Claims
- 1. A cryogenic cooling structure for use in the body comprising:
- an elongate, thermally-transmissive region for producing a linear lesion within the body; and
- a cryogenic fluid path through the elongate, thermally-transmissive region,
- wherein flow of cryogenic fluid through the thermally-transmissive region causes a plurality of ice-balls to form within the body in a linear array proximate the elongate, thermally-transmissive region,
- wherein the cryogenic cooling structure has a substantially fixed circumference, and
- wherein the cryogenic cooling structure is substantially cylindrical and wherein the elongate, thermally-transmissive region includes a thermally-transmissive flexible material that transmits thermal energy through only a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical cryogenic cooling structure.
- 2. The cryogenic cooling structure of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is supported by a supporting element when cryogenic fluid is flowing through the thermally-transmissive region.
- 3. The cryogenic cooling structure of claim 2, wherein the supporting element includes a spring.
- 4. The cryogenic cooling structure of claim 1, wherein the thermally-transmissive material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyamide, PET, and PTFE.
- 5. The cryogenic cooling structure of claim 1, wherein the thermally-transmissive material has a thickness less than 0.006 inches.
- 6. The cryogenic cooling structure of claim 1, further comprising an ECG ring proximate the thermally-transmissive region.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/807,382, filed Feb. 27, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (35)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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807382 |
Feb 1997 |
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