Specialized perfusion protocol for whole-body hyperthermia

• US 5,476,444 A
• Filed: 10/04/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thermasolutions
• Original Assignee: IDT Incorporated (IDT Corporation)
• Inventors: Keeling, Norman G., Truitt, Robert B., Guzman, Joseph A., Ash, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/318,132
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 604/4, 604/5, 604/6, 604/19, 604/27, 604/28, 604/113, 604/114
• US Class Current: 604/6.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0059 with an open fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0053 Cabins, rooms, chairs or units for treatment with a hot or cold circulating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/08 Warming pads, pans or mats A61F7/02 takes precedence; Hot-water bottles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/1696 with dialysate regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3486 Biological, chemical treatment, e.g. chemical precipitation; treatment by absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3493 using treatment agents in suspension
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3609 Physical characteristics of the blood, e.g. haematocrit, urea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/369 Temperature treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/366 by liquid heat exchangers

Abstract

A method for extracorporeal blood heating to effect whole body hyperthermia, which utilizes a hemodialyzer with a sorbent suspension in the dialysate, a blood pump and a heat exchanger--in addition to various probes and catheters and heated anterior and posterior blankets for the patient--to effect extracorporeal treatment without adverse effect on blood physiology and without the need for general anesthesia. Blood returning to the body is heated to at least about 46° C. Incorporation of hemodialysis into the blood heating treatment solves at once several problems which plagued prior art hyperthermia techniques: it rectifies any imbalances of sodium, potassium, magnesium, bicarbonate or phosphate, and may remove toxins incident to necrosis of tumors and virally infected cells. Hyperthermia protocols with sorbent--based dialysis of blood thus avoid the various serious side effects which complicated--even to the point of death--the hyperthermia treatments known from the past.

Claims

1. A method for the extracorporeal heating of blood in a patient having veins and arteries for the flow of blood in which extracorporeal hyperthermia is indicated, comprising the steps of:

creating an extracorporeal blood circuit;

catheterizing one of said veins or said arteries;

connecting said catheterizing vein or artery to said extracorporeal blood circuit, whereby blood flows from said vein or artery into said circuit;

heating at least some of the blood in said extracorporeal blood circuit to a temperature of at least 46°

C. by a primary heating means;

subjecting at least some of the blood in said extracorporeal blood circuit to hemodialysis; and

returning said heated blood to the patient.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said heating step further comprises heating at least some of the blood in said extracorporeal blood circuit by elevating the temperature of a dialyzing solution used in the hemodialysis step.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said heating step further comprises heating at least some of the blood in said extracorporeal blood circuit by elevating the temperature of the blood directly with a heat exchanging means.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said heating step further comprises heating at least some of the blood in said extracorporeal blood circuit to raise the core temperature of the patient to approximately 41.5°

-42°

C.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said extracorporeal blood circuit includes a blood pump.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said blood pump is upstream of a means for effecting said hemodialysis, and including a supplemental heating means associated with said blood pump.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said hemodialysis is effected by means of a hemodialyzer containing at least one dialysis membrane and a sorbent suspension.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said heating step further includes heating the body of the patient with a heated mattress.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said heating step further includes heating the body of the patient with a heated blanket.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said extracorporeal blood circuit contains a heat exchanger downstream of said hemodialyzer.

11. A method for treating a neoplasm in a patient, comprising the steps of heating and dialyzing the blood of said patient, wherein the blood of the patient is heated for a period of time to at least 46°

C.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said heating effects whole body hyperthermia to a core body temperature of 41.5°

-42°

C.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said dialyzing is accomplished by means of sorbent suspension containing a water suspension of 140 grams powdered activated charcoal;

22.1 grams Na₂ HPO₄ *7H₂ O;

12.2 grams CaCl₂ *2H₂ O;

100 grams cation exchange resin loaded with Na, Ca, Mg and K ions;

8.8 grams NaCl;

15.1 grams NaHCO₃ ; and

3 grams of a glycol derivative.

14. A method for treating a viral infection in a patient, comprising the steps of heating and dialyzing the blood of said patient, wherein the blood of the patient is heated for a period of time to at least 46°

C.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said heating effects whole body hyperthermia to a core body temperature of 41.5°

-42°

C.