Method and apparatus for patient temperature control employing administration of anti-shivering agents

• US 7,422,600 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/085,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 607104-106, 607/113
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0288 during operations
• 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: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element
• 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

Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient'"'"'s body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, strategies for providing cooling while reducing shivering are disclosed, including administration of various drugs and drug combinations.

Claims

1. A method of changing the temperature of a human body, comprising:

inserting a catheter having a heat transfer element into a vein of a patient, said heat transfer element having first and second elongated segments, each segment having a turbulence-inducing irregular exterior surface, and a flexible articulating joint connecting the first and second elongated segments, wherein the first and second elongated, segments comprise alternating clockwise and counter-clock wise invaginations;

circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature different from the patient temperature; and

administering a therapeutic amount of an opioid, whereby shivering is lessened.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature higher than the patient temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature lower than the patient temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated, segments each have an irregular interior surface to induce turbulence within the working fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated, segments are formed from highly conductive material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the turbulence-inducing exterior surface is a clot-inhibiting surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible joint comprises an axially compressible bellows section.

8. A method of changing the temperature of a human body, comprising:

inserting a catheter having a heat transfer element into a vein of a patient, said heat transfer element having a plurality of heat transfer segments, each segment encompassed by a smooth metallic surface, and a flexible articulating joint connecting each of the plurality of heat transfer segments to adjacent heat transfer segments;

circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature different from the patient temperature; and

administering a therapeutic amount of an opioid, whereby shivering is lessened.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said flexible articulating joint comprises a bellows.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature higher than the patient temperature.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising circulating a working fluid through the catheter and the heat transfer element, the working fluid having a temperature lower than the patient temperature.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of heat transfer segments are formed from highly conductive material.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the smooth metallic surface is a clot-inhibiting surface.