Patent ID: 7422583
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. Cryosurgical apparatus comprising an elongate cryoprobe having a proximal end, a distal end, a cooling portion adapted to be positioned in tissue to be treated and operative to cool tissue to form an ice ball in such tissue upon activation, and an electrically conductive first portion, an energy conducting element coupled to said cryoprobe and having an electrically conductive second portion in a region spaced from said first portion, electrical insulation interposed between said first portion and said second portion, and a source of electromagnetic energy operatively connected to one of said first portion and second portion operable to produce heating of tissue in the region of said iceball to control the configuration of the iceball, and the other of said first and second portions is connected to electrical ground, and an electrically conductive grounding needle which is adapted to be positioned in tissue spaced laterally from said cryoprobe and connected to electrical ground to provide further control of configuration of the iceball.