SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REGULATING PRESSURE LEVELS IN AN INTER-EXPANSION-ELEMENT SPACE OF A CRYOABLATION SYSTEM

摘要

A cryoablation catheter assembly includes a catheter having a coolant outtake region and receives a guide tube and a coolant transfer tube. The coolant transfer tube receives and transfers coolant from a coolant source to an expansion element coupled to a distal portion of the catheter. The expansion element includes an outer layer disposed over an inner layer such that the expansion element defines an inter-expansion-element space between the inner layer and the outer layer and an intra-expansion-element space within the inner layer. The intra-expansion-element space is in fluid communication with the coolant outtake region and the coolant transfer tube. The inter-expansion-element space is in fluid communication with a fluid pathway that transfers fluids to a fluid-drawing source. A pressure regulation system is disposed along the fluid pathway and passively regulates the pressure in the inter-expansion-element space using at least one check valve.