Patent ID: 9408655
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A cryoablation method for applying cryoenergy to tissue comprising the steps of: driving a liquid refrigerant along a first flowpath through a first cryoprobe having an energy delivery distal section, wherein said liquid refrigerant remains in a liquid-only state along the first flowpath; positioning said energy delivery distal section of said first cryoprobe in a vicinity of said tissue; transferring cryoenergy to said tissue to freeze said tissue through a first heat exchange area extending along said energy delivery distal section of said first cryoprobe; and wherein said first heat exchange area includes only one tubular-shaped outermost wall defining a passageway for accommodating the liquid refrigerant being transported through the energy delivery distal section, and said one tubular-shaped outermost wall further comprises an exterior surface formed of a discrete surface area enhancing structure extending radially and outwardly therefrom defining peaks and valleys along the exterior surface of the one tubular-shaped outermost wall, thereby increasing the surface area of the first heat exchange area along the energy delivery distal section of the first cryoprobe and wherein the first flowpath commences at a refrigerant source, continues through the first cryoprobe, through the energy delivery distal section, and returns to one of the refrigerant source or a reservoir, and wherein the refrigerant remains in the liquid only state during an entire first flowpath and during the step of transferring cryoenergy to the tissue.