Inducing hypothermia and rewarming using a helium-oxygen mixture
First Claim
1. A method for medical treatment comprising:
- selecting a human patient that has had an ischemic event or is undergoing a surgery associated with a significant probability of causing ischemia;
providing a cooled gas mixture comprising helium and oxygen and having a temperature of less than about, 10 degrees Centigrade; and
ventilating the patient using the cooled gas mixture to lower the patient'"'"'s core body temperature to reduce tissue oxygen consumption,wherein the method further comprises providing a liquid having a boiling point of less than 37 degrees Centigrade, atomizing the liquid into droplets, and wherein the ventilating step includes ventilating the patient with the gas mixture, with the gas mixture forming a substantially continuous phase and the liquid droplets being carried in the gas mixture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods to heat and cool human beings, including inducing and maintaining hypothermia in human patients. Methods include inducing hypothermia to treat ischemic events, including heart attack and stroke, to limit damage caused by the ischemic event. Methods can include: using the lungs for heat exchange; using cooled gases for ventilation; using helium in the ventilation gas mixture, using medications to control reflex heat production; and injecting a perfluorocarbon mist into the gas stream to increase the cooling rate. The high thermal conductivity and diffusivity of helium results in greater inspired gas temperature equalization toward body temperature. Due to the latent heat of vaporization, addition of even small quantity of phase-change perfluorocarbon dramatically increases the heat carrying capacity of the respiratory gases. Hypothermia may be terminated by discontinuing the medications and warming the patient using a warmed helium-oxygen mixture.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for medical treatment comprising:
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selecting a human patient that has had an ischemic event or is undergoing a surgery associated with a significant probability of causing ischemia; providing a cooled gas mixture comprising helium and oxygen and having a temperature of less than about, 10 degrees Centigrade; and ventilating the patient using the cooled gas mixture to lower the patient'"'"'s core body temperature to reduce tissue oxygen consumption, wherein the method further comprises providing a liquid having a boiling point of less than 37 degrees Centigrade, atomizing the liquid into droplets, and wherein the ventilating step includes ventilating the patient with the gas mixture, with the gas mixture forming a substantially continuous phase and the liquid droplets being carried in the gas mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification