APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING THE NEUROVASCULAR BUNDLEDURING CRYOSURGICAL TREATMENT OF THE PROSTATE

摘要

An apparatus (50) and method for protecting the neurovascular bundle (NVB) during cryoablation of tissues of the prostate by heating the vicinity of th e NVB while cooling pathological tissues of a prostate to cryoablation temperatures, thereby cryoablating pathological tissues while protecting the NVB from damage. A cryoprobe (50) operable to cool a distal operating tip while heating a proximal shaft is presented.