Method and system for treating cardiac arrest using hypothermia

• US 6,682,551 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alsius Corporation
• Inventors: Worthen, William J., Evans, Scott M., Balding, David, Winter, Suzanne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/540,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/104, 607/105, 607/106, 607/107, 607/113, 606/20, 606/21, 606/22, 606/23, 606/24
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• 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: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/369 Temperature treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39044 in combination with cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] therapy

Abstract

A method for treating cardiac arrest includes defibrillating the patient and/or ventilating the patient and/or administering a cardiac arrest drug such as epinephrine to resuscitate the patient, and then cooling the patient using one or more cooling catheter positioned in the central venous system of the patient.

Claims

1. A system for treating cardiac arrest in a patient, comprising:

at least one cooling catheter advanceable into the central venous system of the patient, said catheter having an elongated shaft configured for establishing central venous access, said elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and at least one heat exchange membrane along said distal portion for exchanging heat with the central venous system of the patient; and

at least one of;

a defibrillator and a ventilator engageable with the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising at least two cooling catheters.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a cooling system for heat exchange with coolant flowing through the cooling catheter.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a defibrillator and cardiac arrest drug delivery device engageable with the patient to deliver epinephrine to the patient.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising a ventilator.