Method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature by in situ blood temperature modification
First Claim
1. A system for restoring normal body temperature to a patient, said system comprising:
- an intravascular catheter having at least one heat transfer surface;
a temperature sensor; and
a control unit connectable to the temperature sensor and the catheter for selectively transferring heat to and from the at least one heat transfer surface to maintain normal body temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient'"'"'s body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired. The method and system further provide for the cooling of initially hypothermic patients whose blood or body temperature has been warmed above the desired target level and the warming of initially hyperthermic patients whose blood or body temperature has been cooled below the desired target temperature.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for restoring normal body temperature to a patient, said system comprising:
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an intravascular catheter having at least one heat transfer surface;
a temperature sensor; and
a control unit connectable to the temperature sensor and the catheter for selectively transferring heat to and from the at least one heat transfer surface to maintain normal body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A catheter for restoring normal body temperature to a patient by selectively transferring heat to or from blood flow, said catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end which is insertable into a blood vessel;
a heat-generating heat exchange surface near the distal end of the catheter; and
a heat-absorbing heat exchange surface near the distal end of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for restoring normal body temperature to a patient having a body temperature above or below normal body temperature, said method comprising:
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selectively introducing heat to the blood flow for hypothermic patients or removing heat from the blood flow from hyperthermic patients;
monitoring a temperature characteristic of the patient; and
selectively removing heat through the catheter from the blood flow of initially hypothermic patients if the temperature characteristic indicates that the patient has or will become hyperthermic or introducing heat through the catheter to the blood flow of initially hyperthermic patients if the temperature characteristic indicates that the patient has or will become hypothermic. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification