Therapeutic heating and cooling via temperature management of a colon-inserted balloon

• US 7,491,223 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy D
• Application Number:
  US10/832,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/104, 607/105, 607/113, 607/114, 606 20- 22, 606/27
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for heating or cooling at least a selected portion of a patient'"'"'s body. The method begins by inserting a catheter having a balloon into the colon or stomach of the patient. A heated or chilled fluid is conducted through a supply lumen of the catheter and into the balloon. The fluid is evacuated from the balloon through a return lumen of the catheter.

Claims

1. A method for heating or cooling at least a selected portion of a body, said method comprising:

irrigating a balloon inserted into the colon with a heated or chilled fluid;

controlling at least one measurable parameter of the fluid irrigating the balloon;

evacuating the fluid from the balloon; and

monitoring, during the irrigation step, the at least one measurable parameter of fluid flowing out of the balloon,

wherein irrigating the balloon includes the step of irrigating the balloon with a flow of fluid, and

wherein the at least one measurable parameter is selected from the group consisting of the flow rate of the fluid and the pressure differential between the fluid flowing into and out of the balloon.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the pressure of the heated or chilled fluid in the balloon to between about 1 and 10 psi.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising maintaining the pressure of the heated or chilled fluid in the balloon to between about 1 and 3 psi.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the conducting includes delivering the heated or chilled fluid at a substantially constant rate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the substantially constant rate is between about 1 and 200 cc/sec.

6. A method for heating or cooling at least a selected portion of a body, said method comprising:

irrigating a balloon inserted into the colon with a heated or chilled fluid;

controlling at least one measurable parameter of the fluid irrigating the balloon;

evacuating the fluid from the balloon;

monitoring, during the irrigation step, the at least one measurable parameter of fluid flowing out of the balloon; and

controlling a flow rate, or pressure of the heated or chilled fluid based on a monitored patient temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said heated or chilled fluid comprises saline.