Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter system (apparatus and method) for controlling patient temperature includes a generally tubular elongated body having lumens for circulating a heat exchange fluid in a plurality of heat exchange elements provided at spaced intervals along the length of the elongated body. The heat exchange elements preferably comprise inflatable balloons. Heat exchange occurs between the fluid in the balloons and blood in the blood vessel. Each balloon preferably is sized such that, when inflated, each balloon blocks no more than approximately 30% to 75% of the blood vessel in which it is intubated. The catheter preferably has two to four balloons, each of which may have a different shape. The catheter also preferably has three to five infusion lumens for providing access to the patient's blood at different locations in the patient's bloodstream.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter system (apparatus and method) for controlling patient temperature includes a generally tubular elongate body, a heat exchange element through which a heat exchange fluid circulates, and an inflation element or irregular surface positioned within the heat exchange element for promoting mixing of the circulating heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange element and inflation element preferably include inflatable balloons. The catheter preferably has two to four balloons having a substantially straight configuration, each balloon containing an inner balloon inflation element having a substantially spiral configuration. The catheter also preferably has at least one infusion lumen for providing access to the patient's blood and a guidewire lumen to accommodate a guidewire. The catheter is used in conjunction with a heat/cool system to cool a hyperthermic patient as quickly as possible, to warm a hypothermic patient as quickly as possible or to maintain normothermia.

Abstract: A heat exchange catheter having an open core includes a catheter body for use in the central vasculature of a patient. The catheter body having a balloon with at least one heat exchange lumen for exchanging heat with flowing blood. The balloon inflates from a collapsed configuration to an inflated configuration. In the inflated configuration the balloon facilitates the flow of heat exchange fluid through the heat exchange lumen, which wraps in a helical pattern to define the open core and to enable blood to flow through the open core during use of the catheter. The open core defines an inside and an outside, the heat exchange lumen has non-contiguous helical winds to allow flowing blood to mix between the inside of the open core and the outside of the open core.

Abstract: A Foley catheter has redundant temperature sensors to enable use of the Foley catheter with a patient heating system, such as one relying on a vascular heat exchange catheter. The temperature sensors electronically couple with a control unit, which obtains a primary temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors and obtains a secondary temperature reading from the other temperature. The control unit compares the primary and secondary temperature reading to determine a sensor temperature difference. When the sensor temperature difference exceeds a predetermined value, then the control unit activates an alarm, shuts down the patient heating system, or both.

Abstract: A Foley catheter has redundant temperature sensors to enable use of the Foley catheter with a patient heating system, such as one relying on a vascular heat exchange catheter. The temperature sensors electronically couple with a control unit, which obtains a primary temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors and obtains a secondary temperature reading from the other temperature. The control unit compares the primary and secondary temperature reading to determine a sensor temperature difference. When the sensor temperature difference exceeds a predetermined value, then the control unit activates an alarm, shuts down the patient heating system, or both.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include at least one balloon which is adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. Embodiments including multiple balloons enhance the surface area of contact, and the mixing of both the heat exchange and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body without cooling the entire body system. It is of particular advantage in brain surgeries where stroke, trauma or cryogenic tumors can best be addressed under hypothermic conditions. Heat pipe technology can be used to form a heat pipe heat exchange catheter. The heat pipe heat exchange catheter includes metallic bellows which allow for flexibility.

Abstract: A controller for a heat exchanger that heats and cools saline flowing through a closed loop heat exchange catheter cools the saline to achieve a target temperature, and then immediately upon reaching target temperature heats the saline. Upon detection of, e.g., a slight patient temperature rise, the controller cools the saline again, with the control loop continuing to tightly control patient temperature in a narrow band around the target temperature.

Abstract: A system for exchanging heat with the body of a patient for cooling or warming the patient provides for automatic temperature control in accordance with the monitored temperature of the patient. The system comprises a temperature control module and temperature probes for making body core temperature measurements. The body core temperature measurements are used to control the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: A catheter and a method of using the catheter are disclosed that serve to create an efficient and rapid controlled manner of regulating a patient's body temperature. The catheter is a heat exchange catheter insertable into a blood vessel of a patient, circulating a heat exchange fluid therein, and including a spiral-shaped inflatable balloon that mixes laminar layers of the heat exchange fluid flowing inside the balloon.

Abstract: A system for exchanging heat with the body of a patient for cooling or warming the patient provides for automatic temperature control in accordance with the monitored temperature of the patient. The system comprises a temperature control module and temperature probes for making body core temperature measurements. The body core temperature measurements are used to control the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes an inlet lumen and an outlet lumen to circulate working fluid wherein at least one of the inlet or outlet lumens is shaped to induce mixing in the body fluid flowing pass it. In one embodiment, at least one lumen is shaped to induce turbulence flow in the body fluid.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.

Abstract: A heat exchange catheter having an open core includes a catheter body for use in the central vasculature of a patient. The catheter body having a balloon with at least one heat exchange lumen for exchanging heat with flowing blood. The balloon inflates from a collapsed configuration to an inflated configuration. In the inflated configuration the balloon facilitates the flow of heat exchange fluid through the heat exchange lumen, which wraps in a helical pattern to define the open core and to enable blood to flow through the open core during use of the catheter. The open core defines an inside and an outside, the heat exchange lumen has non-contiguous helical winds to allow flowing blood to mix between the inside of the open core and the outside of the open core.

Abstract: A catheter is adapt to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include at least one balloon which is adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. Embodiments including multiple balloons enhance the surface area of contact, and the mixing of both the heat exchange and the body fluid. The catheter car be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body without cooling the entire body system. It is of particular advantage in brain surgeries where stroke, trauma or cryogenic tumors can best be addressed under hypothermic conditions.

Abstract: A system for exchanging heat with the body of a patient for cooling or warming the patient provides for automatic temperature control in accordance with the monitored temperature of the patient. The system comprises a temperature control module and temperature probes for making body core temperature measurements. The body core temperature measurements are used to control the temperature of fluid circulating within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include at least one balloon which is adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. Embodiments including multiple balloons enhance the surface area of contact, and the mixing of both the heat exchange and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body without cooling the entire body system. It is of particular advantage in brain surgeries where stroke, trauma or cryogenic tumors can best be addressed under hypothermic conditions.

Abstract: A Foley catheter has redundant temperature sensors to enable use of the Foley catheter with a patient heating system, such as one relying on a vascular heat exchange catheter. The temperature sensors electronically couple with a control unit, which obtains a primary temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors and obtains a secondary temperature reading from the other temperature. The control unit compares the primary and secondary temperature reading to determine a sensor temperature difference. When the sensor temperature difference exceeds a predetermined value, then the control unit activates an alarm, shuts down the patient heating system, or both.