristics of said plurality of cryoprobes during said cryosurgical procedure; and

operating the cryosurgical system responsive to said changed operating parameters.

19 . The system of claim 18 , comprising operating the valves to regulate the flow of gas through the cryoprobes in accordance with a specified duty cycle for each one of the plurality of cryoprobes.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes is the arithmetic product of the cryoprobe's duty cycle and the rated mass flow rate for the gas flowing through the cryoprobe.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system is the arithmetic sum of the mass flow rate of the gas flowing through each one of the plurality of cryoprobes.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the mass of the gas in the tank is computed at standard atmospheric conditions using the volumetric capacity of the tank and the measured pressure of the gas in the tank.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the amount of time available for completing the cryosurgical procedure is computed as an arithmetic ratio of the mass of the gas in the tank to the total mass flow rate of the gas flowing through the cryosurgical system.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of communications modules enunciate a low pressure condition when the measured pressure of the gas in the tank is less than a specified threshold.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of communications modules are selected from the group consisting of: a data card reader, a data source, a network, a server, the Internet, a user interface device, a smart card, a device for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals, an audible alarm, and a visual alarm.