Abstract: A cryosurgical instrument that includes: an external shaft with a cryotip; a heat exchanger that cools a portion of the external shaft and the tip when cryogen is received thereby; and a flow diverter that receives a flow of cryogen, that splits the received flow of cryogen into two or more split cryogen flows, and that delivers the split cryogen flows to the heat exchanger, the flow diverter including a first passage with one or more inlet ports at an upstream side of the diverter that receive the flow of cryogen and two or more outlet ports at a downstream side of the diverter and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A cryosurgical instrument that is selectively positioned in a patient tissue by rotation. The instrument includes: a manipulation section that permits a user to rotate the instrument; a cryogen supply portion; and a positioning section having a sharp tip at an end and a helical configuration, the positioning section configured to receive cryogen and to permit the received cryogen to cool the positioning section. The positioning section urges the cryosurgical instrument deeper into the patient when the instrument is rotated in a first direction, via the manipulation section, and urges the cryosurgical instrument outward when the instrument is rotated in a second direction that is opposite the first, via the manipulation section.