Cryosurgical instrument

Abstract

A cryosurgical instrument, in particular a biopsy instrument for transbronchial biopsy, having an elongated instrument base body with a distal and proximal end, in relation to the operational position, a cooled section close to the distal end and which removes tissue, said section being designed such that surrounding biological material adheres thereto, by means of cryoadhesion, when said instrument is in use in the cooled state, and a security section provided at a distance from the tissue removal section and which comprises means for preventing or reducing the adhesion of biological material.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A cryosurgical instrument comprising:
 an elongated instrument base body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a cooled tissue grasping section located close to the distal end, said tissue grasping section being configured such that surrounding biological material will adhere due to cryoadhesion when the instrument is being used in a cooled state; and   a safety section provided distally from the tissue grasping section, said safety section comprising means for preventing or reducing the adhesion of biological material.   
     
     
         16 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said instrument is a biopsy instrument for performing a transbronchial biopsy. 
     
     
         17 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section exhibits low thermal conductivity at least in a border region of the tissue grasping section. 
     
     
         18 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the low thermal conductivity can be accomplished by a reduced cross-sectional surface and/or by the selection of a material that is a poor thermal conductor at least in the border region. 
     
     
         19 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section exhibits a thermal capacity that is dimensioned such that the temperature of said safety section remains above a value at which biological material will adhere to said safety section during a short cooling duration of the tissue grasping section. 
     
     
         20 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the short cooling duration is a duration of less than 5 seconds. 
     
     
         21 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section is made of a hard metal. 
     
     
         22 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section is made of a material that reduces cryoadhesion. 
     
     
         23 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section is covered by a material that reduces cryoadhesion. 
     
     
         24 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section consists of a hard substance that reduces cryoadhesion. 
     
     
         25 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the safety section comprises a heating device. 
     
     
         26 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the heating device is an electric heating device. 
     
     
         27 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the surface of the safety section has distributed over it a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with a gas channel inside the instrument base body. 
     
     
         28 . A cryosurgical instrument comprising:
 an elongated instrument base body having a distal end and a proximal end; and   a cooled tissue grasping section located close to the distal end, said tissue grasping section being configured such that surrounding biological material will adhere due to cryoadhesion when the instrument is being used in a cooled state,   wherein the tissue grasping section is designed such that the cryoadhesion effect on a distal surface is substantially reduced compared to that of the peripheral region.   
     
     
         29 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the instrument comprises a biopsy instrument for transbronchial biopsy. 
     
     
         30 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the peripheral surface is an end surface. 
     
     
         31 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein cooling agents are provided in the tissue grasping section such that they only cool the peripheral section, but not the distal surface, or wherein a thermal insulation is provided between the cooling agents and the distal surface. 
     
     
         32 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the peripheral section, but not the distal surface, is made of a material and/or has a geometric configuration and/or structure that promote the adhesion of the biological material. 
     
     
         33 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the tissue grasping section is provided with a plurality of openings that are in fluid communication with a gas channel on the inside the instrument base body. 
     
     
         34 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the safety section consists of a porous material, the porosity of said material allowing the implementation of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         35 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 34 , wherein the tissue grasping section consists of a porous material, the porosity of said material allowing the implementation of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         36 . The cryosurgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the tissue grasping section consists of a porous material, the porosity of said material allowing the implementation of the plurality of openings.