Intravascular systems for corporeal cooling

• US 20060036303A1
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthur E. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Arthur E. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Arthur E.
• Application Number:
  US11/251,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1059 having different inflatable sections mainly depending on the response to the inflation pressure, e.g. due to different material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprises an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen extending therethrough for providing cooled blood, an inflatable annular balloon positioned on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member, and a pressure reliever positioned in the external wall of the elongated tubular member and proximal to the annular inflatable balloon, wherein when the pressure of blood within a lumen reaches a predetermined value, the pressure reliever opens to permit fluid to be released from the elongated tubular member. In other embodiments of the invention the catheter may have two or more inflatable annular balloons that are separately inflatable and/or the catheter has an insulative outer annular member.

Claims

1. A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and

annular insulation having proximal and distal ends and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the elongated tubular member,

wherein at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide externally cooled blood in the direction of the distal section of the elongated tubular member and wherein externally cooled blood flowing through one or more lumens within the elongated tubular member is insulated from fluid or tissue external to the annular insulation to maintain the temperature of the cooled blood.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the annular insulation extends over substantially the entire outer surface of the elongated tubular member.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the annular insulation is tapered.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the annular insulation extends for from about 50 to 80% of the total length of the elongated tubular member.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the annular insulation comprises a fluid-filled tubular member.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the fluid is water or saline solution.

7. The catheter of claim 5, wherein the fluid is a gas.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the annular insulation comprises a tubular member filled with insulative material.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the insulative material is a synthetic polymeric fill.

10. The catheter of claim 1 which also comprises a pressure sensor at or adjacent to the distal end of the catheter.

11. The catheter of claim 1 which is adapted to be useful for brain cooling.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least one lumen is in fluid communication with a source of cooled blood.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least one lumen is in fluid communication with a liquid pharmaceutical source.

14. A catheter for corporeal cooling and maintaining the temperature of fluid flowing through the catheter, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and

annular insulation having proximal and distal ends and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the elongated tubular member,

wherein externally cooled blood flowing through one or more lumens within the elongated tubular member is insulated from fluid or tissue external to the annular insulation so that the temperature of the cooled blood is substantially unchanged as it flows through the catheter.

16. The catheter of claim 14 or 15, wherein the annular insulation extends over substantially the entire outer surface of the elongated tubular member.

17. The catheter of claim 14 or 15, wherein the annular insulation comprises a tubular member filled with insulative material.

18. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the insulative material is a synthetic polymeric fill.

19. The catheter of claim 14 or 15 which also comprises a pressure sensor at or adjacent to the distal end of the catheter.

20. The catheter of claim 14 or 15, wherein at least one lumen is in fluid communication with a source of cooled blood.

15. An insulated catheter for maintaining the temperature of fluid flowing through the catheter, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and

annular insulation having proximal and distal ends and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the elongated tubular member,

wherein fluid flowing through one or more lumens within the elongated tubular member is insulated from fluid or tissue external to the annular insulation so that the temperature of the fluid is substantially unchanged as it flows through the catheter.

21. A catheter set for intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

a first elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends, and

a second tubular member arranged concentrically around the proximal end of the first elongated tubular member and having proximal and distal portions, wherein the distal portion of the second elongated tubular member has openings.

22. The catheter set of claim 21, wherein the openings in the distal portion of the second elongated longitudinal tubular member can be changed.

23. The catheter set of claim 22 which comprises a third tubular member arranged concentrically around the distal portion of the second tubular member and wherein the openings are changed by rotation and/or sliding of the third tubular member over the outer surface of the second tubular member.

24. A method of treating, minimizing, or avoiding renal failure in a patient, comprising the steps of

positioning the distal portion of an intravascular corporeal cooling catheter into a renal artery of the patient, and

providing cooled blood through said catheter into the renal artery.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the intravascular corporeal cooling catheter comprises:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, an external wall, and at least two lumens extending therethrough,

an inflatable annular balloon positioned on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member, and

pressure relief means positioned in the external wall of the elongated tubular member,

wherein at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the intravascular corporeal cooling catheter comprises:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least two lumens extending therethrough, and

two or more inflatable annular balloons arranged on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member,

wherein at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the intravascular corporeal cooling catheter comprises:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and

annular insulation having proximal and distal ends and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the elongated tubular member,

wherein at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction and fluid flowing through one or more lumens within the elongated external member is insulated from fluid or tissue external to the annular insulation.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the catheter is a catheter of intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and

annular insulation having proximal and distal ends and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the elongated external tubular member,

wherein externally cooled blood flowing through one or more lumens within the elongated tubular member is insulated from fluid or tissue external to the annular insulation so that the temperature of the cooled blood is substantially unchanged as it flows through the catheter.