Abstract: A system for selectively cooling and warming a cryosurgical instrument using a dual phase cryogen, including: two sources of the cryogen, a first source storing liquid phase cryogen and having a first source heater therein that selectively converts at least some of the liquid phase cryogen into gaseous phase cryogen and a second source storing the gaseous phase cryogen; a cryogen delivery control section selectively delivering cryogen to the tip; a cryogen return path from the tip to the first and second sources; a cryogen return control section that includes a pump that pumps the returning cryogen to the second source; and a pressure control section including a first pressure sensor that senses a pressure in the first source, a second pressure sensor that senses a pressure in the second source, and a pressure regulator that regulates the pressure of the first source based on information from the pressure sensors.

Abstract: A device for removing hair is disclosed. The device comprises a container, filled with an impedance matching medium, and an ultrasound transducer element coupled to the container, such that ultrasound waves are generated by the transducer element in the impedance matching medium. The device further comprises a hair receiving element having at least one opening for receiving hair shafts, wherein a height of the opening is approximately an integer multiplication of half a wavelength of the ultrasound waves.

Abstract: A device for applying vibrations to hair rooted in a body, includes: a pair of tongs having hair-gripping ends capable of being driven into high-frequency vibrations with respect to each other; and a transducer coupled to at least one of the tongs for converting an AC voltage to mechanical vibrations for driving the hair-gripping end into vibrations with respect to generate sufficient heat within the body to facilitate removal of the unwanted hair. The transducer is preferably a piezoelectric element which vibrates the hair at a frequency of 100-500 KHz, preferably 100-350 KHz, and produces a displacement of 5-20 microns.

Abstract: Cryosurgical instruments and methods utilizing improved heat transfer characteristics. A cryosurgical device includes: a tubular housing; a cryogen supply passage; a heat exchange enhancing member in the housing, disposed along a longitudinal axis of the housing; an annular cooling passage between the heat exchange enhancing member and the tubular housing; a tip cooling and cryogen flow directing section that transmits a temperature of a cryogen flow to the tip, and an insulation element in the tubular housing.

Abstract: The present invention is of a system and method for accurate cryoablation, useable to enhance a surgeon's ability to accurately cryoablate a selected cryoablation target and to limit cryoablation to that selected target. Presented are apparatus and method for accurately delimiting a cryoablation volume, for minimizing damage to tissues surrounding a cryoablation volume, and for real-time visualization of a border of a cryoablation volume during cryoablation. Also presented are a method for mildly heating tissues during cryoablation, cryoprobes operable to simultaneously cool first tissues while heating second tissues, and cryoprobes operable to cool tissues extending in a first lateral direction from those probes while not substantially cooling tissues extending in a second lateral direction from those probes.

Abstract: A cryosurgical system featuring both cooling and heating utilizing a single type of cryogen but from two different sources. The liquid cryogen cools the tip of a cryosurgical instrument in the cryosurgical system, such as a cryoprobe or cryocatheter. The gaseous cryogen is further heated by a heating element, preferably an electrical heating element, supplying the heating needed for the thaw and release parts of the cryo treatment procedure. Thus, the cryosurgical system supports the freeze/thaw cycle of the operation of the cryosurgical instrument.

Abstract: The present invention is of systems and methods for MRI-guided cryosurgery. The systems enable a surgeon positioned next to a patient and within an MRI magnetic environment both to monitor progress of a cryosurgical intervention by observing MRI images of the intervention in real time, and to fully control aspects of operation of a cryosurgery apparatus by remotely controlling a fluid supply source positioned external to that magnetic environment, which fluid supply source supplies cryogenic fluids to cryoprobes operable within that magnetic environment, thereby enabling real-time MRI-guided control of a cryoablation process.

Abstract: The present invention is of device, system, and method for cooling and heating an operating tip of a cryoprobe using a single source of compressed gas. Cooling of the operating tip is effected by Joule-Thomson expansion of a high-pressure cooling gas through a Joule-Thomson orifice into an expansion chamber. Heating of the operating tip is effected by electrical resistance heating. In preferred embodiments, heating of the operating tip is effected by electrical resistance heating of low-pressure gas flowing towards the operating tip. Preferably, gas from a single gas source is supplied to the probe during both cooling and heating phases, a cooling gas being supplied at high pressure when used for cooling and at low pressure when used for heating. Low-pressure gas supplied during the heating phase is heated as it flows towards the operating tip, preferably by electrical resistance heating within the body of the probe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for three-dimensional guidance and monitoring of a cryotherapy procedure, including virtually performing the procedure.

