Method And Apparatus To Slow Blood Flow Through Extremities During Chemotherapy
AssigneePolar Products, Inc.
InventorWilliam S. Graessle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for minimizing chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in extremities employs coolant maintained within a container in communication with a plurality of extremity coverings having serpentine conduits therein and which receive the coolant from the container at one end of the serpentine conduit and return it to the container from the other end. A pump is interposed in conduits between the coolant container and the extremity coverings to cause the flow of coolant. A control system regulates both the duration of operation of the pump and the coolant flow rate to effectively establish the temperature at the extremity coverings by allowing the coolant a dwell time within the extremity coverings.
Claims13
A method for limiting development of neuropathy in extremities of a patient's body during chemotherapy, comprising:
- subjecting a patient to a chemotherapy treatment;
- and
- concurrently subjecting said patient to a treatment of body extremities that slows a blood flow through said body extremities and thereby reduces chemotherapy-induced neuropathy at said body extremities.
A method for inhibiting neuropathy from developing in extremities of a patient's body during chemotherapy, comprising:
- subjecting a patient to a chemotherapy treatment;
- and
- concurrently subjecting said patient to a lowering of a temperature of said extremities of the patient's body by subjecting said extremities to a coolant passing thereover at a rate and duration accommodating the patient's age, health anomalies, and other conditions of the patient to ensure sufficient blood flow so as not to result in other damage to the patient while reducing blood flow to limit neuropathy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.