Method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature by in situ blood temperature modification

• US 5,486,208 A
• Filed: 10/18/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Robert Ginsburg
• Inventors: Ginsburg, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/324,853
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 607/105, 607/106, 607/113, 606/27-31, 606/194, 604/96-103, 604/113, 604/114
• US Class Current: 607/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36585 controlled by two or more physical parameters

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.

Claims

1. A method for increasing a patient'"'"'s body temperature by warming blood within the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter having a heating element into a blood vessel of the patient so that the heating element lies within the blood vessel;

providing heat transfer fins projecting radially outward from the catheter in the region of the heating element;

transferring heat to the blood through the heating element, wherein heat transfer is enhanced by the presence of the heat transfer fins.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heating element is a resistance heating element and heat is transferred by conducting electrical current through the resistance heating element.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising inflating a balloon around the heating element with a heat transmissive fluid,

wherein the heat transfer fins project radially outward from the balloon and the heat transmissive transfer fluid effects heat transfer from the heating element to the heat transfer fins.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the heating element is heated to a temperature not exceeding 43°

C. to transfer heat to the blood.

5. A method for treating a patient suffering from hypothermia by warming blood within the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter having a heating element into a blood vessel of the patient so that the heating element lies within the blood vessel;

providing heat transfer fins projecting radially outward from the catheter in the region of the heating element;

transferring heat to the blood through the heating element to increase the patient'"'"'s body temperature, wherein heat transfer is enhanced by the presence of the heat transfer fins.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the heating element is a resistance heating element and heat is transferred by conducting electrical current through the resistance heating element.

7. A method as in claim 5, further comprising inflating a balloon around the heating element with a heat transmissive fluid,

wherein the heat transfer fins project radially outward from the balloon and the heat transmissive fluid effects heat transfer from the heating element to the heat transfer fins.