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Methods for preparing a heat exchange catheter system and for heating and/or cooling a subject's body

  • US 8,968,378 B2
  • Filed: 02/07/2012
  • Issued: 03/03/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for heating or cooling at least a portion of the body of a subject using a heat exchange catheter system that comprises i) a closed loop heat exchange catheter having a heat exchange region and a distal end, ii) an extracorporeally situated heat exchanger connected to the closed loop heat exchange catheter, iii) apparatus for heating or cooling heat exchange fluid that circulates through the heat exchanger and through the heat exchange catheter;

  • iv) a pump for circulating the heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger and through the heat exchange catheter thereby causing heating or cooling the heat exchange region of the catheter;

    v) a controller which controls the temperature of the heat exchange region of the catheter and vi) a temperature sensor is used to sense a patient body temperature and vii) a user interface whereby a user may enter a target patient temperature, said method comprising the steps of;

    A) connecting to the system a reservoir or fluid bag that contains heat exchange fluid;

    B) causing heat exchange fluid to flow from the reservoir or fluid bag into the heat exchange catheter system;

    C) inserting the closed loop heat exchange catheter into the subject'"'"'s body so that its heat exchange region and distal end are positioned within the subject'"'"'s vasculature;

    D) using the pump to circulate the heat exchange fluid through the extracorporeally situated heat exchanger and the closed loop heat exchange catheter; and

    E) using the apparatus for heating or cooling to heat or cool the circulating heat exchange fluid, thereby heating or cooling the heat exchange region so as to cause heating or cooling of blood that flows in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchange region and resultant heating or cooling of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s body; and

    F) entering a target temperature via the user interface;

    wherein the controller is programmed to receive an indication of the sensed temperature from the temperature sensor and to cause the heat exchange catheter system to switch back and forth between the active state and the inactive state so as to maintain the sensed temperature between an upper variance set point that is above the target temperature and a lower variance set point that is below the target temperature.

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