Therapeutic cryoablation system
View Patent ↗A cryoablation system has a gas source which provides a working gas at room temperature and at a constant set pressure. The system also includes a liquid generator which is coupled to the gas source to receive the working gas, and which then generates a working cryogen fluid in a liquid phase that operates at a temperature and pressure that lies on its Joule-Thomson Inversion Curve, with the Joule-Thomson coefficient maintained within the range 0.00±0.08 degrees F./Atmosphere. The system also includes a catheter coupled to the liquid generator for receiving the working cryogen, the catheter having a distal section which delivers the working cryogen to a treatment location.
1. A cryoablation system, comprising:
a gas source which provides a working nitrogen gas at room temperature and at a constant set pressure;
a liquid generator which is coupled to the gas source to receive the working gas, the liquid generator configured to generate a working cryogen fluid in a liquid phase that operates at a temperature and pressure that lies on its Joule-Thomson Inversion Curve, with a Joule-Thomson coefficient maintained within the range 0.00±0.08 degrees F./Atmosphere; and
a catheter coupled to the liquid generator for receiving the working cryogen, the catheter having a distal section which delivers the working cryogen to a treatment location.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid generator includes a storage tank that contains a cryogenic refrigerant for cooling the working gas.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein vaporized cryogen gas from the storage tank is used to cool the incoming working gas.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the working gas is also cooled by the working cryogen that is returned from the catheter.
5. The system of claim 1 , further including a vacuum pump for providing thermal/vacuum insulation.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the vacuum pump evacuates unwanted gas leakage from the catheter.
7. The system of claim 1 , further including a leakage monitoring and detection system that includes an automated purge and shutdown procedure.
8. The system of claim 1 , further including a thaw module that thaws the catheter, the thaw module operating to thaw the catheter by using either room temperature, or room temperature combined with a heater.