Method and apparatus for establishing and maintaining therapeutic hypothemia
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
5 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification