Intravascular systems for corporeal cooling

A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

• an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends, at least two lumens extending therethrough, and an outer surface, and
• two or more inflatable annular balloons arranged on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member, wherein at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction and at least two of said inflatable annular balloons are in fluid communication with respective separate inflation lumens.

A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

• an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal sections, an outer surface, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and
• annular insulation having proximal and distal ends and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the elongated external tubular member, whereby at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction and fluid flowing through one or more lumens within the elongated external member is insulated from fluid or tissue external to the annular insulation.

A catheter for intravascular corporeal brain cooling comprising:

• an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal sections, an outer surface, and at least two lumens extending therethrough, and
• an inflatable, extended annular member positioned on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member and positioned so that when the corporeal cooling catheter is in position, the annular member is positioned in the patient's aorta, wherein at least one lumen in the tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction.

A catheter set for intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

• a first elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends, and
• a second tubular member arranged concentrically around the proximal end of the first elongated tubular member and having proximal and distal portions, wherein the distal portion of the second elongated tubular member has openings.

A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprising:

• an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough, an outer surface, and a tubular wall,
• two spaced-apart annular balloons arranged on the outer surface of the distal section of the elongated tubular member, and
• a lateral opening in the wall of the tubular member between the annular balloons, wherein at least one lumen of the elongated tubular member can provide cooled blood in the distal direction.

A method of treating a patient who has had a stroke, which comprises the steps of

• positioning the distal portion of a corporeal cooling catheter within the patient's internal or external carotid artery, and
• providing cooled blood through said catheter into the internal carotid artery,
• wherein the patient is treated within sufficient time after the stroke to minimize or prevent cardiovascular, muscular, or neural insult or damage.

A method of treating, minimizing, or avoiding renal failure in a patient, comprising the steps of

• positioning the distal portion of a corporeal cooling catheter into a renal artery of the patient, and
• providing cooled blood through said catheter into the renal artery.