An Experimental Investigation of the Temperature Field Produced by a Cryosurgical Cannula

Liquid crystals, a material that exhibits brilliant changes in color over narrow temperature bands, have been successfully used to study the temperature field that is produced by a cryosurgical cannula (cryoprobe). Cryoprobe tip temperatures ranging from −36 to −117 C were used to produce frozen regions in a clear gel. Experimental results compare within experimental uncertainty with results of a one-dimensional analytical solution for predicting ice growth rates.