Method and apparatus for controlling a patients's body temperature by in situ blood temperature modification

• US 6,849,083 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Radiant Medical, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Ginsburg, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/643,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607104-107, 607/114, 606 20- 31
• US Class Current: 607/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• 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 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• 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 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient'"'"'s body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired. The method and system further provide for the cooling of initially hypothermic patients whose blood or body temperature has been warmed above the desired target level and the warming of initially hyperthermic patients whose blood or body temperature has been cooled below the desired target temperature.

Claims

1. A system, for controlling a patient'"'"'s body temperature, the system comprising:

a heat exchange catheter having a heat transfer region, said heat transfer region being positionable in contact with the patient'"'"'s flowing blood to heat or cool the blood;

a temperature sensor which generates a signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s body temperature;

a controller which receives the signal from the temperature sensor and, relative to a reference temperature, controls whether the heat exchanger heats or cools, and the amount of heating or cooling of the patient'"'"'s blood.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the reference temperature is a target temperature to which the patient'"'"'s body is to be heated or cooled and wherein the controller is a programable controller adapted to receive an input of the target temperature.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor apparatus comprise a single temperature sensor.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor apparatus comprise a plurality of temperature sensors.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor apparatus comprise at least one temperature sensor located distal to the heat transfer region.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor apparatus comprise at least one temperature sensor located proximal to the heat transfer region.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing apparatus comprises a temperature sensor located such that it senses the temperature of the patient'"'"'s blood.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing apparatus comprises at least one temperature sensor located proximal to the heat transfer region and at least one temperature sensor located distal to the heat transfer region.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing apparatus comprises at least one temperature sensor coupled to the heat transfer region.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensing apparatus comprises a temperature sensor which senses the temperature of the heat exchange region.