Apparatus and Method for Inducing Suspended Animation Using Rapid, Whole Body, Profound Hypothermia

• US 20080312723A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ardiem Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ardiem Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Gill, Ralph E., Pitsakis, Michael Nicholas, Zhuze, Vladimir, Novak, William Sylvester
• Application Number:
  US11/597,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312723A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0063 for cooling
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a transportable apparatus that maintains a large volume of a cold solution at a preset low temperature and rapidly delivers it to an irresuscitable patient'"'"'s thoracic aorta at a preset and controlled flow rate, while monitoring pressure and eliminating the introduction of air embolisms into the patient, for the purpose of inducing profound hypothermia and suspended animation until proper treatment of the patient is available. The induction of suspended animation is intended for preservation of viability of the brain, heart, and organs for subsequent repair and resuscitation or for organ harvesting. The procedure may be performed by emergency personnel on the scene of an accident and/or while the patient is being transported in an emergency vehicle, or while in a hospital.

Claims

1. A profound hyperthermia apparatus which provides emergency cooling to rapidly induce whole body or regional profound hypothermia by means of a one way aortic flush of a large volume of cold solution to lower the core body temperature of an irresuscitable patient to below 10°

C. for a state of suspended animation, said apparatus comprising;

a cold chamber for storing and maintaining the temperature (−

5°

C. to 10°

C.) of pre-chilled solution bags or canisters, such that the solution bags or canisters can be easily exchanged when emptied, allowing delivery of an unlimited volume of solution;

a pump and motor for controlling the flow rate and pressure at which the solution is delivered;

a pressure transducer and a flow rate transducer which monitor the flow of solution and provide data to system electronics for controlling the pump;

a bubble trap/filter which deters small bubbles from entering the patient'"'"'s circulatory system;

a bubble detector that monitors the solution for clusters of small bubbles or a large bubble that was not removed by the bubble trap/filter;

a sterile disposable infusion tubing set for delivering the cold flush solution; and

an electronics assembly and software for monitoring sensors, managing inputs, controlling pump operations, and displaying data, status, and alarms to an operator.

2. The profound hypothermia apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is easily transported between locations by an average adult and is transportable by emergency vehicle.

3. The profound hypothermia apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the apparatus can be located, powered, and operated in an emergency vehicle or in a hospital or clinic.

4. The profound hypothermia apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus can lower a patient'"'"'s core body temperature to the range of 0°

C. to 10°

C.

5. The profound hypothermia apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the apparatus can rapidly induce profound hypothermia and suspended animation by lowering an irresuscitable patient'"'"'s core body temperature to 10°

C. in ten minutes or less.