Cryotherapy device with cryoprotection and methods for performing cryotherapy with cryoprotection

Abstract

A method for preventing damage to adjacent tissue at a surgical site includes locating the tissue to be protected, placing a cryoprotective device at the tissue to be protected, injecting a cryoprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective device at the tissue, at least one of positioning a temperature sensor at the CPS and positioning a temperature sensor at the tissue, monitoring a temperature of at least one of the CPS and the tissue with the temperature sensor, and carrying out cryotherapy at the surgical site without harm to the tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preventing damage to adjacent tissue at a surgical site, which comprises:
 locating the tissue to be protected:   placing a cryoprotective device at least one of at and adjacent the tissue to be protected;   injecting a cryoprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective device at least one of at and adjacent the tissue;   at least one of:
 positioning a temperature sensor at least one of at and adjacent the CPS; and 
 positioning a temperature sensor at least one of at and adjacent the tissue; 
   monitoring a temperature of at least one of the CPS and the tissue with the temperature sensor; and   carrying out cryotherapy at the surgical site without harm to the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the CPS comprises a rapid transition polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the CPS comprises an anesthetic. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the CPS comprises dehydrated cells. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the dehydrated cells comprise dehydrated amniotic tissue allograft membranes. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises repeating the locating, placing, injecting, positioning and monitoring steps for each area of different tissues to be protected. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises injecting further CPS through the cryoprotective device if a preset temperature limit is exceeded. 
     
     
         8 . A method for preventing damage to adjacent tissue at a surgical site, which comprises:
 locating the tissue to be protected;   placing a cryoprotective device adjacent the tissue to be protected;   injecting a cryoprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective device adjacent the tissue;   at least one of:
 positioning a temperature sensor adjacent the CPS; and 
 positioning a temperature sensor adjacent the tissue; 
   monitoring a temperature of at least one of the CPS and the tissue with the temperature sensor; and   carrying out cryotherapy at the surgical site without harm to the tissue.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the CPS comprises a rapid transition polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the CPS comprises an anesthetic. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the CPS comprises dehydrated cells. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the dehydrated cells comprise dehydrated amniotic tissue allograft membranes. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises repeating the locating, placing, injecting, positioning and monitoring steps for each area of different tissues to be protected. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises injecting further CPS through the cryoprotective device if a preset temperature limit is exceeded. 
     
     
         15 . A method for preventing damage to adjacent tissue at a surgical site, which comprises:
 locating the tissue to be protected;   placing a cryoprotective device at the tissue to be protected;   injecting a cryoprotective substance (CPS) through the cryoprotective device at the tissue;   at least one of:
 positioning a temperature sensor at the CPS; and 
 positioning a temperature sensor at the tissue; 
   monitoring a temperature of at least one of the CPS and the tissue with the temperature sensor; and   carrying out cryotherapy at the surgical site without harm to the tissue.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the CPS comprises a rapid transition polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the CPS comprises an anesthetic. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the CPS comprises dehydrated cells. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the dehydrated cells comprise dehydrated amniotic tissue allograft membranes. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises repeating the locating, placing, injecting, positioning and monitoring steps for each area of different tissues to be protected. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , which further comprises injecting further CPS through the cryoprotective device if a preset temperature limit is exceeded.