Patent ID: 6547784
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for facilitating surgery within a body cavity using a cryoprobe having a proximal portion and a probe portion extending therefrom for insertion into the body cavity, comprising:a positioning assembly for positioning a distal end of the probe portion within the body cavity at a selected position relative thereto, said positioning assembly having a positioning element which can assume a retracted position to allow insertion of said positioning assembly within the body cavity and a deployed position in which said positioning element is displaced radially outward relative to said retracted position and relative to an axis of the probe portion when the probe portion is inserted in the body cavity, said positioning element capable of contacting an interior surface of the body cavity to move the probe portion away from the interior surface when said positioning element is deployed; a tubular probe sheath with a lumen and a blind distal end, said probe sheath adapted to accommodate the probe portion of the cryoprobe therein and supporting a distal end of said positioning element in the retracted and deployed positions; an actuator for moving a proximal end of said positioning element relative to said probe sheath to deploy and retract said positioning element, said positioning element being in greater overall proximity to said probe sheath when in the retracted position to facilitate inserting said positioning assembly in the body cavity and diverging therefrom to a greater degree when in the deployed position.