Cryoprobe construction

Abstract

A cryoprobe particularly for the low temperature treatment of body organs particularly for use in body cavities such as adjacent a bladder comprises an elongated hollow shaft having an interior portion for the conduction of a cooling medium to an outer front probe portion and with an insulation formed around the coolant conduit and which also includes an observation optics which is mounted on the hollow shaft for viewing along the interior to the front portion of the probe. The front portion of the probe is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft is advantageously of oval shape and a hollow optics tube is mounted to extend through the oval shape shaft at the top portion thereof over concentrically arranged hollow tubes for the passage and return passage of cooling medium. The device also includes an outer hollow oval tube having a horizontal major axis which is extended on each side of the hollow shaft for the transmission of a scavenging agent in the space or channel between the outer hollow tube and the shaft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to construction of a cryoprobe and in particular to a new and useful cryoprobe which is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity for effecting a low temperature treatment of various body conditions and which includes a hollow shaft for conducting a coolant to a front probe end which is oriented at an angle to the shaft.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The invention is particularly applicable to the low temperature treatment of areas in the body located in cavities particularly bladders where it is desired to freeze various portions of the bladder in order to effect a predetermined treatment. Cryoprobes of this general type are known. A difficulty in the use of the known equipment however is that the optical viewing systems for viewing the place of treatment in the body cavity must be mounted so that they are located relatively far away from the place of treatment in order to prevent a fog formation at the freezing end of the probe. In such a position a shaft of the probe which is immediately adjacent the objects will considerably limit the field of sight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a cryoprobe for the low temperature treatment of various portions of the body particularly bladders which comprises a hollow shaft which contains insulation against low temperature and which provides a mounting for an observation optics at the rear end thereof which permits displacement of the optics for view adjustment. A front portion of the probe is capable of being cooled and the arrangement of all the parts is such that there is no impairment of sight during the low temperature treatment.

With the inventive arrangement the front portion of the probe is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the probe shaft. In such an arrangement the optics is permanently and sufficiently spaced from the cooled tip of the probe so that even during the freeze treatment the sight is not hindered by any fog formation on the optics and in fact the optics are arranged so that they will be adequately protected.

The angle formed by the front portion of the probe with the longitudinal axis of the shaft is advantageously 20.degree. to 40.degree. and preferably 30.degree.. By providing such an angular range there are substantially no difficulties in the introduction of the probe into the body cavity for example into the bladder to be treated while the optics are retracted.

It is also useful to provide an arrangement wherein only the tip of the deflected front portion of the probe is capable of being cooled. Such a measure assures that no part of the optics is located immediately adjacent the cooled zones.

The elimination of the sight hindrances in the use of cryoprobes of this type is further improved by providing the probe with a channel which serves to supply scavenging agents. The possibility therefore is given to scavenge the treatment zone during the freezing and so for example to keep it clear of blood so that optimal sight possibilities are given to the physician. The scavenging means may comprise an arrangement wherein the blood may be sucked off with the aid of a catheter independently of the probe or in accordance with another feature of the invention by means of another scavenger means channel formation on the probe which is connected to an exhaustion device. The channels are advantageously provided at the front end which enters the body cavity with a screen or perforations.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a cryoprobe which includes a hollow shaft carrying an optics tube with optics mounted thereon for view adjustment movement in which it has a front portion which is disposed at an angle to the shaft forming a probe, and wherein the shaft carries means for conducting a coolant medium out to the probe and insulation surrounding the means and also advantageously includes separate channels which extend to the vicinity of the probe and which terminate in screened openings at the probe location.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cryoprobe which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cryoprobe constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in particular the invention embodied therein comprises a cryoprobe generally designated 1 which includes a hollow oval shaped shaft 2 having a major axis vertical which is connected at one end to a handle portion 3 and which includes a front end portion 4 having a probe tip 5. The probe tip 5 is adapted to be cooled for example by a cooling medium such as by a low boiling point liquid which is directed into an evaporation chamber formed at the interior of the probe tip 5.

