• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.40-48
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• 2013

Cryoablation device is a surgical instrument to produce the cooling effect to destroy detrimental biological tissue by utilizing low temperature around 110 K. Usually, this device has the concentrated cooling region, so that it is suitable for concentrated and thick target. Accordingly, it is hard to apply this device for the target which is distributed and thin target. In this study, the design procedure of a closed-loop cryoablation device with multiple J-T expansion part is developed for the treatment of incompetent of great saphenous vein. The developed cyoablation device is designed with the analysis of 1-dimensional (1-D) bio-heat equation. The energy balance is considered to determine the minimum mass flow rate of refrigerant for consecutive flow boiling to develop the uniform cooling temperature. Azeotropic mixed refrigerant R410A and zeotropic mixed refrigerant (MR) of R22 ($CHClF_2$) and R23 ($CHF_3$) are utilized as operating fluids of the developed cryoablation device to form the sufficient temperature and to verify the quality of the inside of cryoablation probe. The experimental results of R410A and the zeotropic MR show the temperature non-uniformity over the range are $244.8K{\pm}2.7K$ and $239.8K{\pm}4.7K$ respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the probe experiences the consecutive flow boiling over the target range of 200 mm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2018

Background: Limited comparative data are available on the efficacy of cryoablation versus radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to compare radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation with regard to clinical outcomes and the restoration of sinus rhythm or atrial contractility. Methods: A total of 239 patients who underwent surgical ablation between August 2003 and December 2016 at our institution were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the energy device that was used (group A: n=140, radiofrequency ablator; group B: n=99, cryoablator). Echocardiographic data, overall survival, and major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE)-free survival were compared between the 2 groups. Results: At 1 year of follow-up, the atrial contractility recovery rate was 32.2% (19 of 59) in group A and 48.8% (21 of 44) in group B. In addition, cryoablation was found to be a predictive factor for the recovery of atrial contractility (cryoablation vs. radiofrequency ablation: odds ratio, 2.540; 95% confidence interval, 1.063-6.071; p=0.036). The left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in group B ($53.1%{\pm}11.5%$ vs. $59.1%{\pm}6.3%$, p=0.001). The median follow-up duration was 36 months. The 5-year overall survival rate was $80.1%{\pm}3.6%$ in group A and $92.1%{\pm}2.9%$ in group B (p=0.400). The 5-year MACCE-free survival rate was $70.3%{\pm}4.0%$ in group A and $70.9%{\pm}5.6%$ in group B (p=0.818). Conclusion: Cryoablation was associated with a higher atrial contractility restoration rate and better left ventricular function than radiofrequency ablation. However, no significant relationship was observed between the energy source and overall or MACCE-free survival.