Method of making selective organ cooling catheter

• US 7,018,399 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Innercool therapies Incorporated (Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lasheras, Juan C., Dobak, John D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/749,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607104-107, 607/113
• US Class Current: 607/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0004 having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• 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 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter

Abstract

Whole body cooling of a patient is obtained by providing a catheter with a conductive heat transfer element at a distal end thereof, inserting the catheter and heat transfer element into the vascular system of the patient and utilizing the heat transfer element to modify the temperature of blood which flows in heat exchange proximity to the heat transfer element, such that the modification of the blood will accomplish whole body cooling of the patient. The conductive metallic heat transfer element includes a plurality of heat transfer segments, and at least one helical ridge and at least one helical groove formed on each or the plurality of heat transfer segments.

Claims

1. A method for providing whole-body cooling of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a catheter with a conductive heat transfer element at a distal end thereof, the conductive heat transfer element comprising a plurality of heat transfer segments, and wherein a bellows is disposed between each of said plurality of heat transfer segments;

inserting the catheter and heat transfer element into the vascular system of the patient;

utilizing the heat transfer element to modify the temperature of blood which flows in heat exchange proximity to the heat transfer element, such that said modification of the blood will accomplish whole body cooling of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer element includes at least one fluid lumen through which a working fluid may be circulated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of utilizing includes circulating a working fluid through the at least one fluid lumen to lower the temperature of the heat transfer element thereby modifying the temperature of blood in the vascular system of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the catheter is inserted into the inferior vena cava.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive heat transfer element is metallic.

6. A method for providing whole body cooling of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a catheter with a conductive metallic heat transfer element at a distal end thereof, the conductive metallic heat transfer element comprising a plurality of heat transfer segments, and at least one helical ridge and at least one helical groove formed on each of said plurality of heat transfer segments;

inserting the catheter and heat transfer element into the vascular system of the patient;

utilizing the heat transfer clement to modify the temperature of blood which flows in heat exchange proximity to the heat transfer element, such that said modification of the blood will accomplish whole body cooling of the patient.

7. A method for providing whole body cooling of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a catheter with a conductive metallic heat transfer element at a distal end thereof, the conductive metallic heat transfer element comprising a plurality of heat transfer segments, at least one helical ridge and at least one helical groove formed on each of said plurality of heat transfer segments, and a bellows disposed between each of said plurality of heat transfer segments;

inserting the catheter and heat transfer element into the vascular system of the patient;

utilizing the heat transfer element to modify the temperature of blood which flows in heat exchange proximity to the heat transfer element, such that said modification of the blood will accomplish whole body cooling of the patient.