Medical device for thermally affecting tissue having an inflatable circumferential stiffening member

• US 20060111765A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seacoast Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seacoast Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirkman, John M. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/993,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0002 Head or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element

Abstract

A medical device for thermally affecting tissue including a heat exchanger having a first fluid circulating through the heat exchanger, a deployment member secured to at least a portion of the heat exchanger, and a second fluid located within the deployment member. The medical device may be deformable upon contact with tissue, and may further include a deployment member having a rigidity that can be modified by changes in temperature.

Claims

1. A medical device for thermally affecting tissue, comprising:

a heat exchanger defining a chamber adapted to receive a first fluid, and

a deployment member secured to at least a portion of the heat exchanger.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is adapted to receive a second fluid.

3. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is disposed on an interior perimeter of the heat exchanger.

4. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is disposed on an exterior perimeter of the heat exchanger.

5. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member traverses a portion of a surface of the heat exchanger.

6. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is located within the chamber of the heat exchanger.

7. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is shaped substantially similar to the heat exchanger.

8. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is made from a pliant material.

9. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is made from a thermally transmissive material.

10. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is deformable upon contact with tissue.

11. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger has an essentially circular shape.

12. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger has an essentially rectangular shape.

13. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger further includes an input lumen and an output lumen.

14. The medical device according to claim 13, wherein the chamber, interior lumen, and output lumen define a fluid circulation path.

15. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is a thermally transmissive fluid.

16. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is pressurized to less than 1.0 psig.

17. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is chilled to below body temperature.

18. The medical device according to claim 2, wherein the second fluid is a thermally transmissive fluid.

19. The medical device according to claim 2, wherein the second fluid is pressurized to a predetermined pressure.

20. The medical device according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined pressure corresponds to a desired rigidity of the inflation member.

21. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is detachable from the heat exchanger.

22. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member includes an inflation lumen.

23. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is made from a thermally transmissive material.

24. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is comprised of at least one inflatable element.

25. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member is made from a shape memory material.

26. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member includes a spring.

27. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the deployment member has a rigidity that can be modified by changes in temperature.

28. A medical device for thermally affecting tissue, comprising:

a heat exchanger defining a chamber, an input lumen and an output lumen, wherein the chamber is adapted to receive a first fluid, with the heat exchanger being deformable upon contact with tissue, and

a deployment member secured to at least a portion of the heat exchanger, wherein the deployment member is adapted to receive a second fluid, wherein the second fluid is pressurized to obtain a desired rigidity of the deployment member.

29. A method for thermally affecting tissue, comprising the steps of:

positioning a medical device in proximity to an area of tissue, the medical device being comprised of a heat exchanger and a deployment member secured to at least a portion of the heat exchanger,

introducing an inflation fluid into the deployment member,

positioning the medical device into thermal communication with a tissue,

circulating a thermally transmissive fluid through the heat exchanger, and

allowing the medical device to thermally affect the tissue.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of evacuating the thermally transmissive fluid from the heat exchanger.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of evacuating the inflation fluid from the deployment member and removing the device from thermal communication with the tissue.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the tissue is brain tissue.