Patent ID: 7167741
Filing Date: 2007-01-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for effecting treatment in a patient comprising: identifying a volume in the patient the whole of which volume is to be heated to a required temperature, the volume being defined by a peripheral surface of the volume; heating the volume within the patient by: wherein applying heat to the selected segment causes heat to be transferred from the segment into parts of the volume outside the segment surrounding the end of the probe; and cooling the end of the probe so as to extract heat from the parts surrounding the probe by conduction of heat therefrom wherein cooling the distal end of the probe so as to extract heat from the parts surrounding the probe by conduction of heat therefrom comprises: directing fluid to the distal end of the probe through a supply duct in the probe; vaporizing the fluid in an expansion zone of reduced pressure in the distal end of the probe; retrieving the gas from the probe through a return duct in the probe that is between 200 and 250 times larger in cross-sectional area than the supply duct.