Devices and methods for controlling blood perfusion pressure along with regional mild hypothermia

A method, comprising the steps of:

• introducing a distal end of an elongated tubular body of a perfusion device into a blood vessel to be conditioned, the blood vessel having a first blood pressure therein, the perfusion device comprising:
• the elongated body having a lumen, a proximal end configured for placement in a first area having the first blood pressure, and the distal end configured for placement in a second area having a second blood pressure,
• a partial occluder positioned within the lumen of the elongated body that does not fully occlude the lumen, the partial occluder disposed within the elongated body, the partial occluder configured to reduce in size over time so that when the partial occluder reduces in size over time, blood flow through the lumen at the partial occluder can increase over time, the partial occluder forming a narrowed lumen concentric with the lumen of the elongate body,
• wherein the lumen comprises only one opening proximal the partial occluder, and
• a regional hypothermia system operably coupled thereto, the regional hypothermia system operable to reduce and/or regulate a temperature of a bodily fluid flowing therethrough;
• introducing the proximal end of the elongated tubular body into a second blood vessel such that blood flow is received within the interior of the elongated tubular body, the second blood vessel having a second blood pressure therein which is higher than the first blood pressure;
• reducing and/or regulating a temperature of blood flowing through the elongated tubular body using the regional hypothermia system operably coupled to the elongated tubular body;
• and
• reducing the size of the stenosis over time such that the first blood pressure at the distal end of the elongated body is approximately the same as the second blood pressure at the proximal end.

A cannula, comprising:

• an elongated body having a lumen, a proximal end configured for placement in a first area having a first blood pressure, a distal end configured for placement in a second area having a second blood pressure, wherein the first blood pressure is higher than the second blood pressure;
• a partial occluder positioned within the lumen of the elongated body between the proximal end and the distal end and closer to the proximal end than the distal end, the partial occluder disposed within the elongated body, the partial occluder selected from the group consisting of an occluder balloon and a resorbable stenosis, the partial occluder configured so, at a initial height thereof, the partial occluder does not fully occlude the lumen of the elongated body and further configured to gradually equalize the first blood pressure at the first area with the second blood pressure at the second area, the partial occluder forming a narrowed lumen concentric with the lumen of the elongate body;
• wherein the lumen comprises only one opening proximal the partial occluder;
• and
• a regional hypothermia system operably coupled thereto, the regional hypothermia system operable to reduce and/or regulate a temperature of a bodily fluid flowing therethrough.