Hypothermia Devices and Methods

• US 20090076573A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theranova, Llc
• Original Assignee: Velomedix, Inc.
• Inventors: Burnett, Daniel Rogers, Hall, Gregory W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0063 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0086 with a thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element

Abstract

A method of providing hypothermia to a patient including the steps of inserting a fluid delivery member into a peritoneal cavity of the patient; delivering hypothermia fluid from a fluid source into the peritoneal cavity through the delivery member; and limiting fluid pressure within the peritoneal cavity without providing feedback control to the fluid source. The invention also provides an apparatus for practicing the method.

Claims

1. A method of providing hypothermia to a patient comprising:

inserting a fluid delivery member into a peritoneal cavity of the patient;

delivering hypothermia fluid from a fluid source into the peritoneal cavity through the delivery member; and

limiting fluid pressure within the peritoneal cavity without providing feedback control to the fluid source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the limiting step comprises extracting fluid from the peritoneal cavity when the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the limiting step comprises opening a pressure relief valve at the predetermined pressure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid source comprises a pump, the limiting step comprising limiting pump outlet pressure.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein limiting pump outlet pressure comprises limiting torque on a moving pump component.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid source comprises a fluid container, the step of limiting fluid pressure comprising limiting height of the container over the patient.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step comprises commencing delivery of fluid through the delivery member automatically when an outlet port of the delivery member enters the peritoneal cavity.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating a heat exchange element within the peritoneal cavity.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising cooling the fluid in the cavity using an endothermic reaction.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising cooling the fluid using a compressed gas.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising cycling a fixed volume of fluid into and out of the peritoneal cavity.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises a hypertonic ice slurry and a hypotonic cold fluid.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the hypertonic ice slurry and a hypotonic cold fluid together are isotonic.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the fluid delivery member transgastrically.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the fluid delivery member transrectally.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring patient temperature.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein measuring patient temperature comprises measuring patient temperature in a trachea.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein measuring patient temperature comprises measuring patient temperature in an esophagus.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein measuring patient temperature comprises measuring patient temperature in a bladder.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing automated circulation to the patient with a CPR machine.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising contacting an exterior surface of the patient with a cooling blanket.

22. A hypothermia system comprising:

a fluid source;

a fluid delivery member adapted to be inserted into a peritoneal cavity of a patient; and

a cavity pressure limiter adapted to limit fluid pressure within the peritoneal cavity without providing feedback control to the fluid source.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising a fluid extraction member adapted to extract fluid from the peritoneal cavity.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the cavity pressure limiter comprises a pressure relief valve controlling flow of fluid through the fluid extraction member.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the fluid extraction member comprises a weight at an inlet port.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the fluid source comprises a pump, the cavity pressure limiter comprising a torque limiter in the pump.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the torque limiter comprises a clutch plate.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the fluid delivery member comprises a multi-lumen trocar.

29. The system of claim 22 further comprising a heat exchange element supported by the fluid delivery member.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the fluid source comprises a hypertonic ice slurry and a hypotonic cold fluid.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein a combination of the hypertonic slurry and hypotonic fluid is isotonic.

32. The system of claim 22 further comprising a transgastric delivery tool.

33. The system of claim 22 further comprising a transrectal delivery tool.

34. The system of claim 22 further comprising a patient temperature sensor.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on an endotracheal cuff.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on an esophageal catheter.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the temperature sensor is mounted on a bladder catheter.

38. The system of claim 22 further comprising a CPR machine adapted to provided automated circulation to the patient.

39. The system of claim 22 further comprising a cooling blanket.