Method and device for applications of selective organ cooling

• US 6,679,907 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• 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., Werneth, Randell L., Dobak, John D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US10/210,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 607/104, 607/105, 607/106, 606/20, 606/21, 606/22, 606/23, 604/52, 604/53, 604/93, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• 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

Abstract

The invention provides a method and device for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel. The device includes a catheter assembly capable of insertion to a selected feeding vessel in the vascular system of a patient. The assembly includes a heat transfer element at a distal end of the catheter assembly, the heat transfer element having a plurality of exterior surface irregularities shaped and arranged to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid, the surface irregularities having a depth at least equal to the boundary layer thickness of flow of the surrounding fluid in the feeding vessel. The assembly also includes a supply catheter to deliver a working fluid to an interior of the heat transfer element, a return catheter to return a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element, and a drug delivery catheter running substantially parallel to the axis of the catheter assembly. The method includes selectively controlling the temperature of a selected volume of blood in a patient by introducing a catheter assembly into a blood vessel feeding a selected volume of blood in a patient and delivering a working fluid through a supply catheter in the catheter assembly and returning the working fluid through a return catheter in the catheter assembly. Heat is transferred between a heat transfer element forming a distal end of the catheter assembly and the volume of blood in the feeding vessel. A liquid, such as a drug, is delivered through a drug delivery catheter to the volume of blood in the feeding vessel.

Claims

1. A device for heating or cooling a surrounding fluid in a feeding vessel, comprising:

a catheter assembly capable of insertion to a selected feeding vessel in the vascular system of a patient, including;

a heat transfer element at a distal end of the catheter assembly, the heat transfer element having a plurality of exterior surface irregularities shaped and arranged to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid, the surface irregularities having a depth at least equal to the boundary layer thickness of flow of the surrounding fluid in the feeding vessel, the surface irregularities comprising a helical ridge and a helical groove formed on each of successive heat transfer segments, the helical ridge on each heat transfer segment has an opposite helical twist to the helical ridges on adjacent heat transfer segments;

a supply catheter to deliver a working fluid to an interior of the heat transfer element;

a return catheter to return a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element; and

a drug delivery catheter running substantially parallel to the axis of the catheter assembly.

2. A method for selectively controlling the temperature of a selected volume of blood in a patient, comprising:

introducing a catheter assembly into a blood vessel feeding a selected volume of blood in a patient;

delivering a working fluid through a supply catheter in the catheter assembly and returning the working fluid through a return catheter in the catheter assembly;

transferring heat between a heat transfer element forming a distal end of the catheter assembly and the volume of blood in the feeding vessel;

delivering a liquid through a drug delivery catheter to the volume of blood in the feeding vessel;

creating mixing around a plurality of surface irregularities that comprise a plurality of segments of helical ridges and grooves having alternating directions of helical rotation on the heat transfer element by establishing repetitively alternating directions of helical blood flow with the alternating helical rotations of ridges and grooves.