CRYOPROBES AND RELATED METHODS

1 . A cryogenic probe, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft disposed distally on the handle, the shaft comprising a generally rigid proximal portion and a generally malleable distal portion; and

an active tip disposed distally on the shaft;

wherein the shaft comprises a supply conduit configured to supply a cryogenic fluid to the active tip through a nozzle disposed distally on the supply conduit, an exhaust conduit configured to exhaust spent cryogenic fluid from the active tip, and a vacuum insulating layer disposed around the supply conduit and the exhaust conduit, wherein the nozzle includes a lumen having a geometric configuration selected from one of a square, a rectangle, or a triangle.

2 . The cryogenic probe of claim 1 ,

wherein the shaft comprises a shell at least partially defining a radially outer aspect of the vacuum insulating layer;

wherein the exhaust conduit at least partially defines a radially inner aspect of the vacuum insulating layer.

3 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , wherein the supply conduit, the exhaust conduit, and the shell are concentrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

4 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , further comprising a tubular thermal barrier element disposed within the vacuum insulating layer and radially between the exhaust conduit and the shell.

5 . The cryogenic probe of claim 4 , wherein the thermal barrier element is constructed of at least one of a ceramic, a fiberglass, an elastomer, a foam, silicon, carbon fiber, and a composite.

6 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 ,

further comprising a distal end cap providing a sealed connection between the shell and the exhaust conduit;

wherein the distal end cap comprises a sealing portion, the sealing portion comprising an internal bore configured to receive the exhaust conduit therein and at least one external circumferential surface configured to receive the shell.

7 . The cryogenic probe of claim 6 , wherein:

the distal end cap is configured to engage the active tip;

the active tip comprises a threaded portion; and

the end cap comprises distal threads configured to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the active tip.

8 . The cryogenic probe of claim 6 , wherein:

the distal end cap is configured to engage the active tip;

the active cap and the distal end cap are sealingly connected using at least one of a weld filler, a solder, and a braze filler.

9 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , further comprising a proximal end cap comprising an elongated proximal portion extending within the handle.

10 . The cryogenic probe of claim 9 ,

further comprising an adapter fluidically coupled to the proximal end cap;

wherein the adapter converts a distal tube-in-tube arrangement of the supply conduit and exhaust conduit into a proximal side-by-side arrangement.

11 . The cryogenic probe of claim 2 , further comprising an outermost insulating cover disposed around the shell.

12 . A cryogenic surgical system, comprising

the cryoprobe of claim 1 ; and

a cryosurgical module configured to at least one of supply the cryogenic fluid to the cryoprobe and receive the spent cryogenic fluid from the cryoprobe.

13 . The cryogenic probe of claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises at least one visible indicium configured to function as a visual aid during operation.

14 . The cryogenic probe of claim 1 , wherein the at least one visible indicium comprises at least one circumferential band of contrasting color disposed on the shaft.

15 . A cryogenic probe, comprising

a handle;

an insulated shaft disposed distally on the handle; and

an active tip disposed distally on the shaft;

wherein the shaft comprises, from radially outside to radially inside, an outer covering, a shell, a thermal barrier, an exhaust conduit, and a supply conduit;

wherein the supply conduit terminates at a nozzle that includes a lumen having a geometric configuration selected from one of a square, a rectangle, or a triangle.

16 . The cryogenic probe of claim 15 , wherein the outer covering, the shell, the thermal barrier, the exhaust conduit, and the supply conduit are concentrically arranged.

17 . The cryogenic probe of claim 15 , wherein the shell and the exhaust conduit at least partially define a vacuum insulating jacket comprising the thermal barrier.

18 . The cryogenic probe of claim 17 , wherein the vacuum insulating jacket includes a thermal barrier material.

19 . The cryogenic probe of claim 15 , wherein the shaft comprises a generally rigid proximal portion and a generally malleable distal portion.

20 . A method of fabricating a cryosurgical probe, the method comprising:

deforming a nozzle to include an opening comprising a geometric shape other than circular;

incorporating the nozzle as part of a cryogenic supply conduit configured to deliver cryogenic fluid through the nozzle; and

mounting the cryogenic supply conduit and nozzle within a cryogenic lumen, where the cryogenic lumen terminates near a thermal application zone of the cryosurgical probe.