CRYOABLATION DEVICES INCLUDING ECHOGENIC FEATURES, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A cryogenic probe includes a body having an active region configured to be inserted within a treatment region of a patient. The active region is defined by one or more internal passages configured to receive a flow of cryogenic fluid. The cryogenic probe body comprises one or more echogenic features on an exterior surface of the cryogenic probe body. The echogenic features are positioned to visually identify at least a portion of the active region under imaging. Disclosed devices, systems, and methods relate to cryoablation and imaging of treatment regions and cryogenic probes.
1 . A cryogenic probe, comprising:
a body having a length;
an active region of the body, the active region being configured for insertion within a treatment region of a patient, the active region comprising one or more internal passages configured to receive a flow of cryogenic fluid; and
one or more echogenic features on an exterior surface of the body of the cryogenic probe, the one or more echogenic features being positioned to visually define at least a portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe under imaging.
2 . The cryogenic probe of claim 1 , wherein the one or more echogenic features comprise a first echogenic feature proximate a midpoint of a length of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe, a second echogenic feature proximate a proximal portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe, and a third echogenic feature proximate a distal portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe.
3 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , wherein the second echogenic feature and the third echogenic feature are equidistant from the first echogenic feature.
4 . The cryogenic probe of claim 3 , wherein the active region of the cryogenic probe comprises a distal, uninsulated portion of the body of the cryogenic probe.
5 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , wherein a proximal end portion of the second echogenic feature is aligned with a proximal end of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe and a distal end portion of the third echogenic feature is aligned with a distal end of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe.
6 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , wherein the first echogenic feature has a first width and the second and third echogenic features each have a second width different from the first width, the first width being less than the second width.
7 . (canceled)
8 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , wherein the first echogenic feature has a first pattern and the second and third echogenic features each have a second pattern different from the first pattern.
9 . The cryogenic probe of claim 8 , wherein one or more of a shape, density, or size of the first pattern differs from a shape, density, or size of the second pattern.
10 . The cryogenic probe of claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal passages comprise a helical shape within at least a portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe.
11 . The cryogenic probe of claim 1 , wherein the one or more echogenic features comprise a pattern etched into the exterior surface of the cryogenic probe.
12 . The cryogenic probe of claim 8 , wherein the pattern comprises a repeating pattern of recessed dot elements.
13 . A cryosurgery system, comprising:
a cryogenic probe configured to be inserted within a treatment region of a patient, a body of the cryogenic probe having at least one echogenic feature on an exterior surface of the body, the at least one echogenic feature being configured to assist positioning of the cryogenic probe under imaging;
a cryogenic fluid supply; and
a cryogenic fluid supply line configured to provide a flow of cryogenic fluid to the cryogenic probe.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the body of the cryogenic probe comprises an active region having one or more interior passages configured to receive a flow of cryogenic fluid, and wherein the at least one echogenic feature is located along at least a portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe. Claims 15 .- 18 . (canceled)
19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one echogenic feature comprises a first echogenic feature positioned at a midpoint of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe and second and third echogenic features positioned at respective ends of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the first echogenic feature has a first pattern and the second and third echogenic features each have a second pattern different from the first pattern.
21 . (canceled)
22 . A method of ablating a target tissue, comprising:
inserting a cryogenic probe into a treatment region of a patient, the cryogenic probe comprising a body having an active region and one or more echogenic features on an exterior surface of the body of the cryogenic probe, the one or more echogenic features being positioned to visually define at least a portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe;
imaging the treatment region and the cryogenic probe;
displaying an image of the one or more echogenic features on the body of the cryogenic probe and the treatment region on a display device; and
positioning the cryogenic probe within the treatment region based on the display of the one or more echogenic features and the treatment region.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein imaging the treatment region comprises imaging a target tissue present in the treatment region.
24 . (canceled)
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein positioning the cryogenic probe within the treatment region comprises positioning the cryogenic probe based on a location of the one or more echogenic features relative to the target tissue.
26 . (canceled)
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more echogenic features comprise first and second echogenic features positioned at respective ends of an active region of the body of the cryogenic probe, and wherein moving the body of the cryogenic probe to position the target tissue adjacent to the one or more echogenic features includes centering the target tissue between the first and second echogenic features along the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe.
28 . (canceled)
29 . (canceled)
30 . The method of claim 22 any one of claims 22 - 29 , further comprising
flowing a cryogenic fluid through passages defining an active region of the cryogenic probe, and
freezing a target tissue within the treatment region via the cryogenic fluid flowing through the passages in the active portion of the cryogenic probe.
31 . (canceled)