A cooling syringe and method are provided for inducing selective hypothermia of a body tissue during minimally invasive surgery. The cooling syringe includes an elongated, hollow housing configured to receive a cooling substance, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end. An actuator is at least partially received within the housing, the actuator including an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The actuator includes a handle portion at the shaft proximal end and an end cap received on the shaft distal end, the shaft and end cap together forming a plunger. A guidance cap having a central channel is received on the shaft and disposed at a proximal end thereof. The actuator is movable with respect to the guidance cap and within the housing to dispense the cooling substance from the housing distal end.
