Patent ID: 7510554

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; 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 ablation, wherein said cryosurgical probe includes a probe return fluid flow passageway, said fluid connector assembly includes a connector assembly return fluid flow passageway in fluid communication with said probe return fluid flow passageway, and said fluid supply line includes a supply line return fluid flow passageway in fluid communication with said connector assembly return fluid flow passageway; and, wherein said detachable cryosurgical probe, comprises: a) a fluid delivery assembly having a proximal end section; b) a return manifold assembly positioned over a portion of said fluid delivery assembly; said return manifold assembly providing a desired insulative air gap; c) an outer sheath securely positioned over said return manifold assembly; and, d) a hub securely positioned over said outer sheath and said return manifold assembly, said hub for detachable connection to a fluid connector assembly of a detachable cryosurgical system, wherein during operation fluid is delivered through said fluid delivery assembly, through a Joule-Thomson (J-T) port defined at a distal end of said fluid delivery assembly and is returned through said return manifold assembly and delivered out of said cryosurgical probe, an insulative air gap being provided between said outer sheath and said return manifold at a control region of said outer sheath proximal to a distally located treatment region of said outer sheath.