CRYOSURGICAL APPARATUSES - COLD ACCUMULATORS

Cryosurgical apparatuses exploiting a phase transition “liquid ? vapour” of the working agent (nitrogen apparatus) and phase transition “liquid ? solid state” of the working agent (ethanol apparatus) are considered in the paper. Schematics and design of the apparatuses with the heat load input directly to the operating nozzle/cap, through a special cryoprobe which was manufactured as a solid copper rode and in the form of heat pipe. The main distinctions of those apparatus imply that in the nitrogen apparatus the working agent (N2) has to be replaced after every surgery unlike the ethanol apparatus where total amount of the working agent (ethanol) is steady and has to be just refreezed after surgery. Advantages and shortcomings of the considered designs are discussed. The prospects for the reported designs of the cryosurgical apparatus have been pointed out.