Method and system for control of a patient's body temperature by way of transluminally insertable heat exchange catheter
First Claim
1. A method of regulating the temperature of a patient, comprising:
- providing a heat exchange catheter system including a heat exchange catheter having a fluid path therethrough, a pair of conduits fluidly connected to the heat exchange catheter, and an external heat exchanger connected via the conduits to circulate heat exchange medium through the exchange catheter;
providing a first controller adapted to couple to the external heat exchanger of the heat exchange catheter system, the first controller including a heat and/or cold generating element therein for exchanging heat at a first rate with the heat exchange medium within the external heat exchanger;
providing a second controller adapted to couple to the external heat exchanger of the heat exchange catheter system, the second controller including a heat and/or cold generating element therein for exchanging heat at a second rate with the heat exchange medium within the external heat exchanger, the first controller and the second controller being disposed in the same physical device;
coupling the heat exchange catheter system with the first controller;
inserting the heat exchange catheter into the patient;
regulating the temperature of the patient by exchanging heat at the first rate between the generating element of the first controller and the external heat exchanger;
de-coupling the heat exchange catheter system from the first controller;
coupling the heat exchange catheter system with the second controller; and
regulating the temperature of the patient by exchanging heat at the second rate between the generating element of the second controller and the external heat exchanger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is attached to the circulatory flow lines of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within one of various described re-usable control units. The control units include a heater/cooler device, a user input device, and a processor connected to receive input from various sensors around the body and the system. The heater/cooler device may be thermoelectric to enable both heating and cooling based on polarity. A temperature control scheme for ramping the body temperature up or down without overshoot is provided. The disposable heat exchange cassettes may include an integral pump head that engages with a pump drive mechanism within the re-usable control unit. More than one control unit may be provided to receive the same heat exchange cassette so that a large capacity control unit can be used initially, and a smaller, battery-powered unit can be substituted once the patient reaches the desired target temperature.
129 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of regulating the temperature of a patient, comprising:
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providing a heat exchange catheter system including a heat exchange catheter having a fluid path therethrough, a pair of conduits fluidly connected to the heat exchange catheter, and an external heat exchanger connected via the conduits to circulate heat exchange medium through the exchange catheter; providing a first controller adapted to couple to the external heat exchanger of the heat exchange catheter system, the first controller including a heat and/or cold generating element therein for exchanging heat at a first rate with the heat exchange medium within the external heat exchanger; providing a second controller adapted to couple to the external heat exchanger of the heat exchange catheter system, the second controller including a heat and/or cold generating element therein for exchanging heat at a second rate with the heat exchange medium within the external heat exchanger, the first controller and the second controller being disposed in the same physical device; coupling the heat exchange catheter system with the first controller; inserting the heat exchange catheter into the patient; regulating the temperature of the patient by exchanging heat at the first rate between the generating element of the first controller and the external heat exchanger; de-coupling the heat exchange catheter system from the first controller; coupling the heat exchange catheter system with the second controller; and regulating the temperature of the patient by exchanging heat at the second rate between the generating element of the second controller and the external heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification