Patent ID: 6905493
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A catheter for cryoablating tissue which comprises: a catheter tube having a proximal end and a distal end; a straightening member; a cryotip formed with a fluid lumen, and a configuration lumen, and a tip portion, said cryotip being attached to and extending distally from said distal end of said catheter tube, with said cryotip being reconfigurable between a straight configuration when said straightening member is inserted into said configuration lumen and a spiral configuration when said straightening member is removed therefrom to reconfigure said cryotip in the spiral configuration and position said cryotip against tissue to be cryoablated, and wherein said tip portion is formed with an expansion chamber in fluid communication with said fluid lumen for receiving a refrigerant fluid and for allowing the refrigerant fluid to expand in said expansion chamber to cool said cryotip; and a means for introducing the refrigerant fluid through said fluid lumen of said cryotip to said tip portion to cool said cryotip for cryoablation of the tissue.