In accordance with the invention the hollow shaft 2 provides a space for an elongated guide tube 7 forming a surrounding protection for a hollow optics tube 8 which is concentrically arranged therein and which extends at the front end outwardly from the shaft 2 and terminates in a viewing area end 8a which may be oriented directly above the probe 5. The rear end is provided with viewing optics 8b which are mounted so that they may be displaced for view adjustment when aligned with a person's eye 20 as indicated in FIG. 1.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the optics tube 8 is mounted in the guide tube 7 so that it may be rotated and shifted axially in order that the viewing area end 8a be properly oriented in respect to the body tissue which is being treated.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention an outer cover tube 22 which is of oval shape and which has a major axis which is on the horizontal engages over each side of the shaft 2 and it forms scavening passage means hollow passages or channels 9 and 10 with the respective sides thereof. These hollow passages 9 and 10 are advantageously connectable at the rear end to evacuation means such as an evacuation pump and their front ends are provided with seive openings or screens 11 in the vicinity of the probe 5 for the purpose of conducting away blood and other materials of the body during the operation. One or more connection fittings generally designated 12 having control valves 13 are connected to the channels 9 and 10 also to an inner coolant supply tube 14 which is arranged concentrically within an outer coolant return tube 15 within a vacuum jacket tube 16 below the insulated tube 7. The coolant is supplied in through the supply tube 14 through an evacuation chamber in the probe tip 5 and is then returned in the space between the tube 14 and 15. The vacuum space 17 is left between the outer coolant tube 15 and the vacuum jacket 16 and provides a low temperature insulation. The arrangement is such that the optics in the tube 8 are also protected against the affect of the low temperature.

In the space between the tube 7 and 16 the shaft provides sufficient area for the passage of electrical cables 18 for heating and thermocouple elements which are provided along the shaft 2 and in the probe tip 5. The handle 3 is provided with a coupling 19 which provides a connection means for the electrical supply lines as well as other connecting elements if desired.

The channels 9 and 10 are of half circular cross section which complements the oval cross section of the shaft 2 so that the overall cross section of the device is substantially circular.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cryoprobe for low temperature treatment to be formed in body cavities, particularly in the bladder, comprising an elongated hollow shaft having insulation therein against low temperature, an observation optics mounted in said shaft for displaceable movement, said shaft having a front portion which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said shaft and which forms a probe, means for cooling said probe and scavening passage means extending along said shaft and having an opening adjacent said probe.

2. A cryoprobe according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed by the front portion of said shaft with said shaft is from 20.degree. to 40.degree. and preferably 30.degree..

3. A cryoprobe according to claim 1 wherein only the tip of said front portion is capable of being cooled.

4. A cryoprobe construction comprising a hollow tubular shaft portion, an optics tube extending through said shaft portion and having a front end extending outwardly therefrom with a view area, said optics tube being movably mounted within said shaft tube, said tubular shaft portion having a front portion disposed at an angle to the axis of said shaft tube with a tip area forming a probe, a coolant supply tube and a coolant return tube located within said shaft tube for respectively conducting and returning a coolant to said probe, and scavenging passage means adjacent said tubular shaft portion for scavening agents terminating in openings adjacent said probe.

5. A cryoprobe according to claim 4 said passage means including at least one tubular element surrounding at least a portion of said shaft tube and defining a channel for evacuation of body substancess terminating adjacent said probe in openings for receiving such substances.

6. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein an outer tube extends outwardly from each side of said shaft and defines an interior evacuation channel forming said passage means along at least a portion of the length of said shaft each channel terminating in screened openings, one serving to supply and the other to evacuate the scavenging agent.

7. A cryoprobe according to claim 6, wherein said optics tube is arranged within an insulation tube within said shaft and is axially and rotatably movable in respect thereto.

8. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein said shaft tube is of oval cross section with a major axis vertical, said outer tube being of oval cross section with a major axis horizontal and being arranged on each side of said hollow shaft, the overall cross section being substantially circular.

9. A cryoprobe according to claim 4, wherein said hollow shaft includes an upper tube carrying said optics, said coolant supply and coolant return tubes for the cooling medium being below said optics tube, and a space between said tubes for the pssage of electrical cable for a heater adjacent said cryoprobe.