Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A heating coil close to the freezing tip of a cryosurgical probe operates through a highly heat conductive portion of the probe wall so as to cauterize previously frozen tissues. The liquid nitrogen supply is continued long enough to cool the cauterizing surface to body temperature after the heating winding is switched off, after which the probe is withdrawn. An insulating spacer member on the end of the tip prevents unintended freezing of the bladder wall when the instrument is used for an operation on the prostate gland. The use of general anesthesis in such an operation is avoided by the use of the new probe. A probe for cauterizing only, for use after freezing by a conventional cryosurgical probe has the same kind of heater, temperature sensor and insulating tip but is equipped for circulating cooling water rather than cryogenic flow in the cooling space.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim