Thermal system

A thermal control unit for controlling a patient's temperature, the thermal control unit comprising:

• a housing;
• a cartridge adapted to be removably positioned within the housing, the cartridge including a fluid outlet adapted to fluidly couple to a fluid supply line, a fluid inlet adapted to fluidly couple to a fluid return line, a circulation channel coupled to the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet, a first cooling unit in thermal communication with the circulation channel, and a first controller adapted to control the first cooling unit;
• a second cooling unit positioned within the housing and external to the cartridge;
• and
• a second controller adapted to control the second cooling unit, wherein the first and second controllers are adapted to communicate with each other when the cartridge is positioned within the housing and to coordinate control of the first and second cooling units in order to control a temperature of a fluid in the circulation channel.

A thermal control unit for controlling a patient's temperature, the thermal control unit comprising:

• a fluid outlet adapted to fluidly couple to a fluid supply line for delivering fluid to the patient;
• a fluid inlet adapted to fluidly couple to a fluid return line for receiving fluid returned from the patient;
• a fluid circulation channel coupled to the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet;
• a pump for circulating fluid through the fluid circulation channel from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet;
• a first cooling unit adapted to cool fluid circulating through the fluid circulation channel, the first cooling unit including a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser;
• a fan adapted to blow ambient air onto the condenser;
• and
• a controller adapted to selectively control a speed of the fan based at least upon a temperature of the fluid circulating through the fluid circulation channel.