A cryoneedle comprising: an outer tube having a distal section placed at or near a target area of a patient's anatomy and a longitudinal axis; a gas supply line positioned within the outer tube, the gas supply line configured to supply a cryogas for forming an ice ball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section; an expansion chamber located within the distal section such that the gas supply line terminates in the expansion chamber; a heat exchange helix in the outer tube; a return gas flow lumen defined annularly between the heat exchange helix and the gas supply line adapted to carry cryogas from the expansion chamber along a return flow path ; an electrical resistance heater positioned coaxially with the gas supply line and the outer tube to facilitate heating of the distal section of the cryoneedle; characterised in that : the heat exchange helix contacts the inner surface of the outer tube; but is not in contact with the electrical resistance heater or the gas supply line ; the electrical resistance heater comprises metal wires wound in helical coils around and in contact with an outer surface of the gas supply line ; and wherein the heat exchange helix adapted to provide generally uniform rate of heat transfer in the distal section such that the iceball formed on the outer surface of the outer tube is generally symmetric in shape along the longitudinal axis of the outer tube. an outer tube having a distal section placed at or near a target area of a patient's anatomy and a longitudinal axis; a gas supply line positioned within the outer tube, the gas supply line configured to supply a cryogas for forming an ice ball on an outer surface of the outer tube over the distal section; an expansion chamber located within the distal section such that the gas supply line terminates in the expansion chamber; a heat exchange helix in the outer tube; a return gas flow lumen defined annularly between the heat exchange helix and the gas supply line adapted to carry cryogas from the expansion chamber along a return flow path ; an electrical resistance heater positioned coaxially with the gas supply line and the outer tube to facilitate heating of the distal section of the cryoneedle; characterised in that : the heat exchange helix contacts the inner surface of the outer tube; but is not in contact with the electrical resistance heater or the gas supply line ; the electrical resistance heater comprises metal wires wound in helical coils around and in contact with an outer surface of the gas supply line ; and wherein the heat exchange helix adapted to provide generally uniform rate of heat transfer in the distal section such that the iceball formed on the outer surface of the outer tube is generally symmetric in shape along the longitudinal axis of the outer tube. the heat exchange helix contacts the inner surface of the outer tube; but is not in contact with the electrical resistance heater or the gas supply line ; the electrical resistance heater comprises metal wires wound in helical coils around and in contact with an outer surface of the gas supply line ; and wherein the heat exchange helix adapted to provide generally uniform rate of heat transfer in the distal section such that the iceball formed on the outer surface of the outer tube is generally symmetric in shape along the longitudinal axis of the outer tube. <EOS>