A method and near-critical argon-based loop catheter for circumferential ablation of nerve fibers are disclosed. According to one aspect, cryogenic catheter is configured to deliver near-critical-temperature argon cooling fluid to ablate parasympathetic innervation in nerve fibers in a wall of a passageway within a patient into which a distal portion of the cryogenic catheter is inserted, the passageway being one of an air passageway of a lung and a blood passageway. The cryogenic catheter includes at least one shaft to deliver argon cooling fluid to at least one expandable treatment element at the distal portion of the cryogenic catheter, an expandable treatment element being biased to form a multiple loop coil structure when expanded to make circumferential contact with the wall of the passageway. The cryogenic catheter also includes at least one expandable treatment element configured to be expandable by at least one of fluid pressure and mechanical force applied to a push wire within the shaft.

A system using a guide to assist in insertion of a helicoidal member in a target biological tissue. The system adheres to tissues using suction to allow insertion of the helicoidal member.

An ablation apparatus for creating a lesion in target tissue, the ablation apparatus having an ablation shaft including a handle, a first portion, an ablation portion, distal tip, at least one ablation energy delivery lumen, at least one ablation energy return lumen, and a stylet lumen that extends substantially along a length of the ablation shaft from the handle to at least the ablation portion. The ablation apparatus also includes a stylet that is capable of being inserted into the stylet lumen where the stylet is made of a shape-memory material.

A cryosurgery system, comprising two or more cryoprobes is provided. Each cryoprobe includes a probe shaft having a distal section insertable in a patient and a proximal coupler. A connector interface with connection ports permits connections to a corresponding cryoprobe. Each connection port can have an isolating sleeve between the proximal coupler and the connection port when the proximal coupler of the respective cryoprobe is inserted in the connection port. The isolating sleeve can include an electrically insulating material so as to electrically isolate each cryoprobe connected to its corresponding connection port from other cryoprobes connected to their corresponding connection ports. An electrical measurement system can be connected to each connection port to detect electrical signals associated with the probe shaft. A control system can detect, based on the electrical signals detected by the electrical measurement system whether the probe shaft is electrically connected to the electrical heater.