Device for hypothermia therapy on a cochlea

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first heat exchanger with an insertable part configured and arranged to fit into an ear canal of a human for disposition exterior to the ear drum associated with that ear canal, the first heat exchanger comprising:
• a heat transfer surface disposed radially with respect to a length axis of the first heat exchanger, the heat transfer surface having transverse flexibility to deflect and conform for contact to a generally cylindrical heat transfer area of the inner surface of the ear canal;
• a cavity extending along a portion of the length axis, the cavity being configured and arranged to receive a working fluid for disposition of the fluid in operable proximity to the heat transfer surface;
• a fluid input port in fluid communication with the cavity to introduce the working fluid, a proximal portion of the input port being configured to couple with a first end of a fluid-transporting conduit;
• and
• a fluid output port in fluid communication with the cavity to exhaust the working fluid, a proximal portion of the output port being configured to couple with a second end of a fluid-transporting conduit, wherein:
• the first heat exchanger further comprises a generally annular and elongate core disposed spaced apart as a radial function from the length axis;
• and
• the first heat exchanger further comprises a proximal end cap associated with a proximal end of the core, the proximal end cap to provide grippable structure to facilitate tool-free removal of the inserted portion from an ear canal, wherein:
• the proximal end cap provides a cantilever base from which the core extends, an opening at the proximal end of the proximal end cap to provide fluid communication to a sonic conduit through the core and extending to an opening associated with the distal end of the inserted portion, the sonic conduit being configured and arranged to provide an unobstructed air path from exterior the ear toward the ear drum.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first heat exchanger with an insertable part configured and arranged to fit into an ear canal of a human for disposition exterior to the ear drum associated with that ear canal, the first heat exchanger comprising:
• a heat transfer surface disposed radially with respect to a length axis of the first heat exchanger, the heat transfer surface having transverse flexibility to deflect and conform for contact to a generally cylindrical heat transfer area of the inner surface of the ear canal;
• a cavity extending along a portion of the length axis, the cavity being configured and arranged to receive a working fluid for disposition of the fluid in operable proximity to the heat transfer surface;
• a fluid input port in fluid communication with the cavity to introduce the working fluid, a proximal portion of the input port being configured to couple with a first end of a fluid-transporting conduit;
• and
• a fluid output port in fluid communication with the cavity to exhaust the working fluid, a proximal portion of the output port being configured to couple with a second end of a fluid-transporting conduit, wherein:
• the first heat exchanger further comprises a generally annular and elongate core disposed spaced apart as a radial function from the length axis and, wherein:
• the heat transfer surface comprises a portion of a generally annular balloon affixed at a proximal balloon end to the proximal end of the core, the exterior annular wall being transversely flexible to accommodate to a variable wall conformation of the ear canal, a portion of the inner annular wall being affixed to the core.