Patents Assigned to CryoDynamics, LLC
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Publication number: 20140221991Abstract: A method of cooling a material including the steps of (i) providing a cryotherapy instrument, (ii) positioning a portion of the cryotherapy instrument adjacent the material to be cooled, and (iii) circulating a cryogenic fluid through the cryotherapy instrument under physical conditions near a critical point of a liquid-vapor system for the cryogenic fluid. The critical point defines a point in a phase diagram of the liquid-vapor system where molar volumes are substantially equivalent for liquid and gas, whereby vapor lock associated with cooling of the cryotherapy instrument is avoided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: CRYODYNAMICS, LLCInventors: PETER J. LITTRUP, ALEXEI V. BABKIN, ROBERT V. DUNCAN, PRAMOD KERKAR, SERGEY T. BOLDAREV
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Patent number: 8591503Abstract: A gas-based cryotherapy probe is provided with a shaft having a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body. A supply conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas towards the distal end, and a return conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas from the distal end. The gas is maintained at a lower pressure within the return conduit than in the supply conduit. A heat exchanger is disposed within the shaft in thermal communication with the supply conduit and return conduit to exchange heat from gas in the supply conduit to gas in the return conduit. A vacuum jacket is adapted to provide thermal isolation of the heat exchanger from the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Cryodynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert V. Duncan, Pramod Kerkar, Sergey T. Boldarev
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Patent number: 8387402Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Cryodynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Patent number: 7410484Abstract: A gas-based cryotherapy probe is provided with a shaft having a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body. A supply conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas towards the distal end, and a return conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas from the distal end. The gas is maintained at a lower pressure within the return conduit than in the supply conduit. A heat exchanger is disposed within the shaft in thermal communication with the supply conduit and return conduit to exchange heat from gas in the supply conduit to gas in the return conduit. A vacuum jacket is adapted to provide thermal isolation of the heat exchanger from the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: CryoDynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert V. Duncan, Pramod Kerkar, Sergey T. Boldarev
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Publication number: 20080173028Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: CRYODYNAMICS, LLCInventors: PETER J. LITTRUP, ALEXEI V. BABKIN, ROBERT DUNCAN, SERGEY BOLDAREV
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Publication number: 20080119836Abstract: A gas-based cryotherapy probe is provided with a shaft having a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body. A supply conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas towards the distal end, and a return conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas from the distal end. The gas is maintained at a lower pressure within the return conduit than in the supply conduit. A heat exchanger is disposed within the shaft in thermal communication with the supply conduit and return conduit to exchange heat from gas in the supply conduit to gas in the return conduit. A vacuum jacket is adapted to provide thermal isolation of the heat exchanger from the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2008Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: CRYODYNAMICS, LLCInventors: PETER LITTRUP, ALEXEI BABKIN, ROBERT DUNCAN, PRAMOD KERKAR, SERGEY BOLDAREV
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Patent number: 7273479Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Cryodynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Publication number: 20060235375Abstract: A cryotherapy system is provided with multiple cryoprobes, each of which has a shaft with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body and conduits for flowing a cryogenic fluid through the shaft to reduce a temperature of the distal end. A source is provided for the cryogenic fluid, and flow-control metering valves are provided in fluid communication with the conduits and source of the cryogenic fluid. A compressor is provided in fluid communication with the conduits of the cryoprobes to define a self-contained fluid system. The flow-control metering valves and the compressor are controlled by a computer processor to provide the desired flows of the cryogenic fluid through the conduits of the self-contained fluid system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2006Publication date: October 19, 2006Applicant: CRYODYNAMICS, LLCInventors: Peter Littrup, Alexei Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Patent number: 7083612Abstract: A cryotherapy system is provided with multiple cryoprobes, each of which has a shaft with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body and conduits for flowing a cryogenic fluid through the shaft to reduce a temperature of the distal end. A source is provided for the cryogenic fluid, and flow-control metering valves are provided in fluid communication with the conduits and source of the cryogenic fluid. A compressor is provided in fluid communication with the conduits of the cryoprobes to define a self-contained fluid system. The flow-control metering valves and the compressor are controlled by a computer processor to provide the desired flows of the cryogenic fluid through the conduits of the self-contained fluid system.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: CryoDynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergei Boldarov