Indwelling heat exchange catheter and method of using same
First Claim
1. A catheter having an elongate configuration with a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter comprising:
- an outer tube having an elongate configuration and a first lumen;
an inner tube disposed in the first lumen of the outer tube and having a second lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter;
portions of the inner tube defining a first fluid flow path extending along the second lumen between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter;
portions of the outer tube and the inner tube defining a second flow path extending between the first tube and the second tube; and
a plurality of hollow fibers providing fluid communication between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A catheter having an elongate configuration with a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter comprising:
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an outer tube having an elongate configuration and a first lumen;
an inner tube disposed in the first lumen of the outer tube and having a second lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter;
portions of the inner tube defining a first fluid flow path extending along the second lumen between the proximal end and the distal end of the catheter;
portions of the outer tube and the inner tube defining a second flow path extending between the first tube and the second tube; and
a plurality of hollow fibers providing fluid communication between the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for making a heat exchange catheter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first tube having a first lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
inserting a second tube into the lumen of the first tube, the second tube having a second lumen;
connecting a plurality of hollow fibers in fluid communication with a first flow path extending along the second lumen of the second tube, and a second flow path extending along the first lumen of the first tube outwardly to the second tube; and
insuring that the second tube is at least one of axially and rotationally movable relative to the first tube to vary the configuration of the hollow fibers in order to facilitate heat exchange with the heat exchange catheter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a heat exchange catheter within a body conduit containing a body fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting into the body conduit the heat exchange catheter with an inner tube disposed within an outer tube to define a first flow path interiorly of the inner tube and a second flow path between the inner tube and the outer tube, and a plurality of hollow fibers disposed in fluid communication between the first flow path and the second flow path; and
creating a flow of heat exchange fluid by introducing the heat exchange fluid into one of the first flow path and the second flow path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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28. A heat exchange catheter, including:
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an elongate shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end a distal end;
first portions of the shaft defining an inlet lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the shaft;
second portions of the shaft defining an outlet lumen;
a first manifold in fluid communication with the inlet lumen at the distal end of the shaft;
a second manifold in fluid communication with the outlet lumen of the shaft;
a plurality of hollow fibers disposed to extend between the first manifold and the second manifold in fluid communication with the inlet lumen and the outlet lumen; and
the catheter being adapted to receive a heat exchange fluid at the proximal end of the inlet lumen, and to direct the heat exchange fluid through the hollow fibers to exchange heat through the hollow fibers. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 61, 62, 63)
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35. A catheter adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid flowing through a body conduit, the catheter comprising:
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a shaft having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an input lumen and an output lumen;
a plurality of hollow fibers defining a heat exchange region of the shaft and collectively defining an outer surface of the heat exchange region;
the input lumen of the shaft coupled to the hollow fibers of the heat exchange region at a first location, the output lumen of the shaft being coupled to the hollow fibers of the heat exchange region at a second location such that a heat exchange fluid introduced into the input lumen will enter the hollow fibers of the heat exchange region at the first location and will exit the hollow fibers of the heat exchange region at the second location through the output lumen. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for exchanging heat with a body fluid in a body conduit, comprising the steps of:
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introducing into the body conduit a catheter having an inlet lumen and an outlet lumen;
providing the catheter with a first cavity in heat transfer relationship with a body fluid in the body conduit;
introducing a heat exchange fluid into the inlet lumen and into the first cavity;
exchanging heat between the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid in the body conduit;
removing the heat exchange fluid from the first cavity through the outlet lumen; and
during the providing step, providing the catheter with a plurality of hollow heat exchange fibers each extending in fluid communication with the inlet lumen and the outlet lumen, the heat exchange fibers collectively defining the first cavity in heat transfer relationship with the body fluid in the body conduit. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A catheter having a elongate configuration with a proximal end and distal end, comprising:
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an operative area of the catheter sized and configured for disposition in a vessel containing blood flowing in a particular direction, the operative area being adapted to perform a predetermined function and the blood in the vessel having a tendency to form blood clots; and
a snare disposed in the particular direction from the operative area and being operable from the proximal end of the catheter to move from a low-profile state facilitating insertion of the catheter into the vessel, and a high-profile state facilitating capture of any blood clots. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A heat exchange catheter having a elongate configuration and extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter being adapted for cooling the blood of a patient, comprising:
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a heat exchange region of the catheter, a plurality of fibers included in the heat exchange region, with each of the fibers having a hollow configuration and being adapted to receive a heat exchange fluid; and
a coating disposed on the outer surface of the fibers to inhibit the formation of blood clots on the cooled fibers. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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Specification