Cryosurgical probe with adjustable sliding apparatus

Abstract

A cryosurgical probe that includes a shaft for providing a heat exchange surface for cryogenic ablation, a housing, an insulation element slideably engaged with the shaft, and an adjustable sliding apparatus. The adjustable sliding apparatus includes a slider assembly attached to the insulation element for slideably guiding the insulation element within the shaft, and an actuation assembly operatively connected to the slider assembly for allowing a user to slide the slider assembly to provide a desired adjustment of the insulation element relative to the shaft.

1 . A cryosurgical probe comprising:
 a) a shaft for providing a heat exchange surface for cryogenic ablation;   b) a housing;   c) an insulation element slideably engaged with the shaft; and   d) an adjustable sliding apparatus comprising:
 i. a slider assembly attached to the insulation element for slideably guiding the insulation element within the shaft; and 
 ii. an actuation assembly operatively connected to the slider assembly for allowing a user to slide the slider assembly to provide a desired adjustment of the insulation element relative to the shaft. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cryosurgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable sliding apparatus comprises a button assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The cryosurgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the button assembly is operatively connected to the slider assembly for allowing a user to actuate the slider assembly to provide the desired adjustment of the insulation element. 
     
     
         4 . The cryosurgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the button assembly is configured to be locked into position to prevent unintentional movement of the slider assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The cryosurgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable sliding apparatus permits a user to change a size of an iceball created by the cryosurgical probe. 
     
     
         6 . The cryosurgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation element comprises a vacuum tube. 
     
     
         7 . The cryosurgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein the cryosurgical probe further comprises a cryostat. 
     
     
         8 . A cryosurgical probe assembly comprising:
 a) a housing containing at least a portion of a fluid conduit subassembly, the fluid conduit subassembly for delivering and returning cooling fluid used for cryogenic cooling, the fluid conduit subassembly comprising:
 i) a shaft for providing a heat exchange surface for cryogenic ablation; and 
 ii) an insulation element slideably engaged with the shaft; 
   b) an adjustable sliding apparatus, having a repositionable slider assembly attached to the insulation element for slideably moving the insulation element within the shaft to provide a desired adjustment of the insulation element relative to the shaft; and   c) a cryostat.   
     
     
         9 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the adjustable sliding apparatus further comprises a button assembly operatively connected to the slider assembly for allowing a user to actuate the slider assembly to provide the desired adjustment of the insulation element. 
     
     
         10 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the button assembly is configured to be locked into position to prevent unintentional movement of the slider assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the insulation element comprises a vacuum tube. 
     
     
         12 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the cryosurgical probe assembly further comprises a handle assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A cryosurgical probe assembly comprising:
 a) a gas delivery assembly including a fluid conduit subassembly, the fluid conduit subassembly comprising:
 i. a shaft for providing a heat exchange surface for cryogenic ablation; 
 ii. a housing securely connected to the shaft; and, 
 iii. an insulation element slideably engaged with the shaft; 
   b) an adjustable sliding apparatus, comprising:
 i. a slider assembly securely attached to the insulation element for slideably guiding said insulation element along the shaft; and 
 ii. a means for allowing a user to actuate the slider assembly to provide a desired adjustment of the insulation element relative to the shaft; and 
   c) a handle assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the means for allowing the user to actuate the slider assembly comprises a button assembly operatively connected to the slider assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the button assembly is configured to be locked into position to prevent unintentional movement of the slider assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the insulation element comprises a vacuum tube. 
     
     
         17 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cryosurgical probe assembly is detachable. 
     
     
         18 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid conduit subassembly includes a Joule-Thomson (J-T) tube. 
     
     
         19 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the Joule-Thomson (J-T) tube comprises a Joule-Thomson (J-T) port. 
     
     
         20 . The cryosurgical probe assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the adjustable sliding apparatus permits a user to change a size of an iceball created by the cryosurgical probe assembly.