Inducing hypothermia and rewarming using a helium-oxygen mixture
First Claim
1. A method for medical treatment comprising:
- selecting a human patient that has had an ischemic event or is undergoing a surgery associated with a significant probability of causing ischemia;
providing a cooled gas mixture comprising helium and oxygen and having a temperature of less than about, 10 degrees Centigrade; and
ventilating the patient using the cooled gas mixture to lower the patient'"'"'s core body temperature to reduce tissue oxygen consumption.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods to heat and cool human beings, including inducing and maintaining hypothermia in human patients. Methods include inducing hypothermia to treat ischemic events, including heart attack and stroke, to limit damage caused by the ischemic event. Methods can include: using the lungs for heat exchange; using cooled gases for ventilation; using helium in the ventilation gas mixture, using medications to control reflex heat production; and injecting a perfluorocarbon mist into the gas stream to increase the cooling rate. The high thermal conductivity and diffusivity of helium results in greater inspired gas temperature equalization toward body temperature. Due to the latent heat of vaporization, addition of even small quantity of phase-change perfluorocarbon dramatically increases the heat carrying capacity of the respiratory gases. Hypothermia may be terminated by discontinuing the medications and warming the patient using a warmed helium-oxygen mixture.
130 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for medical treatment comprising:
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selecting a human patient that has had an ischemic event or is undergoing a surgery associated with a significant probability of causing ischemia;
providing a cooled gas mixture comprising helium and oxygen and having a temperature of less than about, 10 degrees Centigrade; and
ventilating the patient using the cooled gas mixture to lower the patient'"'"'s core body temperature to reduce tissue oxygen consumption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for inducing hypothermia in humans, the system comprising:
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a first gas intake for coupling to an oxygen source;
a second gas intake for coupling to a helium source;
a mixing region coupled to the first and second gas intakes for combining the oxygen and helium to produce a gas mixture;
a cooling region in fluid communication with the mixing region for cooling the oxygen and helium; and
a gas outlet in fluid communication with the cooling region that can be used for operably coupling the cooled gas mixture to a breathing tube or endotracheal tube or face mask. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for inducing hypothermia in a human patient, the method comprising performing partial liquid ventilation on the patent using a liquid perfluorocarbon having a temperature less than 20 degrees Centigrade and a gas comprising helium and oxygen and having a temperature of less than 20 degrees Centigrade.
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28. A composition of matter comprising:
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helium gas;
oxygen gas; and
a perfluourocarbon liquid having a boiling point less than 37 degrees centigrade. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification