Patent ID: 7604631
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A system for treating a tissue of an individual patient, the system comprising: a probe having a fluid path constructed and arranged for the flow of a fluid and a tissue treatment surface coupled thereto, the fluid path couplable to a fluid source; a valve disposed along the fluid path of the probe; a sensor disposed along the fluid path of the probe; a controller coupled to the valve and to the sensor, the controller configured to actuate the valve, the sensor configured to measure the pressure of the fluid along the fluid path, wherein the controller is configured to determine a performance characteristic of the valve in response to the measured pressure, the controller also configured to determine a treatment protocol in response to the determined valve performance characteristic and to implement the treatment protocol by actuating the valve so as to treat the tissue, wherein the fluid path comprises a cooling fluid path, wherein the treatment protocol comprises cryogenic cooling of the tissue by vaporization of the fluid in thermal contact with the treatment surface, the treatment surface comprising a heat transfer surface, wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve, and wherein the valve performance characteristic comprises a minimum electrical command pulse width for actuating the valve.