CRYOSURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR TREATING LARGE VOLUME OF TISSUE

1 . A cryosurgical instrument that is selectively positioned in a patient by rotation, comprising:

a manipulation section that permits a user to rotate the instrument;

a cryogen supply portion; and

a positioning section having a sharp tip at an end thereof and a helical configuration, the positioning section configured to receive cryogen from the cryogen supply portion and to permit the received cryogen to cool the positioning section.

2 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the positioning section

urges the cryosurgical instrument into the patient when the instrument is rotated in a first direction, via the manipulation section, and

urges the cryosurgical instrument out of the patient when the instrument is rotated in a second direction that is opposite the first, via the manipulation section,

wherein the cryosurgical instrument travels in a direction along a longitudinal axis thereof when the instrument is rotated, via the manipulation section, without a majority of a positioning force being applied to the cryosurgical instrument in the direction.

3 . A cryosurgical instrument having a substantially smooth, temperature conducting outer surface with an inner side, comprising:

a sharp tip at an end to facilitate penetration into tissue;

one or more cryogen supply lines that supply cryogen to the instrument;

a manipulation section for positioning the instrument, at least a portion of the manipulation section extending along and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument, the manipulating section having

insulation along at least a portion of a length thereof, and

a return fluid sleeve to permit exhaust of expanded fluid from the instrument;

a cooling section connected to the manipulation section, extending from the manipulation section to the tip, and having

a helical configuration spiraling around the longitudinal axis, and

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the one or more cryogen supply lines, surrounding the one or more cryogen supply lines in the cooling section, and delivering received cryogen to a port at a distal end thereof proximal to the tip, the heat exchanger including a plurality of channels that are circumferentially disposed along the inner side of the outer surface and that interconnect the one or more supply lines to the a return gas sleeve, the heat exchanger permitting cryogen from the one or more supply lines to cool the cooling section; and

an expanded fluid return pathway surrounding the one or more cryogen supply lines and bounded by the one or more cryogen supply lines and the inner side of the outer surface of the instrument so that gas in the pathway is in thermal communication with the inner side.

4 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the channels spiral about the one or more cryogen supply lines.

5 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the helical section includes multiple spirals that spiral around the longitudinal axis more that 360 degrees.

6 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the helical portion is flexible and has a shape memory.

7 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the cooling section is formed with Nitinol, spring steel, or a flexible steel.

8 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises two or more discrete heat exchangers disposed along the one or more cryogen supply lines and separated by a length of the one or more supply lines.

9 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the channels spiral about the one or more cryogen supply lines.

10 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein a rate of the spiraling of the cryogen supply line is constant.

11 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the cooling section spirals around the longitudinal axis at pitch that varies.

12 . The cryosurgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the spiraling of the cooling section varies.

13 . A system comprising multiple ones of the cryosurgical instruments of claim 3 , wherein the instruments are clustered together along their lengths.

14 . A cryosurgical instrument having a substantially smooth, temperature conducting outer surface with an inner side, comprising:

a sharp tip at an end to facilitate penetration into tissue;

a manipulation section for positioning the instrument, at least a portion of the manipulation section extending along and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument, the manipulating section having insulation along at least a portion of its length;

a cooling section connected to the manipulation section, extending from the manipulation section to the tip, and having a helical configuration spiraling around the longitudinal axis;

one or more cryogen supply lines that supply cryogen to the instrument, each supply line delivering cryogen to one or more ports along a portion of a length thereof in the cooling section, at least one of the supply lines having a port at a distal end thereof proximal to the tip; and

a return fluid sleeve to permit exhaust of expanded gas from the instrument, the sleeve surrounding the one or more cryogen supply lines and bounded by the one or more cryogen supply lines and the inner side of the outer surface of the instrument so that fluid in the sleeve is in thermal communication with the inner side, the sleeve permitting cryogen from the one or more supply lines to cool the cooling section.

15 . A cryosurgical instrument having a substantially smooth, temperature conducting outer surface with an inner side, comprising:

a sharp tip at an end to facilitate penetration into tissue;

a cryogen supply line that delivers cryogen to a port at an end proximal to the tip;

a manipulation section for positioning the instrument, at least a portion of the manipulation section extending along and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument, the manipulating section having

insulation along at least a portion of a length thereof, and

a return fluid sleeve to permit exhaust of expanded gas from the instrument;

a cooling section connected to the manipulation section, extending from the manipulation section to the tip, and having

a helical configuration spiraling around the longitudinal axis, and

a barrier that is disposed only in the cooling section and spirals about the cryogen supply line, the barrier yielding a spiraling channel that is circumferentially disposed along the inner side of the outer surface, that is bounded by the cryogen supply line and the inner side of the outer surface of the instrument, and that interconnects the supply line to the a return gas sleeve, the barrier permitting cryogen exiting the port to cool the cooling section.

16 . A cryosurgical instrument having a substantially smooth, temperature conducting outer surface with an inner side, comprising:

a sharp tip at an end to facilitate penetration into tissue;

a cryogen supply line that delivers cryogen to a port at an end proximal to the tip;

a manipulation section for positioning the instrument, at least a portion of the manipulation section extending along and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument, the manipulating section having

insulation along at least a portion of a length thereof, and

a return fluid sleeve to permit exhaust of expanded gas from the instrument;

a cooling section connected to the manipulation section, extending from the manipulation section to the tip, and having

a helical configuration spiraling around the longitudinal axis, and

a core that is disposed only in the cooling section and that extends from the manipulating section to substantially near the tip,

wherein the cryogen supply line spirals around the core, and

wherein the spiraling of the cryogen supply line yields a spiraling channel that is circumferentially disposed along the inner side of the outer surface, that is bounded by the cryogen supply line and the inner side of the outer surface of the instrument, and that interconnects the supply line to the a return fluid sleeve, the spiraling channel permitting cryogen exiting the port to cool the cooling section.