Heat exchange catheter with discrete heat exchange elements
First Claim
1. A heat exchange catheter comprising:
- a longitudinal catheter shaft with a proximal end and a distal end;
a heat exchange region comprising a plurality of heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a length and opposed ends and each of said heat exchange elements being disposed such that, when the heat exchange region of the catheter is positioned in a body lumen or body cavity that contains body fluid, the body fluid may circumferentially surround at least a portion of each heat exchange element, further including an insulating region on the shaft located proximally with respect to the heat exchange region and wherein the insulating region comprises an inflatable balloon surrounding the shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter for exchanging heat with a body fluid is disclosed. The catheter includes a main shaft and a heat exchange region having a plurality of heat exchange elements each having a length and opposed ends. Each of the elements is attached on at least one of its ends to the shaft and disposed so that when inserted in a fluid body cavity having body fluid therein, the body fluid may circumferentially surround each heat exchange element along a portion of the length of the heat exchange element. The catheter includes a fluid circulation path therein, which desirably includes the hollow lumen within each of heat exchange elements. The heat exchange elements may be connected at two points along the shaft using manifolds that are in fluid communication with fluid flow paths within the shaft. Alternatively, the heat exchange elements may be connected at only one point and be permitted to float in a proximal or distal direction with respect to the catheter. The heat exchange region may be formed on a distal portion of the catheter, or may be formed along the entire length thereof. In the former configuration, an insulating member, such as a balloon, may be provided along the shaft proximal to the heat exchange region. Ribs may be provided on each heat exchange element to disrupt flow therearound and increase heat exchange. Each of the heat exchange elements may be non-circular in cross-section, and may extend in an undulating path with respect to the catheter shaft.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A heat exchange catheter comprising:
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a longitudinal catheter shaft with a proximal end and a distal end;
a heat exchange region comprising a plurality of heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a length and opposed ends and each of said heat exchange elements being disposed such that, when the heat exchange region of the catheter is positioned in a body lumen or body cavity that contains body fluid, the body fluid may circumferentially surround at least a portion of each heat exchange element, further including an insulating region on the shaft located proximally with respect to the heat exchange region and wherein the insulating region comprises an inflatable balloon surrounding the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A heat exchange catheter comprising:
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a longitudinal catheter shaft with a proximal end and a distal end;
a heat exchange region comprising a plurality of heat exchange elements each of said heat exchange elements having a length and opposed ends and each of said heat exchange elements being disposed such that, when the heat exchange region of the catheter is positioned in a body lumen or body cavity that contains body fluid, the body fluid may circumferentially surround at least a portion of each heat exchange element, wherein the heat exchange elements are flexible and each is constrained along a portion of its length with respect to the shaft so that a free end of each heat exchange element is permitted to drift freely within the body fluid. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A heat exchange catheter comprising:
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a longitudinal catheter shaft with a proximal end and a distal end;
a heat exchange region comprising a plurality of heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a length and opposed ends and each of said heat exchange elements being disposed such that when the heat exchange region of the catheter is positioned in a body lumen or body cavity that contains body fluid, the body fluid may circumferentially surround at least a portion of each heat exchange element, wherein each heat exchange element comprises a filament having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being attached to the catheter shaft, and further including a spring member positioned between the filament and the shaft and adapted to compress upon application of an external force to the catheter as it is being inserted into the body cavity, and expand in the absence of such an external force to maintain the filament a predetermined radial distance away from shaft. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A heat exchange catheter comprising:
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a longitudinal catheter shaft with a proximal end and a distal end;
a heat exchange region comprising a plurality of heat exchange elements, each of said heat exchange elements having a length and opposed ends and each of said heat exchange elements being disposed such that, when the heat exchange region of the catheter is positioned in a body lumen or body cavity that contains body fluid, the body fluid may circumferentially surround at least a portion of each heat exchange element, wherein each heat exchange element comprises a rod-like filament having a flow disrupting rib disposed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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- 47. The catheter of clam 44, wherein at least some of the heat exchange elements have a fluid flow path therethrough.
Specification