Circulating fluid hypothermia method and apparatus

• US 6,818,011 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Innercool therapies Incorporated (Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dobak, John D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/785,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20010007951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 606/20-25, 607/96, 607/104-106, 607/113, 604/113
• US Class Current: 607/96
• 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

A method and apparatus for performing hypothermia of a selected organ without significant effect on surrounding organs or other tissues. A flexible coaxial catheter is inserted through the vascular system of a patient to place the distal tip of the catheter in an artery feeding the selected organ. A chilled perfluorocarbon fluid is pumped through an insulated inner supply conduit of the catheter to cool a flexible bellows shaped heat transfer element in the distal tip of the catheter. The heat transfer bellows cools the blood flowing through the artery, to cool the selected organ, distal to the tip of the catheter.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus, comprising:

a circulating unit adapted for chilling and circulating a fluid;

a flexible elongated catheter;

a flexible tubular outer catheter body on said catheter;

a flexible, insulated, supply tube within said outer catheter body, a proximal end of a central lumen of said supply tube being connected in fluid flow communication with an outlet of said circulating unit;

a return lumen within said outer catheter body, said return lumen substantially surrounding said fluid supply tube, a proximal end of said return lumen being connected in fluid flow communication with an inlet of said circulating unit; and

a flexible heat transfer element mounted to a distal end of said outer catheter body, said heat transfer element having a partially helical shape to increase the surface area available for heat transfer and a blood flow passageway through the partially helical shape of the heat transfer element;

wherein said fluid supply tube comprises a wall having insulating properties to reduce heat transfer from said return lumen to said central lumen of said fluid supply tube.