Patent ID: 6383180
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A coolant system for providing cryoablation fluid to a cryotreatment probe such as a mapping or ablation catheter, wherein the coolant system comprisesa tank for holding a coolant liquid, said tank having an inlet and an outlet a pressure regulator for reducing pressure of liquid from the outlet for facilitating phase change of said liquid a heat exchanger for placing a catheter coolant injection line in heat exchange relation with said reduced pressure liquid to thereby cool the coolant injection line a compressor, and a condenser, the reduced pressure liquid passing through the condenser and into the compressor to form a hot pressurized vapor output the hot pressurized vapor output passing through the condenser along said injection line to become a cooled pressurized output while vaporizing the reduced pressure liquid prior to its entry into the compressor, and pressure regulation means downstream of the condenser, said pressure regulation means building up pressure of said cooled pressurized output in a first branch for returning coolant to the tank inlet, and conditioning and controlling the coolant in a second branch for injection into the cryotreatment probe.