Brain resuscitation apparatus and method

A portable resuscitation apparatus, comprising:

• a portable casing;
• a reservoir disposed within the portable casing for holding therein a medical fluid;
• a fluid pathway disposed within the portable casing and in fluid communication with the reservoir;
• an interface unit for attaching the fluid pathway to the cardiovascular system of a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow in order to establish an artificial circulation in said mammal;
• and
• docking apparatus that allows the portable resuscitation apparatus to be removably attached to a heat exchange apparatus in order to maintain the medical fluid within the reservoir chilled an amount sufficient to slow a metabolic rate of an organ of a mammal into which the medical fluid is introduced until the portable resuscitation apparatus is needed.

A portable resuscitation apparatus, comprising:

• a portable casing;
• a reservoir disposed within the portable casing for holding therein a medical fluid;
• a fluid pathway at least partially disposed within the portable casing and in fluid communication with the reservoir;
• an interface unit for attaching the fluid pathway to the cardiovascular system of a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow in order to establish an artificial circulation in said mammal;
• heat exchanger apparatus in fluid communication with the reservoir for chilling medical fluid within the reservoir a sufficient amount to slow a metabolic rate of an organ of a mammal into which the medical fluid is introduced;
• and
• a control unit that controls the introduction of medical fluid from the reservoir into the fluid pathway to prime the fluid pathway prior to allowing fluid communication between the fluid pathway and the interface unit.

A method of reducing anoxic and/or ischemic injury in a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow, comprising:

• removably attaching a portable resuscitation apparatus to a heat exchange apparatus in order to maintain medical fluid within said apparatus chilled a sufficient amount to slow a metabolic rate of an organ of a mammal into which the medical fluid is introduced;
• detaching the portable resuscitation apparatus from said heat exchange apparatus;
• and
• introducing chilled medical fluid from the detached portable resuscitation apparatus into the cardiovascular system of a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow in order to establish an artificial circulation in the mammal utilizing the medical fluid.

An apparatus for reducing anoxic and/or ischemic injury in a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow, comprising:

• attaching means for removably attaching a portable resuscitation apparatus to a heat exchange apparatus in order to maintain medical fluid within said apparatus chilled a sufficient amount to slow a metabolic rate of an organ of a mammal into which the medical fluid is introduced;
• detachment means for detaching the portable resuscitation apparatus from the heat exchange apparatus;
• and
• fluid introduction means for introducing chilled medical fluid from the detached portable resuscitation apparatus into the cardiovascular system of a mammal suffering from impaired blood flow in order to establish an artificial circulation in the mammal utilizing the medical fluid.