Abstract: A cryoablation tool has a primary fluid circuit for cryogenically cooling or heating tissue surrounding the distal portion of the cryoablation tool. The primary fluid circuit has a primary-primary heat exchanger facilitating recuperative heat exchange between a high pressure stream of a primary fluid and a low pressure stream of the primary fluid. The cryoablation tool has a secondary fluid circuit having a secondary-secondary heat exchanger for permitting recuperative heat exchange between a high pressure stream of a secondary fluid and a low pressure stream of the secondary fluid. The secondary fluid circuit also has a primary-secondary heat exchanger permitting heat exchange between the high pressure stream of the primary fluid and the low pressure stream of the secondary fluid.

Abstract: A cryoneedle comprises an outer tube having a distal section with a generally central gas supply line placed within the outer tube. The gas supply line supplies a cryogas for forming an iceball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section. The gas supply line terminates in an expansion chamber placed within the distal section. The cryoneedle comprises a heat exchange helix contacting the inner surface of the outer tube. The heat exchange helix has an increasing surface area per unit distance of the distal section such that the iceball has a generally symmetric shape.

Abstract: A cryoablation tool has a primary fluid circuit for cryogenically cooling or heating tissue surrounding the distal portion of the cryoablation tool. The primary fluid circuit has a primary-primary heat exchanger facilitating recuperative heat exchange between a high pressure stream of a primary fluid and a low pressure stream of the primary fluid. The cryoablation tool has a secondary fluid circuit having a secondary-secondary heat exchanger for permitting recuperative heat exchange between a high pressure stream of a secondary fluid and a low pressure stream of the secondary fluid. The secondary fluid circuit also has a primary-secondary heat exchanger permitting heat exchange between the high pressure stream of the primary fluid and the low pressure stream of the secondary fluid.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided surgical system is provided that includes one or more surgical tools having components configured to develop reactive effects when exposed to MR signals generated by the MRI system. The system includes a control system that can determine whether the MR system is generating MR signals, and if the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, mitigates the reactive effects of MR signals on components of the surgical tools. The system can include a cryoablation system with a cryoprobe having a probe shaft being made of a metallic material. If the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, the control system can electrically disconnect the cryoprobe and/or ignore electrical signals generated by the electric heater in response to exposure to MR signals, and/or initiate a cooling operation of the probe shaft, whereby the cooling operation.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided surgical system is provided that includes one or more surgical tools having components configured to develop reactive effects when exposed to MR signals generated by the MRI system. The system includes a control system that can determine whether the MR system is generating MR signals, and if the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, mitigates the reactive effects of MR signals on components of the surgical tools. The system can include a cryoablation system with a cryoprobe having a probe shaft being made of a metallic material. If the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, the control system can electrically disconnect the cryoprobe and/or ignore electrical signals generated by the electric heater in response to exposure to MR signals, and/or initiate a cooling operation of the probe shaft, whereby the cooling operation.

Abstract: A cryoablation tool has a primary fluid circuit for cryogenically cooling or heating tissue surrounding the distal portion of the cryoablation tool. The primary fluid circuit has a primary-primary heat exchanger facilitating recuperative heat exchange between a high pressure stream of a primary fluid and a low pressure stream of the primary fluid. The cryoablation tool has a secondary fluid circuit having a secondary-secondary heat exchanger for permitting recuperative heat exchange between a high pressure stream of a secondary fluid and a low pressure stream of the secondary fluid. The secondary fluid circuit also has a primary-secondary heat exchanger permitting heat exchange between the high pressure stream of the primary fluid and the low pressure stream of the secondary fluid.

Abstract: A cryoablation tool may include a catheter. The catheter may have a shaft having: a proximal end, a distal end, a shaft wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the shaft wall having an outer surface and an inner surface and a vacuum gap defined therebetween that forms a vacuum chamber, the inner surface of the shaft wall being gas permeable, a shaft lumen bounded by the inner surface of the shaft wall, the shaft lumen for carrying a cryogen gas, and the vacuum chamber having a proximal opening connectable to a vacuum source, the proximal opening establishing vacuum communication between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum source.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are directed towards apparatuses, systems, and methods that may include a cryoprobe. The cryoprobe may include an elongate shaft, which may further include a first passageway configured to provide high pressure gas to an expansion chamber, a second passageway for evacuating gas from an expansion chamber, and a vacuum chamber, an operating head including an expansion chamber, and an elongate stiffening element.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide miniaturized cryoprobes having shaft diameters up to 2 mm and including a stiffening element that may act as a grip for manipulation of the cryoprobe. Various aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed towards apparatuses, systems, and methods that may include a cryoprobe: In certain instances, the cryoprobe may include an elongate shaft and an operating head having an expansion chamber. The elongate shaft may include a first passageway configured to provide high pressure gas to the expansion chamber, a second passageway for evacuating gas from the expansion chamber, and a vacuum chamber coaxially arranged around the first passageway and the second passageway.

Abstract: A cryoneedle comprises an outer tube having a distal section with a generally central gas supply line placed within the outer tube. The gas supply line supplies a cryogas for forming an iceball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section. The gas supply line terminates in an expansion chamber placed within the distal section. The cryoneedle comprises a heat exchange helix contacting the inner surface of the outer tube. The heat exchange helix has an increasing surface area per unit distance of the distal section such that the iceball has a generally symmetric shape.

