Body temperature management devices and methods
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
InventorsBingren Hu, Chunli Liu
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Abstract
Disclosed are devices and methods for body temperature management using a heat transfer catheter carrying a heat transfer fluid to heat or cool a desired, focused portion of a patient's body. In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the heat transfer catheter may include hollow nodes that have greater rigidity than the remainder of the catheter to aid in placement of the heat transfer catheter within and navigation of the desired portion of the patient's body. Methods of using such heat transfer catheter to effect temperature management of the patient's body are also disclosed.
Claims16
A heat transfer catheter system comprising:
- a heat transfer catheter, said heat transfer catheter further comprising:
- a plurality of hollow nodes, wherein each hollow nodes of said plurality of hollow nodes comprises a discrete, hollow oval-shaped container that is circumferentially aligned about said heat transfer catheter and incrementally spaced along said heat transfer catheter;
- a flexible conduit attaching adjacent hollow nodes and allowing fluid communication between said adjacent hollow nodes and said flexible conduit, wherein said flexible conduit has greater flexibility than said hollow nodes, and wherein an interior of said hollow nodes and an interior of said flexible conduit provide a heat transfer fluid carrier;
- and
- a heat transfer fluid within said heat transfer fluid carrier.
A method for body temperature management, comprising:
- providing a heat transfer catheter, said heat transfer catheter further comprising:
- a plurality of hollow nodes, wherein each hollow nodes of said plurality of hollow nodes comprises a discrete, hollow oval-shaped container that is circumferentially aligned about said heat transfer catheter and incrementally spaced along said heat transfer catheter;
- and
- a flexible conduit attaching adjacent hollow nodes and allowing fluid communication between said adjacent hollow nodes and said flexible conduit, wherein said flexible conduit has greater flexibility than said hollow nodes, and wherein an interior of said hollow nodes and an interior of said flexible conduit provide a heat transfer fluid carrier;
- inserting said heat transfer catheter into a body cavity of a patient;
- and
- causing a heat transfer fluid in said heat transfer fluid carrier to effect heat transfer between said heat transfer fluid carrier and tissue in the body cavity of the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.