Indwelling heat exchange catheter and method of using same

A heat exchange catheter comprising:

• at least one lumen configured for fluid communication with at least a first heat exchange element for circulating heat exchange fluid through the heat exchange element to exchange heat with blood of a patient when at least a portion of the catheter is positioned in a bloodstream of the patient without the heat exchange fluid entering the bloodstream of a patient;
• wherein
• the first heat exchange element is externally helically fluted along at least a segment thereof, wherein body fluid outward of the heat exchange element cannot flow to a long axis defined by the heat exchange element;
• wherein the first heat exchange element is contiguous to a flex region that is not externally fluted in a spiral configuration on a segment thereof.

Apparatus comprising:

• at least one heat exchange fluid lumen;
• and
• at least first and second heat exchange elements communicating with the lumen such that heat exchange fluid circulates through the heat exchange elements to exchange heat with blood of a patient when the heat exchange elements are positioned in a bloodstream of the patient, the heat exchange fluid not entering the bloodstream;
• wherein the first and second heat exchange elements are contiguous to at least one flex region, the flex region not being configured like the heat exchange elements, the heat exchange elements being formed with helical flutes.