Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, methods and devices are provided for control and determination of the pressure within the heat transfer element.

Abstract: An intravascular heat exchange catheter has serpentine-like supply and return conduits circulating working fluid with a heat exchange system to warm or cool a patient in which the catheter is intubated.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for retaining a battery within a batter compartment.

Abstract: A catheter system for controlling the body temperature of a patient by modifying the temperature of blood flowing within a blood vessel of the patient. The catheter system comprises a catheter body having a heat exchange region in contact with the blood; and a temperature probe having a distal end that extends from the catheter body, thereby monitoring the temperature of blood flowing within the blood vessel.

Abstract: A system for resuscitation of a heart attack victim. The system includes CPR device which compresses the victim's chest, a defibrillator which may be used to defibrillate the patient, and an identification system for identifying the person operating the system. Depending on the identity of the operator, the system permits varying degrees of access to components and enablement of the functions of the various subsystems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurate temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including inducing hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette attached to the circulatory flow lines of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within a control unit. A temperature measurement scheme for obtaining body core temperature is provided, including methods of obtaining and analyzing temperature data to provide feedback to the control unit for use in controlling the heating and cooling of the heat exchange medium so as to heat or cool a patient to a desired target temperature.

Abstract: A patient temperature control catheter (10) includes working fluid supply (16) and return (18) lumens through which working fluid circulates to exchange heat with a patient in whom the catheter is positioned. At least one lumen is defined by plural coils (32) axially spaced from each other. At least a first coil is a large coil that inflates with working fluid to seat against a wall of a blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned, with blood flowing through the coil so as not to block blood flow in the vessel. Alternate centering structures (116) are disclosed.

Abstract: An automated chest compression device has a housing for supporting a patient and a motor within the housing. A conical drive spool is operatively connected to the motor and a cable, is operatively connected to the conical drive spool. The cable is adapted to extend at least partially around the chest of the patient. A controller is operable to control the motor to compress the chest to variable thresholds.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is used in a closed-loop heat exchange system for manipulating the temperature of a patient. The balloon catheter is positioned in the stomach of the patient, and then expanded with a heat exchange fluid delivered through a lumen formed in the shaft of the catheter. The balloon catheter comes into contact with the wall of the stomach, and the stomach substantially conforms around the expanded balloon catheter. The heat exchange fluid is allowed to flow continuously into and out of the balloon catheter. Heat is exchanged between the balloon catheter and the stomach so as to controllably alter the temperature of at least a portion of the patient. Anti-shivering mechanisms and automatic control based on temperature feedback from the patient may be used in connection with the heat exchange system.

Abstract: A boost converter for driving the gate of n-channel MOSFET power devices is described. The boost converter includes a monitoring circuit and a kick start circuit to quickly bring the boost converter online when required to drive the MOSFET on.

Abstract: An introducer sheath/temperature probe assembly that is insertable into a blood vessel of a human or veterinary patent to measure the temperature of blood flowing through that blood vessel. The introducer sheath/temperature probe assembly may be used in conjunction with an indwelling heat exchange catheter system to warm or cool all or a portion of the patient's body to a desired target temperature and to maintain such target temperature for a desired period of time.

Abstract: A method for treating acute coronary syndromes (i.e., unstable angina or non-Q-wave MI) or transient ischemic attacks in a human or animal patient by placing a heat exchange apparatus in the patient's vasculature and using that heat exchange apparatus to cool the patient to a temperature (e.g. 30-36 degrees C.) at which platelet inhibition (i.e., inhibition of platelet activation and/or aggregation and/or adhesion) occurs. Anti-shivering drugs or anesthesia may be administered to patients whose body temperature is cooled below that patient's shivering threshold (typically approximately 35.5 degrees C.). If it is determined that platelet inhibition is no longer desirable, such as when the patient is about to undergo a surgical or interventional procedure wherein bleeding could be problematic, the hypothermia-induced platelet inhibition may be rapidly reversed by using the intravascular heat exchange apparatus to re-warm the patient's body to normothermia or near normothermia.

Abstract: A carrier, such as a battery, that queries a memory of a charger or charging circuit, or the memory of equipment or discharging circuit powered by the battery, to determine the relative date or version of data, operating parameters and/or software on both the battery and the equipment, and either provides updated data, operating parameters and/or software to the equipment, or retrieves later dated data, operating parameters and/or software from the equipment to update the memory of the battery and/or further distribute the updated data, operating parameters and/or software to other batteries or equipment.

Abstract: A chest compression device includes a piston to apply compression to the sternum and incorporates leaf springs simultaneously driven by the piston to apply lateral compression to the thorax during chest compressions. A motor in the chest compression device provides motive power to cyclically extend and contract the piston to provide therapeutic chest compressions. One end of each leaf spring is operably connected to the piston and the other end of each leaf spring is secured to the backboard/base or to a support leg of the chest compression device such that during extension of the piston, each leaf spring is compressed against the device base or leg which causes the springs to flex and provide lateral compression of the patient's thorax in addition to the sternal compression of the piston.

Abstract: A patient temperature control catheter includes working fluid supply and return lumens through which working fluid circulates to exchange heat with a patient in whom the catheter is positioned. At least one lumen is defined by plural coils axially spaced from each other. At least a first coil is a large coil that inflates with working fluid to seat against a wall of a blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned, with blood flowing through the coil so as not to block blood flow in the vessel.

Abstract: A catheter has an inner sleeve through which refrigerant circulates to and from a source of refrigerant. The catheter also has an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve, including a distal end thereof. The outer sleeve is filled with a frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant is separated from the biocompatible substance by one or more walls of the inner sleeve such that the refrigerant is isolated from a patient in whom the catheter is positioned by both the inner sleeve and the frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant circulates through the catheter when the catheter is positioned in the patient to maintain the biocompatible substance frozen as heat is transferred from the patient to the biocompatible substance.

Abstract: A catheter has an inner sleeve through which refrigerant circulates to and from a source of refrigerant. The catheter also has an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve, including a distal end thereof. The outer sleeve is filled with a frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant is separated from the biocompatible substance by one or more walls of the inner sleeve such that the refrigerant is isolated from a patient in whom the catheter is positioned by both the inner sleeve and the frozen biocompatible substance. The refrigerant circulates through the catheter when the catheter is positioned in the patient to maintain the biocompatible substance frozen as heat is transferred from the patient to the biocompatible substance.

Abstract: A system and method for adding or removing heat from a heat exchange fluid circulating between an external heat exchanger and an intravascular heat exchange catheter is described. The system includes a two stage cooling system providing for a high rate of cooling in one stage and a lower rate of cooling in a second stage. Both stages may be used to provide maximal cooling while the second stage is used to provide improved control of the cooling rate as a target temperature is approached. The second stage may also be used to provide heat to the heat exchange fluid.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette is attached to the circulatory conduits of the catheter, the heat exchange cassette being sized to engage a cavity within a control unit. The control unit includes a heater/cooler device for providing heated or cooled fluid to a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the fluid heat exchange medium circulating to the heat exchange catheter, a user input device, and a processor connected to receive input from various sensors around the body and the system. A temperature control scheme for ramping the body temperature up or down without overshoot is provided.

Abstract: A transatrial intravascular temperature management catheter has a lower heat exchange segment positionable in the inferior vena cava and an upper heat exchange segment positionable in the superior vane cava, with a connecting segment lying between the two and positionable in the right atrium. A temperature sensor on the distal tip of the upper heat exchange segment provides accurate core body temperature signals for feedback purposes since the blood flowing past the sensor has not yet reached the heat exchange segment.