Inflatable heat transfer apparatus

• US 6,676,690 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Innercool therapies Incorporated (Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Werneth, Randell
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAM, JOCELYN DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US09/885,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 607/113, 607/105, 607/106, 606/21, 606/23, 604/96.01, 604/103.06, 604/113
• US Class Current: 607/113
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus having an inflatable balloon near a distal end of a multi-lumen catheter, with a plurality of blood flow passageways formed through the interior of the balloon from a proximal face of the inflated balloon to a distal face of the inflated balloon. A heat transfer solution is introduced through a supply lumen of the catheter to inflate the balloon in a selected blood vessel; this allows blood to flow through the blood flow passageways of the balloon, from one exterior face of the balloon to another exterior face. The heat transfer solution continues to circulate around the blood flow passageways inside the balloon, to change the blood temperature, eventually exiting the balloon through a return lumen of the catheter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for changing the temperature of a patient, comprising:

a flexible catheter;

an inflatable balloon attached near a distal end of said catheter;

at least one blood flow passageway formed through the interior of said balloon, said at least one blood flow passageway extending from a proximal blood flow port in a proximal exterior face of said balloon to a distal blood flow port in a distal exterior face of said balloon;

a fluid supply lumen formed in said catheter;

a fluid supply port in said catheter, connecting said fluid supply lumen to the interior of said balloon;

a fluid return lumen formed in said catheter; and

a fluid return port in said catheter, connecting the interior of said balloon to said fluid return lumen.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said balloon is inflatable to a substantially cylindrical shape.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one blood flow passageway assumes a substantially tubular shape upon inflation of said balloon.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a guidewire lumen formed in said catheter.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of blood flow passageways formed through the interior of said balloon, each said blood flow passageway extending from a proximal blood flow port in a proximal exterior face of said balloon to a distal blood flow port in a distal exterior face of said balloon.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one blood flow passageway is formed from a material having high thermal conductivity.

7. An apparatus for changing the temperature of a patient, comprising:

a flexible catheter;

an inflatable balloon attached near a distal end of said catheter;

at least one blood flow passageway formed through the interior of said balloon, said at least one blood flow passageway extending from a proximal blood flow port in a proximal exterior face of said balloon to a distal blood flow port in a distal exterior face of said balloon;

a fluid supply lumen formed in said catheter;

a fluid supply port in said catheter, connecting said fluid supply lumen to the interior of said balloon;

a fluid return lumen formed in said catheter; and

a fluid return port in said catheter, connecting the interior of said balloon to said fluid return lumen;

wherein said at least one blood flow passageway is formed from a metallized polymer film.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one blood flow passageway is formed from a polymer film having metal layers formed on both interior and exterior surfaces.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one blood flow passageway is formed from a polymer film loaded with metal particles.

10. An apparatus for changing the temperature of a patient, comprising:

a flexible catheter;

an inflatable balloon attached near a distal end of said catheter, said balloon being inflatable to a substantially cylindrical shape;

a plurality of blood flow passageways formed through the interior of said balloon, each said blood flow passageway extending from a proximal blood flow port in a proximal exterior face of said balloon to a distal blood flow port in a distal exterior face of said balloon, each said blood flow passageway being shaped to assume a substantially tubular shape upon inflation of said balloon, each said blood flow passageway being formed of a material having high thermal conductivity;

a fluid supply lumen formed in said catheter;

a fluid supply port in said catheter, connecting said fluid supply lumen to the interior of said balloon;

a fluid return lumen formed in said catheter; and

a fluid return port in said catheter, connecting the interior of said balloon to said fluid return lumen.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein each said blood flow passageway is formed from a metallized polymer film.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein each said blood flow passageway is formed from a polymer film having metal layers formed on both interior and exterior surfaces.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a guidewire lumen formed in said catheter.

14. A method of changing the temperature of a patient, comprising:

providing an apparatus having a flexible multi-lumen catheter, an inflatable balloon attached near a distal end of said catheter, and at least one blood flow passageway formed through the interior of said balloon from a proximal blood flow port in a proximal exterior face of said balloon to a distal blood flow port in a distal exterior face of said balloon;

introducing said apparatus through the vascular system of a patient to a selected location in a blood vessel;

introducing a heat transfer fluid through a first lumen of said catheter to the interior of said balloon, thereby inflating said balloon to contact the walls of said selected blood vessel, and thereby allowing blood flow through the interior of said balloon via said at least one blood flow passageway;

circulating said heat transfer fluid through the interior of said balloon, around said at least one blood flow passageway, and out of said balloon through a second lumen of said catheter, thereby changing the temperature of the wall of said at least one blood flow passageway, while maintaining said balloon in said inflated state; and

changing the temperature of said blood flowing through said selected blood vessel by contact with the wall of said at least one blood flow passageway.