System and method for controlling the temperature of a catheter-mounted heater
First Claim
1. A system for keeping a surface temperature of a blood contacting surface of a thermodilution catheter within safe physiological limits, comprising:
- a core temperature monitor for monitoring a core temperature of a core of an electric resistance-type thermodilution heater element of the thermodilution catheter;
a power source for supplying electric power to said thermodilution heater element;
a power monitor for monitoring an amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element;
condition determining means, for determining when a potentially physiologically harmful temperature condition exists; and
control means, in communication with said core temperature monitor, said power monitor, said power source, and said condition determining means, for controlling the amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element by said power source, to keep the surface temperature within safe physiological limits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for keeping the surface temperature of an electric resistance-type heater element in a thermodilution catheter within safe physiological limits includes, in the preferred embodiment, a heater element core temperature monitor, a monitor for monitoring the power that is supplied to the heater element, and a surface temperature calculator for calculating the surface temperature of the heater element based on the core temperature, supplied power, and information representing the characteristics of the particular catheter under anticipated clinical conditions. A second aspect of the invention involves a system for determining the supply of power to the heater element based on the core temperature of the heater element. A third aspect of the invention involves a system readiness test for determining, in vivo, that the thermodilution catheter system is properly calibrated before the system is operational. Methods of operation for each of the above-referenced aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
33 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for keeping a surface temperature of a blood contacting surface of a thermodilution catheter within safe physiological limits, comprising:
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a core temperature monitor for monitoring a core temperature of a core of an electric resistance-type thermodilution heater element of the thermodilution catheter; a power source for supplying electric power to said thermodilution heater element; a power monitor for monitoring an amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element; condition determining means, for determining when a potentially physiologically harmful temperature condition exists; and control means, in communication with said core temperature monitor, said power monitor, said power source, and said condition determining means, for controlling the amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element by said power source, to keep the surface temperature within safe physiological limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for keeping a surface temperature of a blood contacting surface of a thermodilution catheter within safe physiological limits, comprising:
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a core temperature monitor for monitoring a core temperature of a core of an electric resistance-type thermodilution heater element of said thermodilution catheter; a power source for supplying electric power to said thermodilution heater element; a power monitor for monitoring the amount of electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element; and control means, in communication with said core temperature monitor and with said power monitor, for controlling the amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element by said power source to maintain the surface temperature within safe physiological limits. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for keeping a surface temperature of a blood contacting surface of a thermodilution catheter within safe physiological limits, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a core temperature of a core of an electric resistance-type thermodilution heater element of said thermodilution catheter; (b) supplying electric power to said thermodilution heater element; (c) monitoring the amount of electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element; (d) determining whether a potentially physiologically harmful temperature condition exists; and (e) controlling the amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element to keep the surface temperature within safe physiological limits. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for controlling a surface temperature of a blood contacting surface of a thermodilution catheter comprising:
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a core temperature monitor for monitoring a core temperature of a core of an electric resistance-type thermodilution heater element of said thermodilution catheter; a power source for supplying electric power to said thermodilution heater element; a power monitor for monitoring an amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element; control means, in communication with said core temperature monitor, said power monitor and said power source, for controlling the amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element by said power source, to keep the surface temperature within safe physiological limits; and surface temperature calculating means, in communication with said core temperature monitor and said power monitor, for calculating the surface temperature.
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28. A method for keeping a surface temperature of a blood contacting surface of a thermodilution catheter within safe physiological limits, comprising:
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(a) monitoring a core temperature of a core of an electric resistance-type thermodilution heater element of said thermodilution catheter; (b) supplying electric power to said thermodilution heater element; (c) monitoring an amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element by said power source; and (d) controlling the amount of the electric power that is supplied to said thermodilution heater element by said power source based on the core temperature so that the surface temperature is kept within safe physiological limits.
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Specification