Heating/cooling system for indwelling heat exchange catheter

• US 6,581,403 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alsius Corporation
• Inventors: Nash, Sean, Noda, Wayne Arthur, Whitebook, Mark, Jenkins, Dan, Winter, Suzanne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US09/965,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 624/34, 624/30, 622/351, 621/59, 621/92, 607/105, 607/96, 604/102.01, 600/526
• US Class Current: 62/434
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/369 Temperature treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/366 by liquid heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature

Abstract

A cooling system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter includes a heat exchange bath that is configured to receive a conduit that carries saline to and from the catheter. A heating/cooling fluid is in the bath and exchanges heat with the saline. The heating/cooling fluid flows through a heat exchanger that includes a refrigerant and a variable speed DC compressor for removing heat from the refrigerant. A coolant pump circulates the heating/cooling fluid between the heat exchanger and the heat exchange bath.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter, comprising:

a heat exchange bath configured to receive a conduit carrying working fluid to and from the catheter;

a heating/coolant fluid in the bath to exchange heat with the working fluid;

a heat exchanger through which the heating/coolant fluid flows, the heat exchanger including a refrigerant and a variable speed DC compressor; and

a heating/coolant fluid pump circulating the heating/coolant fluid between the heat exchanger and the heat exchange bath.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heating/coolant fluid level detector communicating with the heating/coolant fluid.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a working fluid level detector communicating with the working fluid.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one controller receiving patient temperature input and target temperature input, the controller controlling a heating/coolant fluid temperature in response thereto.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a working fluid pump to circulate the working fluid through the catheter, the working fluid pump being selectively energized by the controller.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lid on the bath spaced above a top of the heating/coolant fluid.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display showing at least one graph of temperature.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the display presents qualitative comments on cooling.

9. A heat exchange system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter, comprising:

a working fluid circuit connected to the catheter to carry a working fluid to and from the catheter;

a heating/cooling circuit thermally coupled to the working fluid circuit, the heating/cooling circuit including a heating/cooling fluid that exchanges heat with the working fluid; and

a refrigerating circuit thermally coupled to the heating/cooling circuit, the refrigerating circuit including a refrigerant that exchanges heat with the heating/cooling fluid.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the working fluid is saline.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the heating/cooling fluid is water glycol.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the refrigerant is R134a.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the working fluid circuit comprises:

an indwelling heat exchange catheter;

a heat exchange bath thermally coupled to the catheter;

a working fluid pump coupled to the heat exchange bath;

a working fluid level detector having a working fluid reservoir disposed therein, the working fluid level detector being in fluid communication with the working fluid pump; and

a working fluid source supplying working fluid to the working fluid reservoir.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the heating/cooling fluid circuit comprises:

the heat exchange bath, the heat exchange bath being at least partially filled with the heating/cooling fluid;

a heating/cooling fluid level detector in fluid communication with the heat exchange bath;

a heater thermally coupled to the heat exchange bath, the heater heating the heating/cooling fluid; and

a heating/cooling fluid pump within the heat exchange apparatus.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the refrigerating fluid circuit comprises:

a compressor thermally coupled to the heat exchange bath, the compressor cooling the heating/cooling fluid within the heat exchange apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a controller connected to at least one of;

the working fluid pump, the working fluid level detector, the heat exchange apparatus, the heating/cooling fluid level detector, the heating/cooling fluid pump, and the compressor.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a temperature monitor connected to the controller.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one temperature probe connected to the temperature monitor, the temperature monitor being thermally coupled to a patient.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a display connected to the controller, the display showing at least one graph of temperature.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the display presents qualitative comments on cooling.