Abstract: A cryoneedle comprises an outer tube having a distal section with a generally central gas supply line placed within the outer tube. The gas supply line supplies a cryogas for forming an iceball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section. The gas supply line terminates in an expansion chamber placed within the distal section. The cryoneedle comprises a heat exchange helix contacting the inner surface of the outer tube. The heat exchange helix has an increasing surface area per unit distance of the distal section such that the iceball has a generally symmetric shape.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided surgical system is provided that includes one or more surgical tools having components configured to develop reactive effects when exposed to MR signals generated by the MRI system. The system includes a control system that can determine whether the MR system is generating MR signals, and if the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, mitigates the reactive effects of MR signals on components of the surgical tools. The system can include a cryoablation system with a cryoprobe having a probe shaft being made of a metallic material. If the control system determines that the MR system is generating MR signals, the control system can electrically disconnect the cryoprobe and/or ignore electrical signals generated by the electric heater in response to exposure to MR signals, and/or initiate a cooling operation of the probe shaft, whereby the cooling operation.

Abstract: A cryoprobe is disclosed comprising a probe shaft made of a low magnetic susceptibility material and an electrical resistance heater comprising counter-wound helical coils located within the probe shaft. The counter-wound helical coils are formed by a single wire counter-wound to form a first set of coils wound in a direction counter to a second set of coils, such that when current is supplied to the electrical resistance heater, a first magnetic field generated by the first set of coils is opposite to a second magnetic field generated by the second set of coils. The electrical resistance heater can heat, thaw, and/or cauterize tissue. The electrical resistance heater can be made of a low magnetic susceptibility material so as to resistively heat tissue concurrently during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A method of electrically heating a tissue in conjunction with MRI, and a method of imaging a cryoprobe using MRI is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cryoneedle comprises an outer tube having a distal section with a generally central gas supply line placed within the outer tube. The gas supply line supplies a cryogas for forming an iceball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section. The gas supply line terminates in an expansion chamber placed within the distal section. The cryoneedle comprises a heat exchange helix contacting the inner surface of the outer tube. The heat exchange helix has an increasing surface area per unit distance of the distal section such that the iceball has a generally symmetric shape.

Abstract: A closed-loop system for cryosurgery includes a cryofluid at cryogenic temperatures flowing through a closed-loop flow path. A pump, configured for operating at cryogenic temperatures, circulates the cryofluid in the closed-loop flow path. The closed-loop flow path includes a heat exchanger coupled to a heat sink configured for cooling the cryofluid in the closed-loop flow path to cryogenic temperatures. The closed-loop system includes one or more cryoneedles configured for providing cryotherapy, and one or more flow control devices, wherein each flow control device is configured for operating at cryogenic temperature and for selectively flow connecting or flow disconnecting at least one of the cryoneedles to the closed-loop flow path.

Abstract: A closed-loop system for cryosurgery includes a cryofluid at cryogenic temperatures flowing through a closed-loop flow path. A pump, configured for operating at cryogenic temperatures, circulates the cryofluid in the closed-loop flow path. The closed-loop flow path includes a heat exchanger coupled to a heat sink configured for cooling the cryofluid in the closed-loop flow path to cryogenic temperatures. The closed-loop system includes one or more cryoneedles configured for providing cryotherapy, and one or more flow control devices, wherein each flow control device is configured for operating at cryogenic temperature and for selectively flow connecting or flow disconnecting at least one of the cryoneedles to the closed-loop flow path.

Abstract: A treatment system includes a regulator implanted within a patient, a computing device storing at least one patient database associated with the patient in whom the regulator is implanted, and a data transfer device. The data transfer device provides bi-directional communication (e.g., voice communication) and a data exchange (e.g., a treatment history, a patient database, and operational instructions) between the regulator and the computing device. A programmer can obtain patient reports and/or default treatment values from the computing device based on the data exchange.

Abstract: A treatment system includes a regulator implanted within a patient, a computing device storing at least one patient database associated with the patient in whom the regulator is implanted, and a data transfer device. The data transfer device provides bi-directional communication (e.g., voice communication) and a data exchange (e.g., a treatment history, a patient database, and operational instructions) between the regulator and the computing device. A programmer can obtain patient reports and/or default treatment values from the computing device based on the data exchange.

Abstract: A flexible cryoneedle usable within a medical scope that is both substantially flexible for maneuvering and positioning a distal end thereof proximate to a soft tissue and substantially rigid for penetrating the tissue. A generally concentric cryogas supply tube within the flexible cryoneedle comprises a helical heat exchange surface on an outside surface thereof, wherein the helical heat exchange surface defines a helical exhaust passage for the cryogas entering the cryogas supply tube and expanding through a Joule-Thomson orifice into an expansion chamber at the distal end of the flexible cryoneedle.

Abstract: A method for concurrently displaying on an interactive user interface the various operating parameters and status of the components of a cryosurgical system during a cryosurgical procedure. The interactive user interface enables a cryosurgical system operator to manipulate the operating parameters and reconfigure the display.