Granted Patent B2

US 12,527,613 · App. 18/464,309 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Inventors: Naum Muchnik (Yokneam Illit, IL); Ron Hilleli (Zichron Yaacov, IL); Adir Weiser (Nofit, IL); Adir Gadyukov (Haifa, IL)

Assignee: IceCure Medical Ltd.

A61B18/02A61B2018/00041A61B2018/00577A61B2018/00821A61B2018/0262A61B2018/0293

Abstract

Claims (36)

1 . Apparatus, comprising:

a probe comprising a probe distal end having an external surface configured to contact tissue of a patient when the probe distal end is inserted therein;

a heater, located in the probe distal end;

a temperature sensor, located in the probe distal end;

a gas inlet, coupled to the probe distal end and configured to provide gas thereto; and

a controller, configured, while the heater is activated:

to register a first time when a temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds a preset temperature,

in response to the temperature equaling or exceeding the preset temperature, to deliver a pulse of gas through the gas inlet so as to cool the probe distal end,

to register a second time, subsequent to the first time, when the temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds the preset temperature, and

in response to a time difference between the second time and the first time, to estimate a temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , and comprising a cryogen inlet, coupled to the probe distal end and configured to transfer cryogenic fluid thereto.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the gas inlet and the cryogen inlet comprise a common tube, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the common tube as the gas inlet during a first period of time, and to operate the common tube as the cryogen inlet during a second period of time different from the first period of time.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gas is input to the probe as room temperature gas.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the room temperature gas comprises exhaust gas derived from cryogen fluid transferred to the distal end.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple junction located between the heater and an internal surface of the probe distal end.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the time difference and the temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end are related by a monotonic decreasing function.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the monotonic decreasing function comprises a linear function.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pulse of gas is delivered until the temperature measured by the sensor equals a further preset temperature, lower than the preset temperature.

10 . A method, comprising:

providing a probe comprising a probe distal end having an external surface configured to contact tissue of a patient when the probe distal end is inserted therein;

locating a heater in the probe distal end;

locating a temperature sensor in the probe distal end;

coupling a gas inlet to the probe distal end, wherein the gas inlet is configured to provide gas to the probe distal end;

activating the heater, and, while the heater is activated:

registering a first time when a temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds a preset temperature,

in response to the temperature equaling or exceeding the preset temperature, delivering a pulse of gas through the gas inlet so as to cool the probe distal end,

registering a second time, subsequent to the first time, when the temperature measured by the sensor equals or exceeds the preset temperature, and

in response to a time difference between the second time and the first time, estimating a temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , and comprising coupling a cryogen inlet to the probe distal end, and configuring the cryogen inlet to transfer cryogenic fluid to the probe distal end.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the gas inlet and the cryogen inlet comprise a common tube, the method comprising operating the common tube as the gas inlet during a first period of time, and operating the common tube as the cryogen inlet during a second period of time different from the first period of time.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the gas is input to the probe as room temperature gas.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the room temperature gas comprises exhaust gas derived from cryogen fluid transferred to the distal end.

15 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple junction located between the heater and an internal surface of the probe distal end.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the time difference and the temperature of the external surface of the probe distal end are related by a monotonic decreasing function.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the monotonic decreasing function comprises a linear function.

18 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the pulse of gas is delivered until the temperature measured by the sensor equals a further preset temperature, lower than the preset temperature.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (400)