Abstract: Methods of inducing protective hypothermia of an organ are described that include delivering a phase-change particulate slurry to at least a portion of the organ; and reducing a temperature of the organ through heat exchange with the phase-change particulate slurry. Therapeutically acceptable duration of artificially-induced ischemia of the organ is prolonged.

Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.