Patent ID: 6575966
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A catheter comprising:an elongate catheter body, a cooling chamber defined within the catheter body, an expandable member disposed around the cooling chamber to define an interstitial space therebetween; wherein the cooling chamber is a first expandable membrane inflatable from a first state to a second state; wherein the catheter body further comprises a coolant injection tube in fluid communication with: (i) a source of coolant, and (ii) the cooling chamber, and wherein the cooling chamber is inflatable by the flow of coolant from the injection tube into the first expandable membrane;wherein the catheter body further comprises a primary coolant return lumen in fluid communication with: (i) a source of fluid evacuation, and (ii) the cooling chamber, and wherein the coolant injection tube, the cooling chamber, and the primary coolant return lumen define a first fluid pathway for the flow of coolant; andwherein the catheter body further comprises a secondary coolant return lumen in fluid communication with: (i) a source of fluid evacuation, and (ii) the interstitial space, and wherein the interstitial space and the secondary coolant return lumen define a second fluid pathway for the flow of coolant.