Abstract: Combined brachytherapy and ablation devices and methods. A combined brachytherapy and cryotherapy method, includes: inserting an ablation device into tissue of a subject; ablating tissue within an ablation zone of the device; detaching and removing a first part of the device while leaving a second part of the device in the tissue, the first part contacting the ablation zone; and inserting a brachytherapy rod into the second part of the device when the second part is detached from the first part, the brachytherapy rod connected to base at one end and retaining at least one radioactive seed at an opposing end, the brachytherapy rod configured and dimensioned so that when it is inserted into the device up to the base, the at least one radioactive seed is in the ablation zone.

Abstract: A device for uniform ablation of the endometrium comprises a transparent inflatable coolable balloon, flexible cryoprobes operable to be advanced into the uterine cornuae, an applicator operable to deliver balloon and cryoprobes to and from the uterine cavity, and optional channels for a hysteroscope and a light source, enabling observation of the uterine cavity during device insertion and observation of the endometrium during various stages of the ablation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for thermally ablating uterine fibroids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a conduit having a plurality of channels for delivering a plurality of thermal ablation probes to an organic target such as a uterine fibroid, the probes being delivered in such configuration and orientation as to enable efficient and thorough ablation of the fibroid. In a preferred embodiment, the conduit is formed as a sleeve having a large central lumen sized to accommodate a hysteroscope, channels sized to accommodate cryoprobes are used as thermal ablation probes, and comprises thermal insulation materials serving to protect the cervix from damage by cold. The present invention further relates to bent cryoprobes usable in conjunction with such a conduit and designed to exit therefrom in a desired configuration useful for ablating a large fibroid.

Abstract: A device for uniform ablation of the endometrium comprises a transparent inflatable coolable balloon, flexible cryoprobes operable to be advanced into the uterine cornuae, an applicator operable to deliver balloon and cryoprobes to and from the uterine cavity, and optional channels for a hysteroscope and a light source, enabling observation of the uterine cavity during device insertion and observation of the endometrium during various stages of the ablation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for rendering visible to a cryosurgeon an estimated border of a cryoablation volume, thereby facilitating accurately delimited cryoablation of pathological tissues. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for reading temperature and location information from images provided by imaging modalities and optionally from thermal sensors, inferring from that information the three-dimensional shape and position of a volume of tissue considered reliably cryoablated, and presenting this shape and position information to a cryosurgeon by integrating a visual model of that information with one or more images derived from standard imaging modalities, and displaying for a cryosurgeon that integrated image.

Abstract: The present invention is of systems and methods for MI-guided cryosurgery. The systems enable a surgeon positioned next to a patient and within an MRI, magnetic environment both to monitor progress of a cryosurgical intervention by observing MRI images of the intervention in real time, and to fully control aspects of operation of a cryosurgery Apparatus by remotely controlling a fluid supply source positioned external to that magnetic environment, which fluid supplies cryogenic fluids to cryoprobes operable within that magnetic environment, thereby enabling real-time MRI-guided control of a cryoablation process. A preferred embodiment enables calculation and display of borders of an ablation volume surrounding a cooled cryoprobe in real time, and, further enables automatic control of elements of a cryoablation procedure, which elements are triggered when shape and position of that calculated ablation volume are found to bear a predefined relationship to the shape and position of a predefined treatment target.

Abstract: The present invention is of device, system, and method for cooling and heating an operating tip of a cryoprobe using a single source of compressed gas. Cooling of the operating tip is effected by Joule-Thomson expansion of a high-pressure cooling gas through a Joule-Thomson orifice into an expansion chamber. Heating of the operating tip is effected by electrical resistance heating. In preferred embodiments, heating of the operating tip is effected by electrical resistance heating of low-pressure gas flowing towards the operating tip. Preferably, gas from a single gas source is supplied to the probe during both cooling and heating phases, a cooling gas being supplied at high pressure when used for cooling and at low pressure when used for heating. Low-pressure gas supplied during the heating phase is heated as it flows towards the operating tip, preferably by electrical resistance heating within the body of the probe.

Abstract: The present invention is of system, device, and method for detection, localization, and characterization of plaque-induced stenosis of a blood vessel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a balloon catheter having an expandable balloon insertable into a blood vessel, which balloon comprises a plurality of pressure sensors operable to detect stenosis of the vessel, and further operable to report degrees of compressibility of stenotic regions of plaque within the vessel, thereby distinguishing between standard and vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: The present invention is of a system and method for accurate cryoablation, useable to enhance a surgeon's ability to accurately cryoablate a selected cryoablation target and to limit cryoablation to that selected target. Presented are apparatus and method for accurately delimiting a cryoablation volume, for minimizing damage to tissues surrounding a cryoablation volume, and for real-time visualization of a border of a cryoablation volume during cryoablation. Also presented are a method for mildly heating tissues during cryoablation, cryoprobes operable to simultaneously cool first tissues while heating second tissues, and cryoprobes operable to cool tissues extending in a first lateral direction from those probes while not substantially cooling tissues extending in a second lateral direction from those probes.