Abstract: A device and method for extracorporeal whole body hyperthermia treatment of a patient's blood using alpha-stat regulation of blood pH and pCO.sub.2 is described. The respiratory rate of a patient is either increased or decreased in accordance with the changes in pH, pCO.sub.2, and base excess. The regulation of blood during the hyperthermic treatment of the patient's blood stabilizes the biochemical reactions fundamental to the metabolic welfare of the organisms within the patient's blood while the viruses within the patient's blood are eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient's body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired.

Abstract: A flexible-resilient heat exchanger that is designed to be disposed inline of a cardioplegia tubing set for heating or cooling blood and/or cardioplegia solution. The heat exchanger comprises a flexible-resilient inner tube defining an inner flow path for blood and/or cardioplegia solution, for example, and a flexible-resilient outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The outer tube has fluid inlet and outlet ports so as to define an outer flow path between the inner and outer tubes for heat exchanging fluid, for example. The outer tube is sealingly connected to the inner tube adjacent opposite ends of the outer flow path, and the inner tube defining a barrier between the first and second fluids while permitting heat transfer between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal heat pack for heating the female breast during post partum nursing and, more particularly, to a thermal heat pack which readily conforms to the contours of different sized female breasts to provide therapeutic heat to an adjacent breast to reduce swelling and irritation.

Abstract: An improved intravascular device (20) is adapted for use in treating hypothermia in a patient. The improved device includes an elongated flexible catheter (21) having a distal end piece (26) arranged in spaced relation to a catheter main body portion (32). The distal end piece and catheter main body portions are joined by a wire stylet (33) and by a flexible wall portion (43). The stylet is adapted to be rotated relative to the catheter main body portion to selectively furl and unfurl the flexible wall portion. Once inserted into a patient blood vessel, a pump (25) is arranged to circulate heated fluid (e.g., heated saline solution) through communicating chambers (45,44) in heat exchange relation to blood flowing past the catheter. The pressure of fluid supplied by pump 25 may be caused to pulsate to prevent blood from clotting on the catheter.