cryoprobe

[ krahy-uh-prohb ]

noun

1. an instrument used in cryosurgery, having a supercooled tip for applying extreme cold to diseased tissue in order to remove or destroy it.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cryoprobe¹

First recorded in 1960–65; cryo- + probe

Example Sentences

Carey made the cryoprobe from a piece of copper wire, which was cooled in liquid nitrogen to about minus 170 degrees Celsius.

From Science Daily

To conduct their experiments, the Gagnon lab used a device called a cryoprobe to injure the fish hearts in ways that mimic heart attacks in humans, then extracted the hearts after certain time frames to learn how the two species responded differently.

From Science Daily

Faced with cases that seemed beyond help, Dr. Bellows decided to try a cryoprobe chilled to a temperature of � 65�C. His method is so simple that, in most cases, it can be carried out under a local anesthetic in the doctor's office.

From Time Magazine Archive