Method of managing patient temperature with a heat exchange catheter

• US 20030120210A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scott M. Evans, William J. Worthen
• Original Assignee: Scott M. Evans, William J. Worthen
• Inventors: Worthen, William J., Evans, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/301,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/369 Temperature treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0032 characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

A central venous catheter includes coolant supply and return lumens which communicate coolant to and from first and second heat exchange membranes arranged along the distal segment of the catheter. The coolant in the heat exchange membranes removes heat from the patient. Additional lumens are provided for conventional central venous catheter uses.

Claims

1. A heat exchange catheter, comprising:

a catheter body defining at least a coolant supply lumen and a coolant return lumen;

at least first and second heat exchange membranes disposed along a distal portion of the catheter body and communicating with one or more of the lumens, such that coolant can be supplied to the heat exchange membranes via the coolant supply lumen and received from the heat exchange membranes via the coolant return lumen to effect a closed loop heat exchanger for cooling and/or warming a patient.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat exchange membranes define first and second interiors respectively communicating with at least first and second coolant supply ports in the coolant supply lumen and at least first and second coolant return ports in the coolant return lumen.

3. The catheter of claim 2, wherein the catheter is made of a urethane.

4. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one anchor engaged with the catheter body.

5. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the catheter defines at least a drug delivery lumen.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the catheter defines at least a guide wire lumen.

7. The catheter of claim 6, further comprising a connector manifold engaged with the catheter body and interconnecting the lumens with respective connector lines.

8. The catheter of claim 7, wherein the anchor is on the connector manifold.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the connector manifold defines plural channels, each channel establishing a respective pathway for fluid communication between a respective connector line and a respective lumen.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein at least one drug delivery port is formed in the catheter body at a location that is between two adjacent heat exchange membranes to establish a pathway for fluid communication from the drug delivery lumen to a location outside the catheter body.

23. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor attached to the catheter body.

24. The catheter of claim 3, wherein the urethane is an aromatic urethane.

11. A method for making a heat exchange catheter device, comprising the acts of:

disposing a multi-lumen catheter body in a connector manifold mold;

disposing plural connector tubes in the connector manifold mold;

interconnecting a respective lumen with a respective connector tube using a mandrel;

directing a plastic material into the connector manifold mold; and

removing the mandrels such that a respective channel is defined between each respective lumen and its connector tube.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the act of engaging at least one heat exchange membrane with a distal segment of the catheter body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the catheter body is made of urethane.

14. A method for treating a patient, comprising the acts of:

advancing a heat exchange catheter device into the patient; and

circulating coolant through the catheter device while preventing infusion of the coolant directly into the patient'"'"'s bloodstream, the catheter device including a heat exchange region established by;

one or more heat exchange membranes, or one or more hollow fibers, or one or more chamber-defining enclosures.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of performing aneurysm surgery while the patient'"'"'s temperature is below normal body temperature.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of treating head trauma in the patient while the patient'"'"'s temperature is below normal body temperature.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of treating cardiac arrest in the patient while the patient'"'"'s temperature is below normal body temperature.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of performing minimally invasive heart surgery on the patient while the patient'"'"'s temperature is below normal body temperature.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of treating cardiac malady in the patient while the patient'"'"'s temperature-is below normal body temperature.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of maintaining the temperature of a patient at or below normal body temperature, when the patient runs or attempts to run a fever.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the act of treating ischemic stroke in the patient while the patient'"'"'s temperature is below normal body temperature.

25. A catheter configured as a Swan-Ganz catheter or central venous catheter having at least one membrane distally located on the catheter for heating or cooling blood in a patient.

26. The catheter of claim 25, wherein the membrane defines an interior communicating with a coolant supply lumen of the catheter and with a coolant return lumen of the catheter, to circulate coolant through the interior for heating or cooling a patient.