Cooling system for therapeutic catheter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heat exchange system for a catheter, comprising:
- at least one heat exchange element connectable to the catheter for receiving coolant from the catheter; and
at least one thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchange element for heating or cooling the element such that coolant is returned to catheter to heat or cool the catheter, wherein the heat exchange element includes plural hollow fibers.
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Abstract
A heat exchanger to remove heat from coolant in a closed circuit cooling catheter includes two heat exchange stages. Each stage includes a heat exchange element, such as a group of hollow fibers, and a TEC array juxtaposed with the heat exchange element to remove heat from the element. The elements are in fluid series with each other and are separated from each other by a thermal barrier. A thermal interface can be provided between each element and its TEC array. In one embodiment, the thermal interface is a gel layer. In another embodiment, the thermal interface is an ethylene glycol bath.
346 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A heat exchange system for a catheter, comprising:
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at least one heat exchange element connectable to the catheter for receiving coolant from the catheter; and at least one thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchange element for heating or cooling the element such that coolant is returned to catheter to heat or cool the catheter, wherein the heat exchange element includes plural hollow fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 18)
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6. A heat exchange system for a catheter, comprising:
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at least one heat exchange element connectable to the catheter for receiving coolant from the catheter; and at least one thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchange element for heating or cooling the element such that coolant is returned to catheter to heat or cool the catheter, wherein the heat exchange element includes a bag having plural fluid paths through the bag.
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7. A heat exchange system for a catheter, comprising:
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at least one heat exchange element connectable to the catheter for receiving coolant from the catheter; at least one thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchange element for heating or cooling the element such that coolant is returned to catheter to heat or cool the catheter; and at least first and second heat exchange elements in series and first and second TEC assemblies, each heat exchange element being associated with a respective TEC assembly. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A cooling system for a therapeutic medical device, comprising:
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at least one heat exchanger made at least partially of plastic, the heat exchanger receiving coolant from the medical device and returning coolant thereto; and a thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchanger for removing heat from the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger includes plural hollow fibers.
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10. A cooling system for a therapeutic medical device, comprising:
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at least one heat exchanger made at least partially of plastic, the heat exchanger receiving coolant from the medical device and returning coolant thereto; and a thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchanger for removing heat from the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger includes a bag having plural fluid paths through the bag. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A cooling system for a therapeutic medical device, comprising:
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at least one heat exchanger made at least partially of plastic, the heat exchanger receiving coolant from the medical device and returning coolant thereto; a thermal electric cooler (TEC) in thermal contact with the heat exchanger for removing heat from the heat exchanger; and at least first and second heat exchangers in series. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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19. A cooling system, comprising:
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catheter means for conveying coolant into a patient'"'"'s body without directly contacting the coolant with the body; heat exchanger means communicating with the catheter means for receiving therefrom and returning thereto coolant; cooling means in thermal contact with the heat exchanger means for conveying heat away from the heat exchanger means; and at least first and second heat exchanger means in fluid series with each other and first and second cooling means associated with the first and second heat exchanger means.
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Specification