Method and apparatus for establishing and maintaining therapeutic hypothemia

• US 6,460,544 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alsius Corporation
• Inventors: Worthen, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/498,499
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27, 606/28, 606/29, 606/30, 606/31, 606/32, 606/20, 607/96, 607/98, 607/105, 607/104, 607/106, 607/113, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• 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 1/369 Temperature treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

A kit for establishing and maintaining hypothermia in a patient for neurotherapeutic purposes includes a high cooling capacity catheter that is advanced into the patient'"'"'s central venous system to quickly cool the patient to, e.g., 32° C. or so. Once hypothermia has been established, the high capacity catheter is removed and replaced with a lower cooling capacity catheter which maintains a desired reduced temperature. The lower capacity catheter advantageously can be configured as a central venous catheter for permitting the catheter to be used for multiple functions. Alternatively, the high cooling capacity catheter can be used to attenuate a fever and lower the patient'"'"'s body temperature to normal, with the lower capacity catheter being used to maintain normal body temperature.

Claims

1. A method for establishing and maintaining a predetermined temperature in a patient, comprising the acts of:

lowering the patient'"'"'s temperature to a desired level using a groin catheter at least partially placed in the venous system of the patient; and

maintaining the temperature at the desired level using a second catheter having a heat exchange region placed in the patient'"'"'s venous system, both catheters circulating coolant in a closed loop such that the coolant does not contact the blood.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first catheter includes at least one balloon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange region of the second catheter includes at least one balloon.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising the act of removing the first catheter from the patient prior to the maintaining act.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising the act of undertaking one or more central venous line functions using the second catheter during the maintaining act.