Patent ID: 8382746

Claim:
A medical device for treating esophageal target tissue comprising: a catheter comprising proximal and distal portions and a refrigerant delivery lumen, the catheter defining a longitudinally extending catheter axis; a balloon mounted to the distal portion, the balloon comprising an inner surface defining a balloon interior; and a refrigerant delivery device coupled to the distal portion and positioned within the balloon interior, the refrigerant delivery device comprising: a chamber with the refrigerant delivery lumen opening into the chamber; a refrigerant delivery opening fluidly coupled to the balloon interior; a distribution passageway fluidly coupling the chamber and the refrigerant delivery opening; the distribution passageway being separate from the chamber and comprising an annular passageway having a length generally parallel to and surrounding the catheter axis; the distribution passageway having a passageway entrance opening into the chamber and a passageway exit opening into the refrigerant delivery opening; the refrigerant delivery device comprising a delivery adapter tube and a sleeve surrounding the delivery adapter tube; the chamber being defined in part by the delivery adapter tube; the annular passageway being defined between the sleeve and the delivery adapter tube; the refrigerant delivery device comprising a flow deflector mounted to the delivery adapter tube; and the refrigerant delivery opening being defined between the sleeve and the flow deflector, said flow deflector is configured to cause refrigerant flowing along the annular passageway to be directed through the refrigerant delivery opening towards the inner surface of the balloon; whereby a refrigerant is deliverable through the refrigerant delivery lumen, into the chamber, through the distribution passageway, through the refrigerant delivery opening and into the balloon interior so to place the balloon into an expanded, cooled state so that the balloon can press against and cool esophageal target tissue.