Patent ID: 6527765
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical instrument for freezing and removing a mass of unwanted tissue from a patient's body, the surgical instrument comprising:an outer casing; an element having a distal section disposed between the outer casing, the element being coupled to a control system for causing movement of at least the distal section of the element, the element having a bore extending therethrough; and a cryoprobe received within the bore such that the cryoprobe is displaceable between an extended position where the cryoprobe extends beyond a distal end of the element and a retracted position where the cryoprobe is retracted within the bore, the cryoprobe for cooling the mass of unwanted tissue at a temperature sufficiently below the freezing point of the tissue and for a predetermined time period to form an ice mass which encompasses the mass of unwanted tissue and wherein upon activation, the element transfers energy to the ice mass to cause an interior of the ice mass that contains the cryosurgically treated unwanted tissue to break apart into smaller tissue pieces.