Method for low temperature thrombolysis and low temperature thrombolytic agent with selective organ temperature control

• US 6,478,811 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Innercool therapies Incorporated (Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lasheras, Juan C., Dobak, John D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kearney, Rosiland S.
• Application Number:
  US09/714,893
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/105, 607/106, 607/113, 606/20, 606/21, 606/22, 606/23, 606/24, 606/25, 606/26, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0281 using a tortuous path, e.g. formed by fins or ribs
• 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: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter

Abstract

The invention provides a method for substantially reducing the size of a thrombus in a blood vessel in which blood is flowing. The method includes delivering a heat transfer element to a blood vessel in fluid communication with a thrombosed blood vessel. The temperature of the heat transfer element is adjusted such that the same is sufficient to remove heat from the flowing blood. Heat is transferred from a volume including the thrombus to the heat transfer element. In a separate embodiment, heat may be delivered to the volume including the thrombus from the heat transfer element. The resultant temperature of the volume may be sufficient to substantially reduce the size of a thrombus. For example, the resultant temperature of the volume may be sufficiently high to substantially enhance plasminogen activation near the thrombus. In a separate embodiment, a therapeutic drug may be delivered to the blood vessel to further reduce the size of a thrombus, the drug having an optimal temperature at the hypothermic or hyperthermic temperature of the blood.

Claims

1. A method to alter the activity of an enzyme present in a volume of blood relative to the activity of the enzyme at a normal blood temperature, comprising:

delivering a heat transfer element to a volume of blood;

adjusting the temperature of the heat transfer element by delivering a working fluid to the heat transfer element such that the temperature of the heat transfer element is sufficient to alter the temperature of at least a portion of the volume of blood; and

transferring heat between the volume of blood and the heat transfer element, such that the resulting temperature of the volume is sufficient to substantially alter the enzyme activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer clement is flexible.

3. A method to alter the activity of an enzyme present in a flow of blood relative to the activity of the enzyme at a normal blood temperature, comprising:

delivering a heat transfer element to the blood flow upstream of the enzyme;

adjusting the temperature of the heat transfer element by delivering a working fluid to the heat transfer element such that the temperature of the heat transfer element is sufficient to alter the temperature of a local portion of the blood flow including the enzyme; and

transferring heat between the portion of the blood flow and the heat transfer element, such that the resultant temperature of the portion of the blood flow is sufficient to substantially alter the enzyme activity within at least the portion of the blood flow.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the adjusting further comprises:

inducing mixing within the working fluid.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the beat transfer element has a helical shaped structure to induce within the working fluid.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising inducing mixing in the flowing blood.

7. The method of claim 6, in the heat transfer element has a helical shaped structure to induce mixing in the flowing blood.

8. A method to alter the activity of an enzyme present in a volume of tissue relative to the activity of the enzyme at a normal tissue temperature, comprising:

delivering a heat transfer element to a volume of tissue;

adjusting the temperature of the heat transfer element by delivering a working fluid to the heat transfer element such that the temperature of the heat transfer element is sufficient to alter the temperature of at least a portion of the volume of tissue; and

transferring heat between the volume and the beat transfer element, such that the resultant temperature of the volume is sufficient to substantially after at least a portion of the enzyme activity within the volume.

9. A method for providing an optimal working temperature for a temperature-specific enzyme with a drug in a blood vessel, comprising:

delivering a heat transfer element to a blood vessel, the blood vessel containing a temperature-specific enzyme; and

adjusting the temperature of the heat transfer element by delivering a working fluid to the heat transfer element such that the temperature-specific enzyme is heated to a prespecified temperature range within at least a portion of which the optimal working temperature for a temperature-specific enzyme is attained, such that the optimal working temperature in the blood vessel is substantially different from the normal body temperature in the blood vessel.