Patent ID: 8845627
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of performing a cryotherapy procedure, the method comprising: introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at a treatment site inside a patient's body; during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, delivering cryogenic fluid into and exhausting cryogenic fluid from a distal balloon portion of the cryotherapy balloon catheter, and regulating the flow of cryogenic fluid into and exhaust from the distal balloon portion to cause a) a first pressure to be reached inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently high to cause an outer wall of the distal balloon portion to be pressed against body tissue at the treatment site, and b) a first temperature to be reached inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently low to cause the body tissue to freeze to the outer wall; and during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, delivering cryogenic fluid into and exhausting cryogenic fluid from the distal balloon, and regulating the flow of cryogenic fluid into and exhaust from the distal balloon portion to reduce pressure inside the distal balloon portion to a second pressure that is less than the first pressure, causing a temperature inside the distal portion to reach a second temperature that is below the first temperature.