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US 11,633,299 B2Granted
Methods for protecting esophageal tissue from thermal injury
AssigneeAdvanced Cooling Therapy, Inc.
InventorsErik Kulstad, Hugh Patrick Caherty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Relatively non-invasive devices and methods for heating or cooling a patient's body are disclosed. Devices and methods for treating ischemic conditions by inducing therapeutic hypothermia are disclosed. Devices and methods for inducing therapeutic hypothermia through esophageal cooling are disclosed. Devices and methods for operative temperature management are disclosed.
Claims24
A method for protecting an esophagus of a patient from thermal injury during a cardiac ablation procedure, the method comprising:
- nasally or orally inserting a heat transfer device into the patient, wherein the heat transfer device comprises
- a distal end configured for insertion into a nostril or mouth of the patient;
- a heat transfer medium supply tube that defines an inflow lumen and forms a heat transfer region, wherein the heat transfer region is configured to transfer heat to or extract heat from the esophagus when a heat transfer medium flows through the inflow lumen;
- a heat transfer medium return tube that defines an outflow lumen;
- an input port for receiving the heat transfer medium from a source, wherein said input port is connected to the heat transfer medium supply tube;
- and
- an output port for returning the heat transfer medium to the source, wherein said output port is connected to the heat transfer medium return tube;
- wherein the heat transfer region is not inflatable;
- wherein the heat transfer medium return tube is not positioned within the heat transfer medium supply tube;
- and
- wherein the heat transfer medium supply tube and the heat transfer medium return tube have substantially equal inside diameters;
- and
- initiating flow of the heat transfer medium through the inflow lumen.
10 more elements
A method for protecting an esophagus of a patient from thermal injury during a cardiac ablation procedure, the method comprising:
- positioning a heat transfer device within the esophagus of the patient, wherein the heat transfer device comprises
- a heat transfer medium supply tube that defines an inflow lumen;
- a heat transfer medium return tube that defines an outflow lumen;
- wherein the heat transfer medium supply tube and the heat transfer medium return tube are configured such that at least a portion of an exterior wall of the heat transfer medium supply tube is in contact with esophageal tissue upon placement of the device in a patient;
- wherein the portion of the exterior wall constitutes a heat transfer region configured to transfer heat to or extract heat from the esophageal tissue when a heat transfer medium flows through the inflow lumen;
- wherein the heat transfer region is not inflatable;
- and
- wherein the heat transfer medium return tube is not positioned within the heat transfer medium supply tube;
- and
- initiating flow of the heat transfer medium through the inflow lumen.
7 more elements
A method for protecting an esophagus of a patient from thermal injury during a cardiac ablation procedure, the method comprising:
- positioning a heat transfer device within the esophagus of the patient, wherein the heat transfer device comprises
- a distal end configured for insertion into a nostril or mouth of a patient;
- a proximal end comprising an input port for receiving a heat transfer medium from a source and an output port for returning the heat transfer medium to the source;
- a length of tubing that defines a multi-lumen cavity, the length of tubing comprising an inner divider wall disposed longitudinally therein, the inner divider wall dividing the cavity into at least a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the first lumen and the second lumen are arranged in parallel to each other, and wherein the first lumen and the second lumen are in fluid communication with each other, thereby defining a fluid path for flow of the heat transfer medium;
- wherein the first lumen is defined by a first circumferential portion of an interior wall of the length of tubing and the inner divider wall and the second lumen is defined by a second circumferential portion of an interior wall of the length of tubing and the inner divider wall;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of an exterior wall of the length of tubing is in contact with esophageal tissue upon placement of the device in a patient and the portion of the exterior wall constitutes a non-inflatable heat transfer region configured to transfer heat to or extract heat from the esophageal tissue when the heat transfer medium flows through the first and/or second lumen;
- and
- initiating flow of the heat transfer medium along the fluid path.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.