Method of managing patient temperature with a heat exchange catheter

• US 6,582,398 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alsius Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Worthen, William J., Evans, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US09/668,424
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 604/113, 604/101.05, 604/523, 606/21-26, 606/194, 607/96, 607/102, 607/104-107
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• 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 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• 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 25/0029 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/003 characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the distal part of the catheter, e.g. filters, plugs or valves catheter tips A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0032 characterized by at least one unconventionally shaped lumen, e.g. polygons, ellipsoids, wedges or shapes comprising concave and convex parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

A central venous catheter includes coolant supply and return lumens which communicate coolant to and from first and second heat exchange membranes arranged along the distal segment of the catheter. The coolant in the heat exchange membranes removes heat from the patient. Additional lumens are provided for conventional central venous catheter uses.

Claims

1. A method for managing patient temperature, comprising:

disposing a patient in a room of a medical facility,

cooling a patient to prepare the patient for cardiovascular bypass surgery;

performing a cardiovascular bypass surgery on the patient;

re-warming a patient after the cardiovascular bypass surgery is performed;

advancing a cooling catheter into the patient, the cooling catheter housing an internally circulating coolant having a coolant temperature; and

regulating the coolant temperature to assure that the step of re-warming a patient does not result in hyperthermic patient condition.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the coolant temperature includes measuring the coolant temperature at a first location and at a second location and establishing a temperature difference between the first location and the second location.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the coolant temperature includes using the temperature difference between the first location and the second location to determine the amount of heat lost by the patient.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the coolant temperature includes measuring the coolant temperature at a first location and a second location to determine the rate of heat loss by the patient.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the coolant temperature includes establishing a target patient re-warm rate.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of regulating the coolant temperature includes establishing a target patient re-warm rate, the patient has an actual re-warm rate;

measuring the actual re-warm rate; and

activating the cooling catheter to reduce the actual re-warm rate of the patient when the measured actual re-warm rate exceeds the target re-warm rate.