Disposable cassette for intravascular heat exchange catheter
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heat exchange fluid supply system for supplying a heat exchange fluid to an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a disposable cassette having a bulkhead and an external heat exchanger, and which is configured to operate in combination with a reusable master control unit. The bulkhead includes a reservoir section and a pump section. The reservoir section is provided with a means to monitor the amount of heat exchange fluid that is in the system. The bulkhead provides the mechanism for priming the system with heat exchange fluid from an external source and for circulating fluid to the catheter in a closed circuit. The pump section is configured to allow for pumping of heat exchange fluid at a constant pressure.
62 Citations
36 Claims
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1-29. -29. (canceled)
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30. A method for providing a temperature regulated source of heat exchange fluid for heat exchange catheters, comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit comprising an external heat exchanger, a pump, a heat exchange catheter, and air vents, said external heat exchanger, pump and heat exchange catheter in fluid communication such that fluid pumped by the pump is circulated through said heat exchange catheter and said external heat exchanger, and said air vents allow passage of gas in and out of said circuit through said vents but do not allow passage of liquid in and out of said circuit through said air vents;
providing a heat generating or removing unit in heat exchange relationship with said external heat exchanger;
providing an external fluid source in fluid communication with said circuit;
circulating heat exchange fluid from said external source through said circuit by means of pumping with said pump while simultaneously venting any gas contained in said circuit out through said air vents; and
controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger fluid in said circuit by controlling the temperature of said heat generating or removing unit. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. (canceled)
Specification