A combination of a cryoprobe and an introducer for use during surgery to ablate unwanted tissue of a patient, the combination comprising: the cryoprobe including a head portion, a probe shaft, and a cryogenic gas supply line, the probe shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the probe shaft being attached to the head portion adjacent the proximal end, the cryogenic gas supply line extending through portions of the head portion and the probe shaft and terminating adjacent the distal end of the probe shaft, the cryogenic gas supply line during operation of the cryoprobe delivering cryogenic gas to the distal end of the probe shaft to facilitate cooling of a portion of the probe shaft; and the introducer including a handle portion, a cannula portion, a first internal cavity, and a second internal cavity, the introducer having a proximal end and a distal end, the handle portion provided at the proximal end, and the cannula portion extending from the handle portion to the distal end and including an open tip portion sharpened to facilitate insertion of the introducer into the patient, the handle portion including the first internal cavity extending therethrough, and the cannula portion including the second internal cavity extending therethrough, the first and second internal cavities (320, 378) communicating with one another and being sized to receive a portion of the probe shaft therethrough; wherein, when the probe shaft is inserted into the first and second internal cavities (320, 378) in the introducer, the distal end of the probe shaft is positionable adjacent the distal end of the introducer, and operation of the cryoprobe facilitates cooling of a portion of the cannula portion at the distal end of the introducer; and wherein the combination further includes a cap portion facilitating the interconnection of the cryoprobe and the introducer to one another, the cap portion including a first attachment mechanism serving to attach the introducer to the cap portion, a second attachment mechanism (410, 412) serving to attach the cryoprobe to the cap portion, a body portion, a flange portion, and an internal cavity extending through the body portion and the flange portion, the internal cavity being sized to receive portions of the cryoprobe and the handle portion therein, characterized in that the cap portion is independently attachable to the introducer and the cryoprobe. the cryoprobe including a head portion, a probe shaft, and a cryogenic gas supply line, the probe shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the probe shaft being attached to the head portion adjacent the proximal end, the cryogenic gas supply line extending through portions of the head portion and the probe shaft and terminating adjacent the distal end of the probe shaft, the cryogenic gas supply line during operation of the cryoprobe delivering cryogenic gas to the distal end of the probe shaft to facilitate cooling of a portion of the probe shaft; and the introducer including a handle portion, a cannula portion, a first internal cavity, and a second internal cavity, the introducer having a proximal end and a distal end, the handle portion provided at the proximal end, and the cannula portion extending from the handle portion to the distal end and including an open tip portion sharpened to facilitate insertion of the introducer into the patient, the handle portion including the first internal cavity extending therethrough, and the cannula portion including the second internal cavity extending therethrough, the first and second internal cavities (320, 378) communicating with one another and being sized to receive a portion of the probe shaft therethrough; wherein, when the probe shaft is inserted into the first and second internal cavities (320, 378) in the introducer, the distal end of the probe shaft is positionable adjacent the distal end of the introducer, and operation of the cryoprobe facilitates cooling of a portion of the cannula portion at the distal end of the introducer; and wherein the combination further includes a cap portion facilitating the interconnection of the cryoprobe and the introducer to one another, the cap portion including a first attachment mechanism serving to attach the introducer to the cap portion, a second attachment mechanism (410, 412) serving to attach the cryoprobe to the cap portion, a body portion, a flange portion, and an internal cavity extending through the body portion and the flange portion, the internal cavity being sized to receive portions of the cryoprobe and the handle portion therein, characterized in that the cap portion is independently attachable to the introducer and the cryoprobe.