Patent ID: 7160291

Claim:
A cryosurgical probe system, comprising: a. a fluid supply line connectable at an inlet section to a source of cryogenic fluid; b. a fluid connector assembly securely connected to an outlet section of said fluid supply line for receiving fluid from said outlet section of said fluid supply line, said fluid connector assembly comprising: i. a substantially cylindrical lock housing securely attached to said outlet section of said fluid supply line, said lock housing having a fluid inlet conduit for receiving high pressure fluid from said fluid supply line and a fluid outlet conduit for transferring return fluid from a cryosurgical probe to said fluid supply line; and, ii. a locking mechanism positioned at a locking portion of said lock housing to provide detachable engagement of a cryosurgical probe positioned therein and, c. a detachable cryosurgical probe detachably connectable to said fluid connector assembly, said cryosurgical probe for receiving fluid from said fluid connector assembly and manipulating said fluid to provide suitable temperatures for cryosurgical treatment, said detachable cryosurgical probe, comprising: i. a fluid delivery/return manifold assembly comprising a fluid delivery section and a return manifold section, said return manifold section positioned over a portion of said fluid delivery section, said return manifold section comprising an insulative vacuum sleeve, said fluid delivery/return manifold assembly having a proximal end section; ii. an outer sheath securely positioned over said vacuum sleeve and extending from said fluid delivery/return manifold assembly; and, iii. a lock anchor securely positioned over said outer sheath, said lock anchor for detachable connection to said fluid connector assembly, wherein during operation fluid is delivered through said fluid delivery/return manifold assembly, through a Joule-Thomson (J-T) port defined at a distal end of said fluid delivery section and is returned through said return manifold section and delivered out of said cryosurgical probe, said insulative vacuum sleeve being provided between said outer sheath and said return manifold section at a control region of said outer sheath proximal to a distally located treatment region of said outer sheath.