Temperature management system and method for burn patients

• US 7,892,270 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Winter, Suzanne
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/602,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607104-107
• US Class Current: 607/105
• 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

Abstract

Intravascular closed loop heat exchange catheters are used to manage temperature in burn patients.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

advancing a closed loop intravascular heat exchange catheter into the vasculature of a burn patient; and

establishing a desired patient temperature using the catheter, wherein the catheter has plural heat exchange elements, wherein the heat exchange elements are established by plural heat exchange fluid return tubes communicating with a central supply lumen at a distal end of the catheter for carrying heat exchange fluid, each return tube being formed spirally around the supply lumen such that a body fluid flowing past the return tube exchanges heat with the heat exchange fluid flowing therein.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the catheter is used to warm the patient during skin graft surgery.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the catheter is used to establish normothermia in the patient should the patient become febrile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange elements are balloons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange elements are metal.

6. A method for treating a burn patient comprising:

conducting skin graft surgery on the patient; and

during surgery, countering hypothermia in the patient using a catheter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the catheter is used to establish normothermia in the patient should the patient become febrile.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the catheter has plural heat exchange elements.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the heat exchange elements are balloons or are metal.

10. The method of claim 6, comprising using the catheter to undertake at least one central venous line function selected from the group consisting of:

infusing medicament into the bloodstream, infusing saline into the bloodstream, and monitoring a patient parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the act of countering hypothermia is executed by circulating working fluid through the catheter such that the working fluid does not enter the bloodstream and exchanges heat therewith.