Method for altering the body temperature of a patient using a nebulized mist
First Claim
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1. A method of reducing the body temperature of a patient for any clinical condition in which a reduction in body temperature is desirable, comprising:
- (a) administering a mist to said patient by ventilation, wherein;
(i) said mist is generated by a nebulizer and contains liquid particles having an average size of no more than 5 microns in diameter;
(ii) said mist comprises a mixture of a physiologically acceptable gas and a physiologically acceptable liquid;
(iii) said mist is administered at a temperature below the body temperature of said patient;
and (b) maintaining the administration of said mist until said patient'"'"'s body temperature is reduced.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to methods for changing the body temperature of a patient by having them breathe a mist created by nebulizer. The temperature of the mist is adjusted using a heat exchanger. The methods may be used to either cool or warm patients for a variety of clinical reasons. In addition, the invention includes a device (Thermomist) that can be used for generating a mist that can be administered to patients.
61 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of reducing the body temperature of a patient for any clinical condition in which a reduction in body temperature is desirable, comprising:
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(a) administering a mist to said patient by ventilation, wherein;
(i) said mist is generated by a nebulizer and contains liquid particles having an average size of no more than 5 microns in diameter;
(ii) said mist comprises a mixture of a physiologically acceptable gas and a physiologically acceptable liquid;
(iii) said mist is administered at a temperature below the body temperature of said patient;
and (b) maintaining the administration of said mist until said patient'"'"'s body temperature is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of increasing the body temperature of a patient for any clinical condition in which an increase in body temperature is desirable, comprising:
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(a) administering a mist to said patient by ventilation, wherein;
(i) said mist is generated by a nebulizer and contains liquid particles having an average size of no more than 5 microns in diameter;
(ii) said mist comprises a mixture of a physiologically acceptable gas and a physiologically acceptable liquid;
(iii) said mist is administered at a temperature above the body temperature of said patient;
(b) maintaining the administration of said mist until said patient'"'"'s body temperature is increased. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11)
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- 10. The method of claim, wherein said mist comprises no less than 80% gas by volume and no more than 20% liquid by volume.
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14. A heat exchange system (Thermomist) comprising:
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(a) a gas impermeable circuit in which a mist is circulated through, said circuit comprising;
(i) an interface (30) through which gas and mist may be exchanged with a patient;
(ii) an exhalation limb of the breathing circuit (26) connecting said interface (30) to a mist generation region (28) and having a fresh gas supply inlet (11) connected to a gas reservoir (27);
(iii) a mist generation region (28) connecting said exhalation limb (26) to a heat exchange region (29), wherein said mist generation region (28) is bounded on the bottom by a fluid layer (3) lying on the surface of a mist generation plate (1A);
(iv) a heat exchange region (29) in which a tubing for said mist extends through a heat exchanger (22) and connects said mist generation region (28) to the inhalation limb of the breathing circuit (25);
(v) an inhalation limb of the breathing circuit (25) connecting said interface (30) to said heat exchange region (29) and comprising;
(a) a liquid trap (24) connected to an overflow reservoir (6); and
(b) a ventilator (21);
(b) a mist generation plate (1A) which;
(i) lies underneath said mist generation region (28) of said heat exchange system;
(ii) serves as an electrode;
(iii) has a fluid layer (3) on its upper surface;
(c) a piezoelectric vibrator plate (2) contacting the bottom surface of said mist generation plate (1A) and the top surface of an electrode (1B);
(d) an overflow tube (32) connecting said fluid layer (3) to an overflow reservoir (6);
(e) a main liquid reservoir (5) connected by tubing (4) to said fluid layer (3); and
(f) a heat exchanger (22) which is part of the heat exchange region (29) of said heat exchange system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification