Patent ID: 9283110
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: A61F,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A catheter, comprising: an inner sleeve through which refrigerant can circulate to and from a source of refrigerant; an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve including a distal end thereof and filled with a frozen biocompatible substance, the refrigerant being separated from the biocompatible substance by one or more walls of the inner sleeve such that when the catheter is disposed in a patient, the refrigerant is isolated from the patient by both the inner sleeve and the frozen biocompatible substance, the refrigerant circulable through the catheter when the catheter is positioned in the patient to maintain the biocompatible substance frozen as heat is transferred from the patient to the biocompatible substance; and at least one refrigerant sensor positioned between the inner and outer sleeves, the refrigerant sensor communicating with a control system engaged with the catheter and responsive to detecting refrigerant between the inner and outer sleeves, generating a signal to the control system for causing the control system to activate an audible and/or visual alarm.